With a variety of players missing from anything from a suspension
to an injury, the Waterloo Wolves have found themselves in a slump and not
playing with confidence, chemistry, or consistency.
First the Rangers dropped a game to the Kitchener Jr Rangers
4-0, followed up that game by dropping a game to the London Jr Knights 5-1 and
then, yet another game, dropped 4 to 2 to the Hamilton Huskies.
In the game against the Knights Riley Webster scored from
Evan Walsh and Webster scored again against the Huskies from Ethan Wasylyshyn and
Matthew Ball scored unassisted.
Things just have not gone well with the Wolves as of late.
In Kitchener the team didn’t have Ball, Griffin Beddis or Cole Ledgister up
front. Also, they were missing Webster and Jordan Abbott on defense. And in
London, well let’s not talk officiating, the team again was missing players and
had a ridiculous number of penalties. Against Hamilton the team was without
Evan Wallace and Declan Uniac to name a couple. You get the point.
All these injuries have forced the team to ask a lot from
their forwards and defense. Cole Hunsberger has bounced around playing a lot of
minutes and various roles. Ben Morton might have played every forward position.
Hunter McMurdo has played center and wing. Jack Mayne has been asked to do
more, as has Jack Thompson.
Jackson McNichol and Jake Patterson played a lot and played
well stepping up for the team. Jack Smith had to jump into a top pairing
position and played most of the game in Kitchener as well. Every player has had
to be asked to do too much with too many missing.
Both Sam Miller and Drew Cribbin have held the fort for the
Wolves and have given their team a chance to win each game.
But, this is the nature of U18 AA hockey. Players get hurt, suspended,
and have obligations. Players need to take advantage of the opportunities and
put in the effort needed. Nothing comes easy and you can’t just show up and win
games without battling hard. The Wolves need to do better at showing up on
time, ready to work and creating chances.
The team has another busy weekend ahead against good teams
and will be missing more bodies and be again undermanned. No excuses. The
players need to take control of the game and make the most of the extra ice.
These will be valuable moments to pull from when the team heads into the playoffs.
Keep working and keep your head held high. It comes down to
one bounce to turn the page and get back to the great play the coaches are used
to, and the players are capable of playing.
Go Wolves!