The Waterloo Wolves took home their
third Championship of the season, with a very impressive showing in the Buffalo
Outdoor Classic and brought the championship north of the border!
With a tie and three wins, the Wolves
finish first in the round robin play, extending their unbeaten streak to 21
games and marching into the finals winning 2 to 1 against the Mount Lebanon
Hornets, extending the unbeaten streak to 22 games.
The US teams in the tournament were
made up of 2006 born players and the extra year added some size and strength
that never intimidated the Wolves. In fact, the Wolves played some of their most
physical games of the season against the bigger and older competition. Overall,
the Wolves were fantastic all weekend. The team picked up 9 of a possible 10
points over 5 games. Scored 20 goals and only allowed 7 goals against to earn a
plus 13 goal differential. The team had 4 power play goals, a shorthanded goal
and only allowed one goal against shorthanded.
The Wolves hot play helped keep the
coaches and parents warm at the outdoor venues. It was a perfect weekend, weather
wise and result wise. And the atmosphere couldn’t have been better! The players
had a great time, played in a unique environment and got to spend time together
in the hotel making memories. All in all, an amazing experience for all!
Game 1 Vs. Mount Lebanon Hornets:
2-2 tie.
This game will go down as the “play
to whistle game” forever. With the Wolves up 2-0 in the third a puck clearly
hit the mesh, out of play, and bounced back into play causing all the players
on the ice to stop playing. Well, all but a Hornet, who shot the puck into the Wolves
net, changing the momentum and leading to a tied game. Good thing the coach was
calm 😉.
Jack Gardner scored the first goal unassisted on a rocket from the point. Casey
Ross scored the second goal from Ben Morton and Jack Mayne.
Game 2 Vs. Ottawa Sting: 7-0 win
The irony in this game was the Sting
came into it as 7-0 winners in their first game only to suffer the same fate
against the Wolves. Morton scored back to back goals to open the game with his
first from Gardner and his second from
Reed Rozema. Connor Wilson scored from Keegan Weatherdon and Jacob Shaughnessy.
Shaughnessy scored from Wilson and Weatherdon. Wang had the teams only
shorthanded goal unassisted. Ross had a goal from Evan Walsh and Wang.
Weatherdon scored from Gardner and Shaughnessy.
Game 3 Vs. Keystone Wild: 3 to 2 win
The only indoor game of the weekend
and one that was do or die for the Wolves. The Wild and Wolves were tied and
only the top 2 teams moved onto finals. The Wolves started off slightly
hesitant against the big, fast and older Wild team. However, Ethan Kralik had a
shift where he was a human wrecking ball and put the wind in his team’s sail.
Morton scored from Wilson. Weatherdon showed amazing hands scoring from Wilson.
Rozema scored from Mayne.
Game 4 Vs. West Niagara Flying Aces:
6-2 win
It took a period for the Wolves to
digest their dinners in this game. The Wolves needed to win by 3 or more to
clinch top seed and fell 2 – 0 in the first but stormed back to win! Mayne
started the team off scoring from Rozema and Morton. Owen Miloje scored from
Morton. Wang scored from Ross. Kralik scored from Gardner. Rozema scored from
Mayne and Morton. Morton scored from Rozema and Mayne.
Finals Vs. Mount Lebanon Hornets: 2-1
win
The clash of the two undefeated
teams (even if one team needed an out of bound goal to tie, not bitter at all).
The Wolves championship MVP was their goalie, Ciaran Guitton-Quayle, as he made
endless quality saves for his team in the game. Down a goal in the third
period, it was Shaughnessy from Wilson to tie the game and then a nifty play
and dangle by Walsh opened up a passing lane to Ross who sent the game winning
goal into the net for his team!!
Over the weekend the team was described
to me as a “bunch of dogs”, and it is a description that truly captures the
essence of this team. They are relentless hard workers, and you truly never know
who will be the one to be a difference maker on any given game. The team has a
tremendous back end with guys like Jack Smith and Logan Murtha who fight hard
each and every shift. There is finesse back there with Christopher Ding,
Miloje, Walsh and Gardner too. Up front the team has balance, skill, grit and
determination from line to line.
Last, but anything but least, a huge
shoutout to the team goalies! Both Jake Howard (2 wins, 1 shutout, 1.00 GAA)
and Guitton-Quayle (2 wins, 1 tie, 1.66 GAA) were rock solid as always. It is
such a bonus to have a pair of goalies you can roll without any questions or
concerns. A pair of calm talented young men that have the full support and
respect of their teammates.
Now the team returns to league play
looking for their 11th straight win Wednesday night in London
against the top seeded Jr Nights Green. Keep playing your game boys and get
that win!!!