Sometimes you return to league play
after a successful tournament and lack the urgency needed and effort required
to win. After winning such an important and exciting tournament you wouldn’t be
able to blame the Waterloo Wolves for falling victim to such a situation.
But, alas, the Wolves showed up to
battle like they always do and picked up important wins beating the Hamilton
Huskies 6 to 1 and the London Jr Knights White 1 to 0.
It took a couple of periods for the Wolves
to taste the fruits of their labor in Hamilton. Despite out shooting and out
chancing the Huskies they went into the third tied 1 to 1 on a Ben Morton “Michigan”
goal that wowed the building and perhaps sparked his teammates.
In the third Connor Wilson scored
from Morton and Evan Walsh. Jacob Shaughnessy scored a pair of goals with his
first from Casey Ross and his second from Ross and Ethan Kralik. Morton added a
second goal from Allan Wang and Owen Miloje and Kralik had a breakaway goal
from Miloje.
Ciaran Guitton-Quayle held the fort
down with key saves as has become the norm for the tender, especially in the
opening periods, when the Wolves traded chances with the Huskies and didn’t
have the lead yet. The Wolves have been blessed with their goaltending this season
and Jack Howard only further proved the point posting a shutout in Sunday’s game.
Howard stopped everything that came his way and made it look easy.
The lone goal in the Knights game
came from Keegan Weatherdon from Wilson and Morton. The game was played at Waterloo
Rec and the big ice made for different game. That said, the Wolves created a
lot of scoring chances and played great. Reed Rozema had several chances and
was strong on the forecheck all game.
In any game, but even more in tight
games, you need solid defense to win. Jack Smith and Logan Murtha were again
stellar and played tough as nails. The pair of rugged defenders really
compliment the offensive side of Christopher Ding and Miloje. Jack Gardner provides
an excellent mix of both and has fit in perfectly with the team since joining.
The weekends victories are extra
impressive given the fact Jack Mayne and Walsh (re-injured Friday) missed time.
The Wolves are excited and anxious to get both players on the ice as they are
very important players to the team. In the meantime, the Wolves keep working
hard and practicing hard, making no excuses.
Keep it up Wolves!