Ripley Wolves defeat Durham, advance to WOAA Senior “AA” finals

The Ripley Wolves defeated the Durham Thundercats, four games to two, on the weekend, and now, for the first time in modern team history, advance to the WOAA Senior “AA” finals.

Friday night, in front of a capacity crowd at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, the Wolves won Game 5, by a score of 7-4.

The Wolves and Thundercats traded goals all night, but Ripley finally pulled away in the third period on its way to a 3-2 lead in this fast-paced, hard-hitting, exciting series.

Ben Hughes led the way with a hat-trick for the Wolves, with singles going to Dan Nicoloff, Brent Walton, Nick Seiler and Gerrit Satosek (empty-netter). Assists went to Cody Britton (3), Jeff Alcombrack (2), Walton (2), Garrett Meurs, Nicoloff, Blake Nichol, Hughes, and Tyler McCarthy.

Ryan MacDonald got the win between the Wolves’ pipes.

In Durham, Saturday night, the Wolves wrapped up this series, ousting Durham with 7-3 win.

Ripley jumped out to a quick lead in the first, leaving the frame with a 4-1 lead. Goal-scorers in the first, were Ben Hughes, Gerrit Satosek, Cody Britton and Jarred Colling. Assists went to Garrett Meurs (2), Brent Walton, Dan Nicoloff, Nick Seiler, and Satosek.

Ripley stretched that to a 6-1 lead, with second-period goals from Meurs and Nicoloff, with assists going to Seiler and Jeff Alcombrack on the Meurs goal, and Alcombrack and Walton on the Nicoloff marker.

Durham added one to make it 6-2, but Walton made it 7-2 late in the second, ostensibly chasing 'Cats goalie Gatlin Burt, who didn’t start the third. Assists went to Seiler and Britton.

The Thundercats added one on Wolves goalie Ryan MacDonald early in the third to make it 7-3, but they wouldn’t get any closer.

The Wolves won the tough series in six games and will face the Clinton Radars, who finished their series against Saugeen Shores in six games, with a Saturday night win.

In their only meeting this season, Clinton beat Ripley, 4-2, in a wildly-entertaining game. Watch ripleywolves.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook, for the schedule when it’s determined.