With a commitment to the finer details of the game and a full
effort from the top to the bottom of the line up, the Waterloo Wolves put in back-to-back
dominate performances over the weekend.
The Wolves set the tone in the home opener on Friday night
against the London Knights with a 4 to 1 win. Right from the drop of the puck, the
players were dialed in finishing hits and making sure they were responsible in
their own end. There was no better example of this than the play by Ben Morton
on the Wolves opening goal. Mortin blocked a short killing a penalty, took control
of the puck and drove the Knights net with a Knight player wrapped around him.
It took a second and third effort to get the shot off but there was no stopping
Morton’s desire to make a play. Jack Thompson supported the play and banged
home the shorthanded goal. Ethan Wasylyshyn earned an assist on the goal as
well.
It was apparent in the Stratford game the team needed to be
more engaged, and the 30 hits thrown against the Knights were proof the players
got the memo. Evan Walsh made several huge plays in the Wolves end to break up
plays and Jack Smith crushed a Knight in the corner. All the Wolves forwards
backchecked with purpose.
In the third period, Matthew Ball scored from Jake Patterson
and Cole Hunsberger. Jack Mayne scored from Smith and Cole Ledgister and Ball
added another goal from Declan Uniac.
As seems to be the case every time a team goes to St. Thomas,
a circus broke out due to officiating. The events in the game are hard to put
into words but 55 PIM to the Wolves including three coach suspensions and a
player suspension to 14 PIM to the St. Thomas Stars gives an idea of what the
team was up against.
This type of situation can easily sink a team. Not this team,
however. In fact, I think this all brought the team together even stronger. The
heart and character of these players is incredible.
The players killed off several 5 on 3s and held strong to
win 4 to 1 once again.
As always, when killing penalties, one of the best killers
has to be your goalie and that was the case with Drew Cribbin in the game.
Cribbin was moving side to side perfectly and square all game long. He gobbled
up rebounds and steered shots from harm's way. In both games Cribbin was a
factor for his team and has handled a crazy workload, as Sam Miller rehabs from
injury, with poise.
Another big standout was Riley Webster. Webster played with
an edge and with speed. Making sure he carried pucks with confidence and
created plays all game. The entire defense was fantastic and got the necessary help
from the forwards. Evan Wallace showed leadership and passion and Hunsberger
and Patterson stepped up as leaders. Hunter McMurdo killed penalties and
delivered the hit of the game.
Uniac had a pair of goals on the powerplay. His first was
set up by Ball and Hunsberger and his second from Hunsberger and Patterson.
Wallace scored from Ball and Hunsberger and then Ball added a goal from Uniac.
The players deserve a ton of respect for their play and
showed they are not going to roll over in games. The heart of the group is
showing and the respect their coaches have for them couldn’t be greater.
Keep it going Wolves!