Feb 03, 2024 | Dwight Irwin | 707 views
Wolves wrap regular season with 13-5 win
The Ripley Wolves came out guns-a-blazin' in their final game of the regular season, dashing Georgian Bay's playoff hopes with a 13-5 drubbing of the Applekings.
Georgian Bay needed to win to stay in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot, but Ripley quashed their hopes early and often, led by a five-goal and six-point effort from Ethan Skinner.
Other Wolves goals were scored by Garrett Meurs (2), Nick Seiler (2), Brett Catto, Rob White, Cody Britton, and Chase Meurs.
Assists went to Ethan Visser (4), Catto (4), Garrett Meurs (3), Derek Skinner (2), Alex Kuntz (2), Kaden Hoggarth (2), Britton (2), Ethan Skinner, White, and Seiler.
Jacob Abbott got the win in the Wolves net, the team's 13th straight.
The Wolves finished in top spot in the regular season with a 16-1-3 record and 35 points, with an incredible goal differential of +54.
Garrett Meurs is almost guaranteed to finish atop the league lead in scoring after his five-point performance last night, finishing with 48 (18 goals, 30 assists), though games are being played elsewhere around the league this weekend. He currently has a 13-point lead over Luke Richardson of Durham, who has two games remaining.
Ethan Skinner's five-goal outburst last night also moved him into top spot in the league with 19 (in just 11 games!), though former Wolf and current Creemore Coyote Ben Hughes has 18 and a game yet to play. Meurs sits in third with 17, while Dan Nicoloff, currently nursing an injury, is tied for sixth in the league with 13 goals (16 games).
Meanwhile Jason Hamilton is the only goalie with more than three games played to have a save percentage above .900 (.909) and his 14 wins and four shutouts put him atop the Ontario Elite Hockey League in yet another stellar season from the veteran netminder.
The Applekings' loss means the Wolves will face the eighth-place Erin Outlaws in the first round of the playoffs, beginning next weekend. Watch this website, as well as Wolves' Twitter and Facebook for Game 1 details.