Mar 22, 2026 | Dwight Irwin | 191 views
Wolves, 81's split first two games of series
Hoo boy, are we in for a series!
Both the Minto 81's and the Ripley Wolves stole games on the road this weekend to open the best-of-seven North Division final at one game apiece.
On Friday night, a full house in Ripley watched as a fully rested Minto squad skated and hit their way to a 4-2 victory. Wolves goals were scored by Pat Looby and Ethan Skinner, with assists to Logan Swanton and Garrett Meurs, with two each.
Jason Hamilton was strong between the pipes, stopping 27 of 31 shots in the loss.
On Saturday afternoon in Palmerston, the Wolves played a hard-fought and complete game at both ends of the ice on their way to a 4-1 win.
The Wolves lead 1-0 after two, thanks to a first period marker by Looby, assisted by Cody Britton and Meurs. Once Carter Servais and Britton extended that lead to 3-0 midway through the third, the intensity ratcheted up to another level, with both goaltenders being the victims of some hardly coincidental contact, resulting in numerous scrums after the whistle.
Minto managed to break Hamilton's shut-out with just under five minutes remaining in the third, but Trent Houghton sealed the road win with an unassisted empty-netter after some strong work on the boards in the neutral zone.
Hamilton stopped 29 of 30 shots, while Ripley fired 38 on Minto's net.
It was Minto's first loss in 17 regular season and playoff games, dating back to Jan. 3, when the Wolves crushed them 8-1.
Game 3 of the North final will be held Friday, March 27, at 8:30 p.m., in Ripley. Game 4 will be Saturday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m., in Listowel. Game 5 will be Friday, April 3, in Ripley, at 8:30 p.m.
In the South Division final, Elora took a 1-0 lead over the Seaforth Centenaires on Saturday, with a 4-1 win.