The
Waterloo Wolves took part in the Dan Pulham Memorial tourney in London on Nov
30 – Dec 2, this was the first of three tournaments the team will be involved in
this season. It was clear from the schedule the wolves were going to be in for a
long and drawn out fight – early morning games and late afternoon games – in the
hope I guess to get us off our game.......
Our first game was on Friday morning at 8:30 against the Burlington Bulldogs, it was a very close and evenly played game. It was evident that our boys are very good on penalty killing, but not so much on power plays – as we could not capitalize on a 5-3. Although Burlington scored first our team kept skating hard and finally got 2 quick goals – :38 seconds apart by Jory – 2-1 Wolves. Both goalies traded amazing saves the rest of the way, we had a coverage let down with 6 min left in the game – all tied up at deuces. Game over 2-2 tie what a start to the tourney.
Off to the second game at 6:30 Friday against the Vaughan Blue Rangers…………….
The second game was a game that the wolves got a little lucky – which is what all teams need once in a while. We got on the scoreboard :24 seconds into the game with a great goal by Ethan E – well done. The wolves did not play very well in this game, as they missed simple passes, simple clearing passes and shots on the Rangers net. Although they did not play well in front of the net our goalies kept the team in the game without us getting embarrassed. With a late power play opportunity awarded to the wolves we were able to score and tie the game with 2:24 left in the game. The end of the game was super intense and with the strong play with :57 sec left Kaden was able to pot the go ahead goal. Game over Wolves win 4-3 – we stole a win, but that is how it goes. There was a strong message in the room that the way they played was not what we wanted for the rest of the tourney – message delivered.
Game three was again an early morning tilt – 8:15 against the home town team London. It started like a typical fast paced game that we have seen in the tourney, both teams skating hard and battling hard for the puck. The wolves were able to get the first goal in the first period at 9:23. It seemed that the wolves were caught by the home town refs and somehow found the penalty box 5 times, playing a 1/3 of the game on the PK is tough to gain any momentum. We were given some untimely penalties in the 3rd period when we were trying to claw back, we did get a shorty goal by Logan that we later realized was a very important goal as we later found out.
Game four – was against a team that at time of puck drop did not have a win, Leaside Flames. The wolves only mission prior to game time was win, and win by lots. We needed goals if we wanted to advance to the next round. Our boys took to the challenge and were able to score 5 goals to their 1 goal, their goalie did all she could to stop the attack but her size and skillset was not enough for the wolves’ attack. Wolves win 5 – 1 – now we wait. – did we have enough goals for and against to get us in.
The Vaughan Blue Rangers were listed first with 6 points, then three teams with 5pts including the wolves – by a mere GF % of 0.058 we secured the 3rd position. We are in the Semis! – Sunday morning against the other London team – here we come 7:15 AM – the agony.
The game started with both teams and perhaps a couple coaches a little tired and groggy, it took until the 2:07 mark of the 2nd period for our first goal, however our opponents from London potted 2 in the middle period, so off to the 3rd period down one goal. How bad did the boys (and coaches) want to make it to the finals. After 5 min of play into the 3rd Cameron potted the tying goal – 10 mins left in the semi-final who had the fire in their belly to dig deep to make the finals. Well it was the Wolves that’s who – thanks to Callum B for burying a shot from the point and securing his “gordie howe hat trick” – Goal an Assist and a Phantom Body Checking penalty. Game over Wolves win 3-2 – Off to the finals we go.
The finals had as matched against the Vaughan Blue Rangers once again – they had something to prove, we stole a win. But the wolves were not going to play like they did the last time they met – the Wolves also had a secret weapon that was going to show up. The game was a battle of two teams that wanted to show themselves and their fans (parents) they were the best. The game started with the wolves a little flat it seemed as it took a body checking penalty by Kaden to get the team fired up. We scored at 7:34 of the first period to go into the 2nd up one goal. The Vaughan team was getting tired and could not handle the relentless attack of the wolves, shift after shift – it was epic. The Rangers from Vaughan then got into penalty trouble as the frustration was setting in and they knew the wolves attack was not going to go away. At 8:28 of the 3rd we had the shot from the point we have been all waiting for as Johannes let a cannon fire on net, 2-1 Wolves 7 min left in the championship game. The Rangers pulled their goalie for another attacker but could not get one passed the guy with the pillows on. Game over Wolves are CHAMPIONS, and Brad was game MVP well deserved. The secret weapon the wolves had on their side was the fact the last time I coached in the Tony’s rink, using the same dressing room was the day I won my 2nd championship in the very rink. I previously won back to back championships with Erik in Major Atom and Minor Pee Wee. I have been to London 4 times and have won 3 times – looks like I should keep coming back to this city. The best take away aside from winning the tourney was that over the course of the 6 games we played – ALL FIFTEEN SKATERS made the score sheet at one time during the weekend – are you kidding me!!! This is an absolute fantastic group of individuals playing as a – TEAM!!
The coaching staff are so proud of the boys, the commitment they put in, also to the great group of parents – what a fantastic weekend with great memories. I can’t wait until the next tourney in February.
See you at the Rink
Coach Jeff