The Ripley Wolves ended their regular season with a shoot-out win over Lucknow, setting up a first round series with the Milverton Four Wheel Drives, who finished seventh overall.
The Wolves, who finished with a 17-3 record and second overall for the first time in modern history, won the only meeting against the Drives this season, 3-1, in November.
The first round schedule is:
Game 1 – Sat., Feb. 3 – in Ripley – 7 p.m. (Sponsored by Parrish & Heimbecker)
Game 2 – Sun., Feb. 4 – at Milverton – 3 p.m.
Game 3 – Fri., Feb. 9 – in Ripley – 8:45 p.m. (Sponsored by Canadian Tire Kincardine)
Game 4 – Sat., Feb. 10 – at Milverton – 8:30 p.m.
Game 5* – Sat., Feb. 17 – in Ripley – 7 p.m. (Sponsored by Presto Crest)
Game 6* – Sun., Feb. 18 – at Milverton – 4 p.m.
Game 7* – Mon., Feb. 19 – in Ripley – 5:15 p.m.
*if necessary
Jason Hamilton returned to the Wolves net in the season’s final game after missing a couple of months with an injury. He back-stopped the Wolves to the shoot-out win.
Goals were scored by Cody Britton, Brett Catto and Nick Seiler, with assists going to Catto and Brent Walton (3).
Walton, who spent last season as the Wolves’ assistant coach while rehabilitating an injury suffered playing pro hockey overseas, finished the season with 18 goals and 17 assists (35 points) in just 12 games to lead the team. Catto and Britton tied for second in team scoring with 8-22-30 and 17-13-30 respectively.
Kurt Edwards and Jason Hamilton both won seven games in the Wolves net, while Mitch Campbell grabbed three wins in his four starts.
