What a run boys!!!
As the season went on the
expectations and belief in this team grew game by game in our dressing room.
The players set their sight on winning the league and being Alliance Champions,
and, did just that!
With resilience and determination
unmatched by anyone else in Alliance!
What an amazing group of players.
The dedication, drive and passion was undeniable by anyone! The players worked
hard to earn their due respect and finally have it!
Headed into this series there was a
lot of mutual admiration between the Waterloo Wolves and London Jr Knights. Both
teams play a hard to play against style that wears their opponents down. The coaches
from both sides knew it was going to be a chess match that came down to
execution. There was no way this was going to be anything but a war on ice and
a long difficult series. And boy, did the players ever deliver one hell of an
entertaining series!
The Wolves rode the momentum of the
big series win against Sarnia to a huge 4 to 1 series opening win over the
London Jr Knights in Waterloo. The win was extra impressive considering the
team was missing a top player in Reed Rozema. The Wolves Captain, Ben Morton
led the charge with a pair of goals. Morton’s first goal was set up from Allan
Wang and his second from Connor Wilson. Casey Ross had a nice goal from Morton
and Logan Murtha had a nice goal from Wang and Morton.
Game two and three were nail bitters
and showcased goalie battles. In game two the Wolves tied 1 to 1 in large part
due to the heroics in net by Ciaran Guitton-Quayle. Guitton-Quayle battled all game and in overtime to help the team get
a point. Jack Mayne set up Morton in front for the typing goal. In game three
it was Howard’s turn to lead the charge. Howard surrendered a lone goal and
made constant key saves to keep the game within reach but unfortunately, he
never received goal support from his team.
What a comeback in game four!
Right when you think the Wolves might
be down and out the boy’s storm into action! The Knights jumped to a fast 3 to
0 lead and you could sense the team needed a recharge. A timeout and regroup switched
up the team’s mojo and you could see the players shift after shift engaging and
taking over the game. Mayne picked the perfect time to put the team on his back
with a pair of goals. His first goal came from Wilson and Morton and his second
from Jacob Shaughnessy. The Knights closed the second period with a late goal
to lead 4 to 2. However, again, the Wolves got to work, and Wilson scored on a
brilliant shot from Shaughnessy and Owen Miloje. With the goalie pulled it was
time for Ethan Kralik to play hero. Kralik willed his way to the net through a
couple Knight defenders and took a feed from Shaughnessy to tie the game.
Overtime settled nothing but the Wolves left London with a stolen point and
perhaps the momentum needed to close the series.
The series came down to a winner
takes all game five!
Series tied 4-4 with both teams
needing to play their best hockey of the season to not only win the Alliance
banner but to earn the right to participate in the OHF Championships.
With the stakes high and everything
riding on the game, you knew the Wolves would come to play.
And out came the Wolves….
Shaughnessy saved his best for last
in the Alliance Championship game. Shaughnessy had the first two goals in the
game with his first being set up by Keegan Weatherdon and his second from
Weatherdon and Christopher Ding. The Knights split the Wolves lead in half
before Wilson responded for the Wolves from Shaughnessy to restore the two-goal
lead. The Knights were unwilling to roll over and scored again but, once again,
the Wolves responded, this time Weatherdon redirected a shot from Wang with
Morton drawing an assist as well.
The game was an intense battle down low.
Jack Smith and Murtha had to fight for every inch in front of Howard for him to
see pucks. Jack Gardner patrolled the zone like a watch dog. Miloje, Ding and
Evan Walsh maneuvered around the opponents and head manned pucks like
quarterbacks. The team’s defenders made life hard on a very good Knights
offense. You cannot win championships without solid defense and goaltending and
the Wolves were rock solid in that department. In fact, the Wolves were best in
Alliance all season in that department only surrendering 52 goals all season
and boasting an impressive +79 goal differential.
Next up the Wolves will head to
Milton to compete in the OHF Championships. The best of best go head-to-head
and the Wolves will be right in the thick of things! The Wolves have shown all
year they can win with Three championships, league champions and Alliance Champions
already under their belts. The Double Crown Champs will work hard to complete the rare Triple Crown Championship team!!! If anyone can do it....it is these hard-working warriors!
Let's go Wolves!!!