January 23, 2016
1610
The Ripley Wolves won’t be vying for the top championship in the WOAA Senior "A" league.
Despite one of the closest playoff races in recent memory, the Wolves can finish no better than fifth place in the eight-team North Division after suffering two losses last weekend, including a back-breaker to the Shallow Lake Crushers.
This also means the Wolves will be defending their 2014/15 ‘A’ Championship, which they won for the first time in 20 years last spring.
The Wolves fell in overtime to Durham, Friday night, after holding a late lead, and then lost 6-3 to the Crushers, Saturday, putting the final nail in their hopes for a run on the ‘AA’ side this year.
Friday, Drew Davidson’s hat-trick wasn’t enough for the Wolves to win in regulation, as the Durham Thundercats scored two goals in the last minute of the third period to send the game to overtime.
Other scorers for the Wolves, were Brett Catto and Paul Stewart. Assists went to Tyson Soers (3), Catto (2), Jeremy McQuillin (2), Corey McCrae, Jarred Colling and Dylan Sayle.
Mitch Campbell made 33 saves in the game.
The Wolves entered Saturday night’s must-win game against Shallow Lake, trailing the Crushers by one point in the standings, and Shallow Lake finishing its season with games against the top-two teams in the division.
A spot in the ‘AA’ playoffs wasn’t in the cards though, as Shallow Lake won, 6-3.
Wolves goals were scored by Tim Dwinnell, Colling and Ryan Armstrong. Assists went to Davidson, Ryan Dudgeon (2), McQuillin, Soers and Sayle.
Campbell stopped 16 shots in the game.
The Wolves will begin their ‘A’ playdowns on the Feb. 6 weekend. Watch the Wolves Facebook page and www.ripleywolves.com for game times and dates.
-- with information from www.ripleywolves.com
Related Stories
No related stories.