Wolves advance to semi-finals against Minto 81s

The Ripley Wolves advance to the semi-finals against the Minto 81s, after defeating the Durham Thundercats, 8-3, Tuesday night, in front of a packed crowd at the Ripley Arena.

Ben Hughes put the Wolves on the board midway in the first, assisted by Brett Catto. Durham tied it up but then Dan Nicoloff fired in an unassisted marker; followed minutes later, by a Cody Britton goal, from Catto and Tyler McCarthy, to make it 3-1 for Ripley.

The Wolves added three more in the second frame, while Durham managed one goal, to give Ripley a commanding 6-2 lead, heading into the third. Garrett Meurs scored from Nicoloff; Hughes scored from Gerrit Satosek and Blake Nichol; and Catto scored from Pat Looby and Tyson Soers.

Durham scored midway in the final period, but Meurs added another, assisted by Kevin Boyd; and minutes, later, Looby scored from Boyd, to end the game, 8-3 for Ripley.

The Wolves begin their semi-final series against Minto, Saturday, Feb. 29, at 8 p.m., in Ripley.
 

• Game 2 is in Palmerston, Sunday, March 1, at 8 p.m.
• Game 3 is back in Ripley, Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m.
• Game 4 is in Palmerston, Tuesday, March 10, at 8:30 p.m.
• Game 5 is at the Ripley Arena, Friday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m.
• If necessary, Game 6 is Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m., in Palmerston.
• If necessary, Game 7 is Tuesday, March 17 at 8:30 p.m., in Ripley.