They needed the full three periods and then some to decide a winner at the Bear’s Den on Friday evening, but the Renfrew Wolves would beat the Smiths Falls Bears 3-2 in the shootout.
Conor Ronayne opened scoring early in the second period to put Smiths Falls ahead early into the frame. The game would get physical late into the frame, as a scrum on the ice would result in several penalties for both sides, inlcuding Renfrew’s Jamie Hylands and Smiths Falls’ Ty Campbell sent to the dressing rooms with game misconducts.
Joey Kennelly would score while Renfrew were shorthanded to level things at 1-1 heading into the third.
The two sides would trade goals five minutes into the third period, with Elvis Slack putting the Wolves up 2-1 briefly before Alec Hamady brought the game back to even at 2-2 a minute later. The game would remain tied heading into a shootout. Jace Letourneau and Tyson Phare would both convert to win it for Renfrew.
Sebastian Resar picks up his first win of the season, stopping 33 of 35 shots. On the other end, Dawson Labre had 35 saves on 37 chances in a shootout loss.
The two sides will pack up their buses and head to Renfrew for the second half of the home-and-home series on Saturday evening. The puck drops at the Ma-te-Way Activity Centre at 7:30.
(written by Kasey Egan)
