Isn’t it funny how hockey can have you feeling unstoppable one
day and the next day have you scratching your head asking yourself…..what
happened?
This is exactly how this coach felt after going perfect day
one, beating the top seeded team in Ontario, then dropping a single game, 3 to
1 to the Halton Hills Thunder, to find out the Waterloo Wolves were eliminated
from Silver Stick due to goals for/against percentage.
A bitter pill to swallow.
That said, what a great tournament for the Wolves players.
Placed in a division with all the top teams in Ontario, the players responded
well and showed why their Alliance and OHF Championship dreams are within
reach!
Caleb Cumming was the lone goal scorer for the Wolves in the
game. His goal was a short-handed effort set up by Tyler O’Hearn. The Wolves excelled
on the penalty kill all game and had some of their best chances there
ironically. Jacob Reid-Brant rang a shot off the iron down a man as well. Both
Cole Ledgister and Ryan Beckner played critical minutes on it as well.
Another key player on those penalty kills was none other than
Mitch Simmons who had to be sharp all game, Simmons was tested often and did a
fantastic job keeping his team in the game.
It was a solid tournament defensively for the Wolves. The
team saw standout performances from Carson Bernhardt and Tate Merritt. Connor
Palmer and Jake Patterson were steady and moved the puck with ease. They team
had some real solid hits from Yianni Peppas, and Jackson McNichol and Cullen
Derry was his highlight reel self-weaving through the zones.
You must credit the Thunder goalie for his strong play in
the game. Declan Uniac, Matthew Anderson, Griffin Beddis and Matthew Ball all good
looks at the net and created chances for the Wolves. Unfortunately, the puck
was bouncing in favor of the Thunder goalie.
As has been the case all season, these tournaments are used
as a tool to help the team learn how to win as the season progresses. It is
fair to say the team is stronger leaving Brampton then they were arriving so
despite the lack of hardware from the tournament it was yet another important step
in the team’s progression.
Go Wolves!