Mar 23, 2025 | Dwight Irwin | 890 views
Wolves trail final series 2-0
The Ripley Wolves have a big hill to climb in the Ontario Elite Hockey League final against Minto after suffering two losses this weekend.
The Wolves lost 4-2 (empty netter) on Friday and 6-4 on Saturday in Palmerston to fall behind 2-0 in a series they're playing without line-up stalwarts Ethan Skinner and Gerrit Satosek, who are both out with injuries.
On Friday night, the Wolves jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period on markers by Garrett Meurs and Logan Swanton. Assists went to Tyler McCarthy, Brett Catto and Todd Hellyer.
Minto scored goals late in both the first and second periods, and took the lead for good with nine minutes left in the third, adding an empty netter just before the buzzer.
Jason Hamilton was incredible in the Wolves net, stopping 27 of 30 shots in the loss.
On Saturday, a huge contingent of Ripley fans made the trek to Palmerston for Game 2. Dan Nicoloff broke the deadlock with a laser under the bar with just three seconds left in the first, before a wild second period saw both teams score three goals each, giving the Wolves a 4-3 lead after two.
Unfortunately, Minto turned up the pressure and scored three unanswered goals in the third period to win 6-4.
Wolves goals were scored by Nicoloff, Drew Davidson, Jarred Colling, and Catto. Assists went to Cody Britton (2), Meurs (2), Pat Looby and Nicoloff.
Hamilton stopped 28 of 34 shots in the Wolves net, while Ripley fired 23 on Minto's net, including just five in the third period when the ice tilted in the wrong direction.
Ripley looks to get back into the series at home on Friday, March 28, at 8:30 p.m., with Game 4 going Saturday, March 29, at 4 p.m. in Palmerston.