Following a weekend off, the Wolves were set for two home
games against Cambridge and Burlington.
Heading into the game against Cambridge, the Wolves knew they would be in for a tight game. In the two previous games in which the teams faced each other, both finished as one goal games. This game would prove to be no different. The Wolves came out looking hungry and immediately took control of the game. The team dominated much of the first period and generated a few good scoring opportunities, however the period would end with neither team finding the score sheet.
The Wolves continued to pressure to begin the second period and they were rewarded for their hard work with a powerplay opportunity. The team was able to take advantage of the opportunity as Guenther, Foxworthy, and Beddis scored a goal give the team a 1-0 lead. Following the goal, the team continued to press. With the help of defense partners Dargel and Barnes; Hepditch and Schaefer; Dietrich and Hilderley holding the line, the forwards were able to spend a number of shifts in Cambridges end. With the period winding down Thomas, Noble, and Schults had a strong shift, although they were unable to score. However, with just thirty seconds remaining in the second, Mervyn, Karges, and Lutz were able to put on past the Cambridge goalie to take a 2-0 lead.
To begin the third period it looked like the Wolves were in good shape, with goalie LaFlamme playing well, they would just need to continue the way they were playing for fifteen more minutes. However, just twenty four seconds into the period the Wolves took what was a “silly” penalty giving Cambridge a powerplay. From here on, the game was a downward spiral. The Wolves continued to take eleven minor penalties in the period giving Cambridge multiple powerplays, including two five on three. Cambridge took advantage of the outrageous number of penalties, scoring three goals in the period to take the game 3-2.
The following night, the Wolves knew that they let a game they should have won slip away, and all 17 players were motivated to play a full three periods against Burlington.
Once again Waterloo began the game ready to play. All three forward lines spent the majority of the period in the opponents end, doing an excellent job working the puck down low. The team also looked good off of the rush which resulted in 3-0 lead by the end of the third period.
The Wolves continued their dominance into the second as they once again dominated possession time. Burlington was able to play well defensively though, limiting the Wolves to one goal in the period making the score 4-0 heading into the third.
Heading into the third period, the team looked to finish the game the way they had played through the first two periods. This time, they did not fall back to old habits, rather they continued to play with speed off of the rush and hard work down low. The Wolves would add three more in the period, and Burlington was only able to put one past goalie Chin, who played a good game when called upon. With an outburst of goals that the team had been waiting for, the Wolves took the game with a final score of 7-1. Importantly, the team managed to do so taking just two penalties.
With the win, the Wolves guaranteed themselves a spot in the top tier for playoffs. They will look to climb the standings this weekend as they travel to face Hamilton White on the 24th and will play Kitchener Blue at home on the 25th.