Mar 26, 2023 | Dwight Irwin | 878 views
Wolves battle their way to Game 3 win
We have a series!
The Ripley Wolves scratched and clawed their way to a 6-4 victory on Saturday night, to get their first win of the series. Tavistock now leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 in Tavi today at 1 p.m.
Ethan Skinner led the way with three goals and two assists, while Chase Meurs scored two huge goals in the third period after a move to forward after starting the game on the blueline.
The game was dead-locked at 2-2 after two periods, and it was plain to see the teams now firmly dislike each other, with nasty hits, after the whistle jabs, full on wrestling matches, and plenty of cross-checks and punches going both ways by the time the game was 40 minutes in.
Skinner scored the first two Wolves goals, one unassisted and one with help from Cody Britton, short-handed.
That set up a wild third period, when Meurs scored his first, only to have Tavistock tie it up just two minutes later. Soon after, Meurs netted his second, only to have the Royals knot it up within a minute.
Assists on Meurs' goals went to Skinner (2), Britton, and Nick Seiler.
The dagger was provided by Adam Alexander with just 2:09 left in the game, when he walked in from the side boards and fired a laser under the crossbar, giving the Wolves a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Seiler got the lone assist.
A nasty hit by a Royals player on Skinner with a minute left – resulting in an interference penalty – removed any hopes of another comeback, and Skinner sealed it with an empty netter, from Garrett Meurs and Pat Looby.
Jason Hamilton faced 33 shots for the win in the Wolves net.
The Wolves look to tie up the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tavistock. Game 5 will be on Friday, March 31, at 8:30 p.m. in Ripley.