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Wildcats' Win Streak Hits Three
2016-11-17
#35 Justin Ritcey of the Valley Jr. A Wildcats makes one of his many saves look easy in the Valley goal! (Photo by Emily Halbersma)
After a rough start, the Jr. A Wildcats are coming to life! (article by Justin Halbersma)
Look out, Maritime Hockey League. The Valley Wildcats are on the move.
After a disappointing start to the season, the Greenwood Auto Sales Valley Wildcats have won three in a row as they begin their climb out of the Eastlink South division.
On November 5th, the Wildcats traveled to Summerside for their first meeting with the Summerside Capitals. After a slow start, no one knew what to expect from these Wildcats.
They delivered. After the Capitals took a 1-0 lead, the Wildcats rattled off the next three goals, building a 3-1 lead. Although the Capitals scored late in the third to make it 3-2, the outcome was never in doubt, as Wildcats goalie Justin Ritcey delivered a sparkling 34-save performance. The Wildcats were outshot 36-26, but earned a much needed win.
Jonathan Larter, Nic Blanchard, and Grant Janes all scored for Valley.
On November 6th, the Wildcats returned home to face the South Shore Lumberjacks. This game would prove to be a wild affair, with both teams sending parades of players to the penalty box in a fight filled third period. Despite the fireworks, the Wildcats kept their focus long enough to mount a comeback. Down 3-1, the ‘Cats bent but didn’t break, as they clawed their way back and walked out of the Kings Mutual Century Center in Berwick with a 4-3 victory.
The Wildcats opened the scoring on a power play goal by Grant Janes. They then watched as that lead evaporated, as the Lumberjacks built up a 3-1 lead late in the second. Then some Wildcat magic reappeared.
Buoyed by Landon Trickett and Ilya Putintsev each scoring their first goals of the season, the Cats found themselves tied with the Lumberjacks early in the third. Then Justin Ritcey, making his second consecutive start on the weekend, went to work…and he saved his best for last.
With the Cats nursing a slim 4-3 lead in the middle of the third, a Lumberjack player found himself in front of an open net, with the puck on his stick. It seemed like a sure goal, but as the puck headed for the open net, it suddenly found a home in the glove of the Wildcats’ netminder, as he lunged across and grabbed the shot from seemingly out of nowhere. It was the save that kept the momentum in Valley’s favor, and ultimately preserved the win. Ritcey faced 35 shots on the night, making 32 saves. He was named the first star of the game on this night.
Goalscorers for this game were Grant Janes, Landon Trickett, Ilya Putintsev, and Jean-Marc Evans-Renaud.
The Cats had hit a two game winning streak for the first time this season. They took this momentum to Bridgewater on November 11, as they took to the ice to face the Lumberjacks for the second time in as many games. While this game proved to be much more calm, the end result was the same—a 4-3 win for the Valley Wildcats.
Once again, the Wildcats found themselves in a 3-1 hole…this one at the end of the first period. Once again, the Cats clawed back. By the end of the second, the score read 3-3…silencing the home crowd.
Valley took the lead early in the third period. By now, the script was written…claw back, take the lead, and watch their goalie preserve the win for them. While not as busy, Ritcey still made the key saves when needed and gave his team a chance to win. He stared down 30 shots, stopping 27 of them. Valley outshot the Lumberjacks 39-30.
Jean-Marc Evans-Renaud continued his scoring ways, as he recorded another goal for the Cats. Brett Tidman, Ilya Putintsev, and Nic Blanchard also contributed to the Wildcats’ victory, which has given them a three game winning streak.
After a rough start, the Cats are starting to build some momentum. They have climbed past the Lumberjacks in the standings and sit six points out of a playoff spot. There is plenty of time remaining for the Cats to right the ship and make a charge in the 2016-17 MHL season.
After a disappointing start to the season, the Greenwood Auto Sales Valley Wildcats have won three in a row as they begin their climb out of the Eastlink South division.
On November 5th, the Wildcats traveled to Summerside for their first meeting with the Summerside Capitals. After a slow start, no one knew what to expect from these Wildcats.
They delivered. After the Capitals took a 1-0 lead, the Wildcats rattled off the next three goals, building a 3-1 lead. Although the Capitals scored late in the third to make it 3-2, the outcome was never in doubt, as Wildcats goalie Justin Ritcey delivered a sparkling 34-save performance. The Wildcats were outshot 36-26, but earned a much needed win.
Jonathan Larter, Nic Blanchard, and Grant Janes all scored for Valley.
On November 6th, the Wildcats returned home to face the South Shore Lumberjacks. This game would prove to be a wild affair, with both teams sending parades of players to the penalty box in a fight filled third period. Despite the fireworks, the Wildcats kept their focus long enough to mount a comeback. Down 3-1, the ‘Cats bent but didn’t break, as they clawed their way back and walked out of the Kings Mutual Century Center in Berwick with a 4-3 victory.
The Wildcats opened the scoring on a power play goal by Grant Janes. They then watched as that lead evaporated, as the Lumberjacks built up a 3-1 lead late in the second. Then some Wildcat magic reappeared.
Buoyed by Landon Trickett and Ilya Putintsev each scoring their first goals of the season, the Cats found themselves tied with the Lumberjacks early in the third. Then Justin Ritcey, making his second consecutive start on the weekend, went to work…and he saved his best for last.
With the Cats nursing a slim 4-3 lead in the middle of the third, a Lumberjack player found himself in front of an open net, with the puck on his stick. It seemed like a sure goal, but as the puck headed for the open net, it suddenly found a home in the glove of the Wildcats’ netminder, as he lunged across and grabbed the shot from seemingly out of nowhere. It was the save that kept the momentum in Valley’s favor, and ultimately preserved the win. Ritcey faced 35 shots on the night, making 32 saves. He was named the first star of the game on this night.
Goalscorers for this game were Grant Janes, Landon Trickett, Ilya Putintsev, and Jean-Marc Evans-Renaud.
The Cats had hit a two game winning streak for the first time this season. They took this momentum to Bridgewater on November 11, as they took to the ice to face the Lumberjacks for the second time in as many games. While this game proved to be much more calm, the end result was the same—a 4-3 win for the Valley Wildcats.
Once again, the Wildcats found themselves in a 3-1 hole…this one at the end of the first period. Once again, the Cats clawed back. By the end of the second, the score read 3-3…silencing the home crowd.
Valley took the lead early in the third period. By now, the script was written…claw back, take the lead, and watch their goalie preserve the win for them. While not as busy, Ritcey still made the key saves when needed and gave his team a chance to win. He stared down 30 shots, stopping 27 of them. Valley outshot the Lumberjacks 39-30.
Jean-Marc Evans-Renaud continued his scoring ways, as he recorded another goal for the Cats. Brett Tidman, Ilya Putintsev, and Nic Blanchard also contributed to the Wildcats’ victory, which has given them a three game winning streak.
After a rough start, the Cats are starting to build some momentum. They have climbed past the Lumberjacks in the standings and sit six points out of a playoff spot. There is plenty of time remaining for the Cats to right the ship and make a charge in the 2016-17 MHL season.