With three games in three days, the Waterloo Wolves had a busy weekend that was full of lessons, highs and lows!
The Wolves started off the weekend with an early matinee
game against their rival Kitchener Jr Rangers. The Wolves feasted in the game!
Sadly, they were eating humble pie that the Rangers delivered time and time
again in the tune of an 8-0 ass-whooping.
There is an old saying, “you are never as good a team as
people think when you win, and never as bad a team as people think when you
lose”. With a half full glass, I truly believe the Wolves collectively never
showed up in the game. Not to take anything away from the Rangers, they dominated
every inch of that Olympic-sized rink, but this coach would be more concerned
had his team shown up and lost as poorly as they did as opposed to never
showing up.
Lesson 1: Show up on time and ready to play every minute of every
game.
And, off to Sarnia we go…..the Wolves rolled into the Stings
barn with a combination of piss and vinegar with a side of determination. A new
day and a new team. Determined to right the ship and get back in the win
column, the Wolves simplified their game, came ready to play and took a strong
5 to 0.
Grayson Seiling opened the game with a pair of goals to
spark his team. Seiling’s first goal was set up by Dell Wang and Logan Murtha
and his second was from a familiar pair, Murtha and Wand, D again. Hiatt Rich was
rewarded with a goal from Cam Murray and Wang, D. Rich has worked his tail off
all season and constantly looks to make the right plays. Ben Schofield
continued finding the back of the net as well on a nifty toe drag. Allan Wang had
the team’s final goal from Seiling and put the final dagger in the Sting.
Ciaran Guitton-Quayle had the shutout for the team.
Guitton-Quayle made timely saves and stood tall for the boys when they had
lapses in their play. His calm and care free demeanor was what the players
needed.
Lesson 2: Have a short memory. Don’t dwell on the past and
know every time you get to the rink you have a clean slate to show who you are.
There is no sugar coating, and yes, excuses are for losers,
but the Wolves were understandably fatigued heading into the Monday night game
against the Cambridge Hawks. It made the 4 to 3 win even more impressive.
That said, the most impressive part of the game was the team’s
response and play in the third period. Heading into the period down 3 to 1 the
players knew it was an upward battle. The coaches challenged the players to
show heart and character. To be harder to play against and to step up and play that
blue-collar, hard-working team game they need to play to be successful.
And boy, did they respond!
As mentioned, down 3 to 1 with only a highlight reel goal
from Wang, D from Seiling and Wang, A, Murray came into the final period ready
to make a difference. Murray first scored from Rich and then tipped in a
Jackson Hunter shot with Schofield also earning an assist to tie the game.
Casey Ross banged home the game winner from Seiling with Cole Gardiner earning
the big point.
One of the bright spots all game was the play of Jake
Howard. Howard has battled hard all season for the Wolves and always gives the
team a chance at success. The team has not played consistently, and Howard has
had to battle hard to help them find their footing. In this game Howard made big
saves to allow the players a chance to crawl out of a hole. His teammates appreciated
him and he once again showed the coaches his strong character.
Lesson 3: Never give up! The game is not over until the
final buzzer and with hard work anything is possible.
The weekend could have been a write off with how it started.
But the boys worked hard to get through it and learnt a lot. A big tip of the
hat to the Wolves defenders. In Sarnia the team rolled only four men with Owen
Ottens, Ben Sawyer, Murtha and Hunter. On Monday, the team had help with
Gardiner and Logan Meyer from U16AA. Both played admirably. Sawyer had an edge and
determination in his game all weekend. Reed Rozema created so many turnovers
playing with controlled aggression and the team is reaping the benefits of
Carter Talboom’s relentless checking and defensive structure.
There is a long way to go still but anyone who was
questioning the desire and heart of the team Saturday night got their answers by
the end of Monday night. If the team can play games start to finish how they
played Mondays third period, the sky is the limit.
Time to show them who we are, Wolves!