Wolves Finally Solve Nemesis, News, U18, 2022-2023, AA / A (Waterloo Minor Hockey)

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This Team is part of the 2022-2023 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 18, 2023 | Mike Radatus | 296 views
Wolves Finally Solve Nemesis
Those pesky St. Thomas Jr Stars sure made life difficult for our Waterloo Wolves this season.

First there was the penalty filled gong show of a game that ended in a tie followed up by the collapse, or failure to show up, game the Wolves lost. Both leaving a foul taste in the players and coaches’ mouths.

 

Alas, the Wolves changed the narrative at home with a fantastic 3 to 0 win to finish on a high note against the Stars and likely getting the last laugh by refusing the Stars critical points.

 

Might be a good thing for the Wolves, all things considered.

 

It was a huge game winning goal by Jackson McNichol, his first of the season, to get the Wolves on the board. McNichol’s goal was assisted by Tyler O’Hearn and Matthew Anderson. Carson Bernhardt sent a rocket top shelf for the insurance goal from O’Hearn and Jacob Reid-Brant added the empty net goal.

 

It was another big performance from the Wolves goaltenders with Mitch Simmons earning the shutout. Simmons had to work for it and made clutch saves for his team. It has been incredible how well Simmons has played since returning from injury and you can see the confidence the team plays with in front of him.

 

The Wolves saw a lot of positives from all three lines and once again the Matthew Ball, Declan Uniac and Cole Hunsberger line literally spent almost all their time on ice cycling and creating opportunities in the oppositions end of the ice.

 

Ryan Beckner, Caleb Cumming, and Cole Ledgister gave the Wolves energy every shift. The trio has to be the hardest line in Alliance to play against. They hit everything that moves, backcheck relentlessly and are resilient on the forecheck.

 

A pair of plays from the Wolves defenders helped keep the goose egg. First, Yianni Peppas got his stick on a shot against an open net putting the puck into netting and then Cullen Derry smacked a puck out of mid air to clear a for sure goal from going in the Wolves net. Connor Palmer and Jake Patterson both were instrumental on the penalty kill and key parts of the win as well.

 

The Wolves went into the game knowing they needed to get a minimum of three wins to clinch first and took a huge step forward with the win. The team will look to keep pushing forward against Stratford where the Wolves will need an even better effort to get the win.

 

Keep working hard Wolves!