BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The Sudbury Wolves are licking their wounds
after a pair of weekend losses to Mississauga and
Belleville.
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Wolves overage goaltender Patrick
Elechener prepares to make a save, while forward Benoit
Pouliot works hard to back check to prevent a scoring
chance by a Belleville Bulls forward Sunday afternoon
at the Sudbury Arena. The Bulls scored a late goal to
take a 3-2 win over the struggling Wolves. |
The Wolves were hammered 5-1 on Friday night
at the Sudbury Arena by the Mississauga IceDogs, and then lost
3-2 to the Belleville Bulls Sunday afternoon.
Despite the losses, the Wolves still managed
to remain in third spot in the Central Division, and fourth
overall in the Eastern Conference with a record of 24-21-4-4,
good for 56 points.
On Friday, Kevin Beech got the start, but was
shelled by the IceDogs, who fired 37 shots at the sophomore
goaltender.
The loss ended Beech's recent undefeated
streak of seven games, where he went 6-0-1.
IceDogs' superstar Patrick O'Sullivan
was the driving force behind the big win by scoring two goals,
including the game winner short handed, and adding an
assist.
Once again, IceDogs' goalie Michael Ouzas
shut down the Sudbury shooters, holding them to one goal by
Ryan McDonough on the power play.
Overall, Ouzas stopped 25 of 26 shots he
faced.
Bradley Snetsinger, Michael Swift and Kyle
Quincey also scored for the Wolves.
On Sunday afternoon, the Wolves were nipped
3-2 by the Bulls, who got a late goal with just over two
minutes remaining in regulation to steal two points.
The Wolves battled back from two one-goal
deficits, but let the game slip away on the late goal by
Bulls' forward Scott Baker.
The game also marked the home debut of local
product Jeff Christison, who the Wolves picked up on waivers at
the OHL trade deadline from Sarnia.
Christison showed great drive and
determination all game, constantly going to the net looking for
scoring chances.
Christison was rewarded with a goal, his
first ever career OHL goal, midway through the third period.
The goal tied the game at 2-2.
The game also saw the return of Patrick
Ehelechner, who last played Jan. 29 against Mississauga.
Ehelechner was very solid and made 28 saves in the loss.
Bobby Chaumont scored the other goal for the
Wolves, who are now 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.
Evan Brophey and Pat Sutton also scored for
the Bulls, who are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
The Wolves are back in action this upcoming
weekend for a three games in three nights scenario.
The Wolves host the Barrie Colts on Friday
night, and then host the Oshawa Generals for the first ever
regular season Saturday night game in Sudbury.
The Wolves then hit the road to play Toronto
St. Michael's Majors on Sunday.
