Wolves Captain Andrew Morton fires a shot through traffic on Saturday, November 25th. (Photo credit: CCHL)
After a two straight top-four finishes, Renfrew Wolves Head Coach Ryan Leonard has championship ambitions.
The team heads into Rockland on Friday night for Game One of their first round playoff series against the Nationals, one that Leonard tells myFM should prove to be a treat for fans.
Despite the Wolves holding a commanding lead in the regular season matchup, winning four of the five games played this season, Leonard says every meeting in the lead-up to this weekend were close, physical, and fast-paced affairs.
That why he considers it a perfect test for a Renfrew team looking to prove themselves worthy of lifting the Bogart Cup.
Leonard says one thing working in the Wolves’ favour is their scoring depth, with thirteen players on the roster with 24 points or more this season.
He points to the deep core of forwards, led by league MVP and points leader Jace Letourneau, trade deadline acquisitions Noah Vom Scheidt and Mathieu Paquin, and team captain Andrew Morton, that has been buoyed by a supporting cast cast that has bought in to the team’s system.
That being said, Leonard says the Wolves are hoping that the continued backing of Renfrew supporters can be an x-factor for them.
Leonard says goaltender Slava Gordeichuk will be first-in-line for playoff starts, although reserves Nolan Lane and Lincoln Mellenthin could play a role as Renfrew’s goaltending core has weathered a number of injuries throughout the season.
Game one between the Wolves and Nationals is Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. It’s a broadcast game on 96.1 myFM, starting with the pre-game show at 7:20 p.m.
(written by Kasey Egan)
