Oct 20, 2012 | Steve Loffree | 622 views
Wolves Win Season Opener
There were many obstacles to overcome for our first game of the season: the ridiculous traffic jam on the 401 (caused entirely by rubbernecking), the late scratch of steady defenceman Braden, the last minute wardrobe change, two (yes, two!) waived off goals. This game had it all, but the boys persevered for a hard-earned win. Here is the game commentary, courtesy of team reporter Curtis Gloade...
Good evening and welcome to tonight's game, the first of the season for the Waterloo Wolves where they face the Winter Hawks of Milton. The young Wolves are coming onto the ice, looking a little groggy after the two-hour cross-country drive to the evening's game. Wait, they're heading back to the dressing room, perhaps for a last-minute pep-talk by coach Steve. They're back, and it looks like they've make a wardrobe change and are looking fabulous.
On the puck drop it's Waterloo quickly going on the defensive with Milton's size and speed coming at them fast and hard. Milton is coming down the middle, and a glove save by Emmett, his first save after being pulled up from the minors.
Waterloo keeps the puck on the rebound, scramble at the net, a great looking pass by Josh right onto Xavier's stick from behind the net and SCORE! First goal of the season and the Wolves are ahead by one. Milton is looking a little nervous now. Waterloo comes back at them on the inside, a player goes down with a hook by Milton and the first penalty of the game goes to Milton. The play continues in the Milton end, things are looking a little chippy now, Milton gets ANOTHER penalty with a push from behind into the boards. They better have practised their penalty-kill because now it's 5 on 3. Milton is on their heels, another scramble at the net, Xavier with the puck, can't find an opening, passes to Tristan, and here it is, GOAL! Waterloo is ahead by two.
Still in the Milton end, Ian has the puck, sees the opening on the long side, a SHOT, into the top corner. What a sniper! The goal gets waived off because of a high-stick.
Here we are in the second period, Milton comes on the inside, slaps one at the goal, and SAVE, then the rebound gets chipped over Emmett's right pad and into the net, making this a 2 to 1 game. Waterloo is showing some speed now with some great passing with their forward lines. Back in the Waterloo end, Milton has the puck, a cross-ice pass in front of Emmett, a man wide-open in front and GOAL, into the wide open net. Emmett didn't have a chance and the game is tied at two.
Now in third, Brody gets a bit of a jolt from a Milton player, and it looks like he's holding something as he skates off, not sure what it is, looks like a tooth! Xavier takes over, takes the puck, skates hard down the slot, a shot, SCORE! Another Xavier goal, a real beauty.
On the face-off Milton takes it to the Waterloo end, Zach puts his body in front of the puck in a great defensive move. Milton soon gets a shot, and a HUGE blocker save by Chris. The play moves back to the Milton end, Xavier goes down hard from a Milton hit. He's slow to get up but skates to the bench on his own.
The play resumes but the referee's visor is a little fogged up, not sure how he's able to see, maybe he should go wipe it or something. The puck goes into the Milton end, Jeremy gets the puck, nobody to pass to, a SHOT and a save, rebound goes to Tristan, a shot and a GOAL! Wait, the goal gets waived off, another one taken away from Waterloo. The ref lost sight of it and is telling the coaches, who look a little perplexed.
The Milton goalie is seeing a lot of rubber tonight. Fifty-two seconds to go in the third, Waterloo is ahead by one, and Milton pulls their goalie. It's all hands on deck now with Milton throwing everything they have at Chris, including a late hit which gives them their third penalty of the game. Another scramble at the net, and more saves by Chris to end the game, 3 to 2 for Waterloo.
And that's it folks, thanks for coming and drive home safely.