The season got off to a quick start for the EJ’s Tavern at
Baden Wilmot Wolverines Midget BB team as they played 3 games in their opening
week. This is the first season of Midget
BB Rep girls hockey for the Wolverines so they were anxious to make a mark in
their new division of play.
The team traveled to Guelph last Wednesday where they fell behind 1-0 early in the first period before settling in and playing a strong second. Unfortunately giving up a late power play goal sent Wilmot to the 2nd intermission down 2-0. The Wolverines stormed the Guelph net through out the final frame but could not solve the diminutive Gryphon goalkeeper and fell by a final score of 2-0.
Saturday the team was off to Ancaster to battle the Avalanche. Goalkeeper Rebecca Ruston was strong in the Wolverine net and held off the home side through 2 periods of back and forth scoreless hockey.
Kate VanKalsbeek scored early in the third on an unassisted wraparound to stake the visitors to a 1-0 lead. Despite missing a few players and others battling injury, the defence of Ellie Graham, McKenzie Hall, Alicia Hartung, and Emily Drake along with strong backchecking from Kaleigh Zimmerman and Grace Fountain supported more stellar play from TLC Petfood Player of the Game Ruston as the Wolverines claimed a 1-0 victory.
Tuesday the Wolverines were at the Wilmot Rec Complex for their home opener against Oakville and came out ready to play. Jamie Van Nes got the Wolverines on the board with 4 seconds left in the first period finishing off a 2 on 1 with linemate Jenna Lobsinger. Aedyn Cressman-Voison extended the lead to 2-0 as time wound down in the second on a pretty three-way passing play from Van Nes and Lobsinger.
Oakville pressed for the tying marker in the third but were denied by goaltender Brookelynn Gerber, who was especially sharp on a Hornet breakaway and on two Oakville powerplays. Dogged penalty-killing by Anna Clifford, Abby Williams, Katherine Gerber, Breanna Bruce and Tali Calder helped seal the Hornets fate as the Wolverines skated away with a strong 2-0 victory.
Lobsinger was the TLC Petfood Player of the Game in this one with her strong two-way play and assists on both goals. The Wolverines are home the next couple of Tuesday nights before seeing their first tournament action at the end of the month in the Waterloo Ravens Fall Challenge Cup.