For the second year in a row, the Waterloo Wolves found
themselves as Waterloo Memorial Tournament finalist and were heartbroken after
regulation time.
Last season the team lost in a shootout to the Markham
Waxers and this year dropped the game 2 to 1 to the Cambridge Hawks in OT after
a call by the refs that left many scratching their heads.
As much as it hurts to come up short the Wolves played a
great tournament and learned many valuable lessons as they continue to use
tournament play as ways to prepare for their Alliance Championship aspirations.
In round robin play the team went 3 wins and 1 loss to
advance as the second seed.
In game 1 against the Burlington Eagles, the Wolves won 6 to
1 led by an Evan Wallace hattrick. Wallace’s first goal was set up by Ben
Morton and Jack Thompson, his second and third from Matthew Ball. Cole Hunsberger
opened the scoring from Ball. Thompson scored from Wallace and Griffin Beddis
had a goal from Jake Patterson.
The Toronto Eagles game started early, but, unfortunately,
the Wolves were unaware of this and ended up forfeiting their warmup. In a way
this put the team behind right off the hop, and they seemed to never catch up
dropping the game 4 to 2. Jack Mayne scored from Beddis and Declan Uniac had a
goal set up by Wallace and Patterson.
On day two the Wolves knew they needed to put in their best
effort and the results were back to back 5 to 1 wins that gave them a GF % that
placed them in second place with Woodstock, Kitchener and Toronto.
The Nickle City Sons game saw Declan Uniac open the scoring
from Hunsberger and Ball. Ball scored from Hunsberger and Uniac and then
Hunsberger scored from Wallace and Ball. Thompson added an unassisted goal
before Evan Walsh scored a rocket on the powerplay from Thompson.
In the North Durham Warriors game Beddis opened the scoring
from Cole Ledgister and Mayne. Morton scored from Wallace and Riley Webster.
Ledgister scored from Mayne and Beddis. Ball scored from Hunsberger and Mayne
scored from Ledgister and Beddis.
A confident Wolves team skated into the semi finals against
the Woodstock Navy Vets and dominated play winning 5 to 2. Hunsberger scored
the opening goal, and it was a true beauty on his stomach using one hand on his
stick. The goal was set up by Uniac and Ethan Wasylyshyn. Uniac scored from
Ball. Thompson scored from Hunter McMurdo and Walsh. Beddis scored from
Ledgister and Mayne and Thompson scored from Morton and Walsh.
There were so many contributions across the board. The Wolves
saw some standout play from the defense and Jackson McNichol and Jack Smith both
took home player of the game awards. Wallace and Ledgister also had the honors.
The Wolves welcomed Jordon Abbott to the team on the weekend as well. Abbott
showed he could be an important addition to the team and despite not having any
practice time fit in right away.
Playing six games in three days as a goalie is never easy.
But, Drew Cribbin pulled it off and his team and coaches truly appreciated his
efforts. When you play in a final game of a tournament against the highest
scoring team in that tournament, and only surrender one goal against in
regulation…..you have done your job and done it well. Cribbin gave his team all
he could and played his heart out. A true warrior. The Wolves had opportunities
to win but sadly, only Ball got on the score sheet from Hunsberger and Wallace.
The coaches were
proud of their team and saw several players step up and fill roles the team
needed. Across the board players checked their egos and put the team first. They
rallied for one another, supported one another, and played for one another. The
team culture couldn’t have grown more over the weekend and the room is getting
to be a tight group. Keep working hard and keep building the foundation.
We are headed in the right direction, go Wolves!