By Derek Holtom
Three straight losses to the Dauphin Kings in the past few weeks was more than enough for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
Wayway managed to defeat Dauphin last week, thanks, in no small part, to an outstanding defensive effort and the play of Cole Hunter. The Shoal Lake product scored a pair of goals in the win, but was quick to spread the praise around.
“I think it was good to get some offense myself, but defensively our team played great as well – our coverage in the ‘D’ zone was good, we back checked well, and Jase was there to make the saves when we needed.”
Hunter has already eclipsed his total from a year ago now that he has 11 goals. How many more the 17-year-old forward will get remains to be seen, but it’s not a topic that’s weighing heavily on him.
“I’m not really thinking about how many goals I’ll get – I want to keep playing the way I’m playing and the goals will come,” he said.
Earning victories against top teams has only added to the belief in the Wayway dressing room that this is their year.
“All our games between us and Dauphin have been close this year,” says Hunter. “Unfortunately we came out on the losing end before. We can beat anyone in our division and anyone can get first. Teams can finish anywhere.
“Once people buy in, and we start sticking to our systems, the results will follow,” he said.
Last week
Wolverines 6, Terriers 3 (EN)
The Wolverines earned their fourth and fifth points of the week back home Saturday night with a strong performance, downing the Portage Terriers 6-3 (EN).
The Terriers scored just 21 seconds into the game, but the Wolverines responded quickly, and held a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes thanks to goals from Noah Oughton (third) and Cole Hunter (11th).
Aidan Herring (17th) scored the lone goal in the second, and then Sebastien Hicks (23rd) would score the eventual game winner eight minutes into the third. The Terriers and Wolverines would trade a pair of goals back and forth the rest of the way, with Herring (18th) and Hicks (24th) doing the honours.
Mariko Bercier earned the win with a 28-save performance.
Titans 6, Wolverines 5 (SO)
The Wolverines earned a road point on Friday in Neepawa, falling 6-5 to the Titans in a shootout.
This was a wild affair, with the Wolverines enjoying leads of 3-1 and 4-1 before falling behind 5-4 late in the third period. However, defenseman Ryley Cyca scored his first of the season with just 1:12 left in the third period to force overtime.
The shootout was needed to determine a winner. Neepawa got the extra point thanks to Keenan Skrupa’s goal and the three saves made by netminder Zach Burleigh.
Aidan Herring (15th, 16th) had a pair of goals for the Wolverines, with Sebastien Hicks (22nd) and Ben Roulette (17th) adding singles.
Netminder Jase Wareham took the loss after stopping 35 shots.
Wolverines 3, Kings 1
The Wolverines finally got their first win against the Dauphin Kings, beating them 3-1 last Tuesday on home ice.
It was a defensive gem of a game by netminder Jase Wareham, who stopped 32 of 33 shots he faced to lift the Wolverines to victory. The two points also pulled Wayway to within seven points of second place Dauphin and Neepawa.
Cole Hunter scored his ninth and 10th goals to lead the Wolverines offensively in this game, which they led by period scores of 2-1 and 3-1. Hunter scored his second goal just 50 seconds into the third period, and it would be the last goal of the game. Ben Roulette (16th) had the other Wayway goal.
Up next
The Wolverines do not play until Friday this week as they host the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. The Blizzard actually hold a 2-1 season series lead against the Wolverines, though Wayway won the last meeting 7-2 earlier this month.
The level of competition amps up dramatically the next night as the Steinbach Pistons come to town. The Pistons hold a 3-0 season series lead over the Wolverines.
The Wolverines also kick off the month of February next Tuesday as the red hot Neepawa Titans come to town. The Titans, who have inserted themselves in the mix for top spot in the West Division, are 0-2 against the Wolverines this year so far.
CLAW MARKS – The Wolverines are 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games … They have improved to 18-20-1-2 and are just four points back of the Dauphin Kings for third spot in the West Division. The Kings though do retain two games in hand … Sebastien Hicks is now tied for second overall in MJHL goal scoring with 24. He trails Portage rookie sensation Trevor Hill, who scored a hat trick against the Selkirk Steelers last week. He did not, however, score against the Wolverines