Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey : the season in review

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1 April 2013 Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey Volume 4, Issue 7 Wolf Talk Waterloo Wolves & Hero to Hero 3rd Annual Waterloo Wolves Golf Tournament! Sunday, July 7 Foxwood Golf Course Baden $75.00 per golfer including a round of golf, delicious dinner and prizes for all. Open to players, coaches, alumni, family members and sponsors. The Waterloo Wolves banner, showing support for the Canadian troops, made it all the way to Air Det in the Arabian Sea. For more Hero to Hero photos, see page 6 of this issue of Wolf Talk. For more details contact Gary Spark at or gspark@prioritycircuits.com : the season in review Each season hockey teams set out with a solid base and plan to build themselves up, to get better as the season moves on. The year for the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA team began with those goals in mind. In September, the new coaching staff introduced themselves to the Alliance Midget AAA Hockey world. The coaches knew that defence breeds championships. Waterloo had great goaltending from the start to build on. Ryan Purcell and Jackson McIntosh were solid from day one and strengthened as the season progressed. There were enough returning forwards from the season, that they could...continued on page 7 Inside this issue: Sponsors 2 Letter from Willy H. 3 Pics from the Season 4-5 Hero to Hero 6 Year in Review 7 Contact Us 8

2 P a ge 2 Wolf Talk V olume 4, I s s u e 7 Sponsors for GOLD Arkay Design and Printing Ball Construction Inc. Compass Group Conestoga Meat Packers Daily Grill Restaurant Piller s Fine Foods GENERAL SPONSORS DW Lorentz Construction Inc. Angstrom Communications Inc. Eileen Innocente - In Memory of Mario 'Pinky' Innocente MacMillan Tire Lance Roberts, Real Estate Broker, Royal LePage Scharf Realty Shawn McFalls Racing Sherry & Jim Peeples Eastbridge Dental Care Rosendale Farms Ltd. Pioneer Hi-Bred Pro Fleet Care Dolphin Identification Systems Inc. SILVER Raffi Jewellers Inc. Viscofan Canada Inc. Weber Inc BRONZE McEachnie Group Private Wealth Management J.C Waterworks Plumbing Dordan Mechanical Inc. Fergus Family Chiropractic G&G Skate Training Centre Inc. Document Imaging Partners ES Hockey Training Inc. Sealed Air (Canada) Co. Graham Mathew & Partners LLP Kohan Kobayashi Canada Inc. Sports Groups International Kerry Canada Inc. Hela Spice Canada Inc. Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Alliance Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Kissner Group Redman Distributing Priority Circuits Ltd. Reiser (Canada) Ltd. Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Rector Dundee Wealth P & H Foods T.D. Waterhouse Winpak Ltd. Ayr Coach Lines D.C. Foods Pestell Shavings National Truck League To Our Sponsors: Everything the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey Team has achieved in since its inception would not have been possible without the support of dedicated, enthusiastic sponsors like you. You help make it happen! Thank you!! Optimist Club of Conestogo/ Winterbourne Septimatech Group Inc. Optimist Club of Waterloo North Hilton Marketing Ltd. Montana's Waterloo on the Boardwalk Langen Studios Inc.

3 P a ge 3 Wolf Talk V olume 4, I s s u e 7 A Message from Willy Huber They say time flies when you are having a good time; well, this season flew by because it was a great one! Another season has ended and I think back on all the amazing memories that were created. It feels like just yesterday when we started tryouts for the season. By the time we knew it, the season was in full motion. With regular season games, tournaments and events that happened this season, they wouldn t have been possible without the support of certain individuals. On behalf of the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey Team, Coaching Staff, and Wolves Operating Committee, we would like to start off by thanking our generous and amazing sponsors. Your support made the season a great success. The team was able to participate in several tournaments this season, one of them being a tournament in Drummondville, Quebec. Our sponsors have been key to the success of the Midget AAA Waterloo Wolves. Your involvement has made the Waterloo Wolves program a reality. Thank you! I would like to thank our coaching staff and trainers (Jeff Brick Head Coach, Paul Gaudet Associate Coach, Dave Steele Associate Coach, Norm Bonnell Goalie Coach, Greg Henning Head Trainer, Chad Drown Associate Trainer, and Chris McFarlane Strength and Conditioning Coach). All of you did an exceptional job coaching and guiding these great young men this season. The Wolves are taking with them hockey skills that will be with them for years to come. Your dedicated long hours of practice and guidance did not go unnoticed. Thank you. A big thank you to Kim Rennie, our amazing skate technician. Thank you for your continuous help. Thank you to all members of the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Operating Committee, (Marnie Huber Director of Parent Fundraising, Gary Spark Director of Operations, Jeff Brick Head Coach, Sandi Henning Director of Media & Advertising, Vicki Eckert Wolfamania Chair, Debi Purcell/Mark Lorentz Team Managers, Diana Thomas Announcer) and parents who volunteered this season. Also, a big thank you to Doug MacIntosh. Doug took care of the Wolves' Twitter feed at every game and tournament, and was absolutely fantastic tweeting play-by-play of the game to keep our fans updated. Throughout my life, I've seen the difference that volunteering efforts can make in people's lives and you all demonstrated this, this season. Thank you for all your help! Throughout my life, I've seen the difference that volunteering efforts can make in people's lives and you all demonstrated this, this season. Thank you for all your help! Thank you to Waterloo Minor Hockey Association for their continued support in assisting the development of this great hockey club. Truly an honour to be part of such an amazing organization. I would now like to congratulate the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey team on a job well done this season. You guys made it to the Alliance Finals against London and for that, you guys should be proud of yourselves! As I have said to the Wolves alumni in the past, Stanley Cups are won and lost. You all demonstrated what it means to be on a team and the passion you have for the game of hockey. Great job guys! It has been an honour to have met all you boys this season. For all of you, this is a stepping stone in your hockey careers and I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavours. For those who will be coming back next season, I promise you another great season. Remember, once a Wolf, always a Wolf! Again, thank you to everyone who contributed in making this season an amazing one. Stay in touch! Your Friend in Hockey, Willy Huber Jr Chair, Midget Operating Committee & Corporate Sponsorship Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey Congratulations to Vicki and Daryl Eckert, this year s recipients of the Alpha Wolf Award! The Alpha Wolf Award is presented annually to the person(s) that make the greatest contribution to the Waterloo Wolves hockey program.

4 Wolf Talk It Was a Great Season! Volume 4, Issue 7 Page 4

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6 Wolf Talk V olume 4, I s s u e 7 P a ge 6 Waterloo Wolves and Hero to Hero The Waterloo Wolves donations to Hero to Hero are much appreciated by the men and women in the Canadian Forces. We recently received photos of the Wolves jersey being shared and worn proudly by Leading Seaman Hull Tech Mike Wilson and Leading Seaman Hull Tech Eric Caron when they visited the Burge Khilifa in Dubai, UAE. Sailors from HMCS Toronto wearing the jerseys that were donated at your troop morale hockey game. Kevin Willaert (far right) requested the care packages from Hero To Hero and oversaw the distribution of the 300 shirts, cookies, music cd's and of course the ever popular Piller's Pepstix to his crew mates. Leading Seamam Hull Tech Mike Wilson, NewMarket ONT ; Ordinary Seaman Hull Tech Dany Bremner, Cornwall ONT ; Able Seaman Nav Comm Michael Cote, Kitchener ONT ; Leading Seaman Hull Tech Eric Caron, Saint-Adelme QUE ; Master Seaman Hull Tech Kevin Willaert, Fredericton NB

7 Wolf Talk V olume 4, I s s u e 7 P a ge 7 Year in Review continued mentor the new forwards as the year progressed. On defence we had a talented group of rookies. The coaches knew that in time our defencemen would improve their game, and they did. The Wolves finished the regular season in 4th place with a record = 46 points. In the first round of playoffs the Wolves opponent was the Hamilton Huskies. Both teams were well matched but the Wolves had the season edge with a record against Hamilton. The series was close and controversial and went the full 5 games, but Waterloo came out on top! The league semi final vs Kitchener was next. Waterloo was considered to be very much the underdog as Kitchener had finished the season in 1st place with only 3 losses. Kitchener looked like they would dispatch with the Wolves easily after dominant wins in games 1 & 2. But SURPRISE! The Wolves clawed their way back into the series with two dominant wins themselves in games 3 & 4. Game 5 ended up going to triple overtime before the Wolves would register an exhilarating upset and return to the Alliance Final for the 3rd consecutive year. In the final it was the Wolves meeting up with their arch nemesis the London Jr Knights. Waterloo was eager and determined to knock off London who had won the league title for the past three seasons. London was just as determined to keep their dynasty s record intact. Game 1, 2 & 3 of the final each went to overtime with London winning 2 of the 3 games. The injuries which had plagued the Wolves all season long were starting to catch up on them. London began to pull away after a win in game 4. The Wolves attempted to halt the Jr. Knights momentum however they were only able to slow it down by winning game 5 to narrow the series gap to 3-2. In game 6, the London Jr. Knights won the Alliance Final. The Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA had a Cinderella playoff season by reaching deep within themselves and displaying the heart and determination of the Wolves. The coaching staff, the Midget Operating Committee, the sponsors, players families, and the fans are proud of each and every player. Greg Henning, Head Trainer Great Goaltending, Guys!

8 Waterloo Wolves #16 - Tim Nauta C #10 - Ray McFalls A #18 - Sean McEwan A #66 - Jake Moggy A #7 - Brenden Goran #1 - Ryan Purcell #39 - Austin Cox #44 - Mackenzie Shantz #19 - Kevin Orleman #22 - Zack Hedley #33 - Jackson McIntosh #94 - Steve Lorentz #88 - Thomas Pestell #9 - Connor Kaminski #13 - Shawn Mitchell #68 - Matthieu Bourbeau #57 - Nick Palmer #77 - Jacob Rawlinson #55 - Garrett Pollock #91 - Tyler Woods Head Coach Jeff Brick Associate Coaches Norm Bonnell Paul Gaudet Dave Steele Trainer Greg Henning Assistant Trainer Chad Drown Skate Technician Kim Rennie Strength & Conditioning Chris McFarlane Prospective Players Stay tuned for June Meeting details. Date, time and place will be posted at Contact Us! Jeff Brick, Head Coach jbrick@stahlecon.com Midget Operating Committee Willy Huber, Chair & Corporate Sponsorships ext. 260 willyhuberjr@pillers.com Gary Spark, Team Operations gspark@prioritycircuits.com Sandi Henning, Media & Advertising tymflys@yahoo.com Once a Wolf, Always a Wolf! Willy Huber Chair and Corp. Sponsorship Marnie Huber Director Parent Fundraising Jeff Brick Head Coach Gary Spark Director Team Operations Sandi Henning Director Media Vicki Eckert Wolfamania Chair Debi Purcell Team Manager Diana Thomas Announcer Ray Kosumovic WMHA President Rob Grein WMHA Liasion