If the Alliance Finals
have proven anything it is that the players on the Waterloo Wolves have a flare
for the dramatic and the heart of champions.
Once again, the Wolves went into the 3rd period down on the scoreboard but ahead in game play. And, once again the team rose to the occasion but, this time, they finished the job earing a 3 to 2 win over the London Jr Knights.
Cole Hunsberger is the definition of a big game player. Ice in the veins and determined to help his team. Like many game breakers, it seems like the puck finds a way onto his stick when it matters most. This is exactly what happened Monday night as he picked up a hattrick for his team.
Hunsberger opened the scoring for the Wolves tipping a Jackson McNichol point shot, tied the game with 2:33 left in regulation after Matthew Ball relentlessly chased down a puck with an amazing forecheck and then Hunsberger buried the winner with 26 seconds left after Ball won the faceoff to him.
A flare for the dramatic? Most certainly.
The Wolves got performances of the season from all their players. If it wasn’t a focused and determined Jackson Andrews line wearing down the Knights with Ethan Wasylyshyn constantly battling or Michael Wei using his speed to get loose pucks, it was Griffin Beddis beating Knight defenders on the outside or Hunter McMurdo’s keen eye to detail saving his team on defensive assignments. Cole Ledgister was winning key draws and put out to preserve the win. Declan Uniac was a massive thorn in the Knights side and never gave up.
As has been the case all playoffs, Jack Driscoll stood tall for his team. Driscoll has been a calm steady presence and showed excellent positioning and challenged the Knights every opportunity. The goalie was placing rebounds well and smothering up any second chances.
There was no question Driscoll had help from his defenders. McNichol was on a mission to finish every check and make clean outlets. Jackson Dietz was jumping into plays and playing unafraid hard hockey. Ben Yong was an absolute menace to the Knights and showed off speed, skill, and toughness. Riley Webster used his size, reach and skating to separate the Knights from every puck. Cooper Gaul was the big body mean defender the team needed and got pucks on the Knights net. And, last but definitely not least, Jaxon Broda was relentless and all over the ice making plays for his team. Broda has been a work horse all season but with his team facing elimination he seemed to find an extra gear and was dominate.
With the series tied at 4 points a side, the teams face off in London Wednesday night with both teams able to win the banner with a win and the possibility of a return to Waterloo Friday should the game end in a tie. The Wolve players have shown they know what it takes to win. They have the heart. The work ethic and the confidence. This is a mentally strong group who does not give up. No matter what comes their way they play to win and for that reason it feels like they are finally ready to claim the banner.
Go Wolves!