Since the Canadian Government made September 30th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Waywayseecappo Wolverines have played at home for a game.
Every year, the Wolverines have donned orange jerseys and have opened the doors to the public for free. The game is usually the most attended game of the season.
There has been emotional moments as well with residential school survivors being invited on to the ice before the game, prayers from Team Elder Jim Cote, and the Blue Sky Drum Group plays an honour song before the puck drop.
The hockey games have also been eventful as well, with both of them so far being one-goal games.
Before we watch the third annual T+R game on Saturday when the Wolverines take on the Virden Oil Capitals at 7:30pm, let’s look back on the last two games.
History of the Truth and Reconciliation Game:
September 30th 2021: Wolverines 4-3 Stampeders
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines sent the largest crowd of the season home happy after a 4-3 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders.
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines took the lead on a shorthanded goal by Josh Peppler at 12:57 in the first period.
The Wolverines continued their special teams success, with a powerplay goal by Logan Wotton early on in the second period.
But Swan Valley was quick to answer exactly a minute later as Callum Fortin finished off a nice passing play to put the Stampeders within one.
The Wolverines regained their two goal lead with Troy Hamilton taking a few shots at putting it past Dylan Black, finally being able to do it at 8:34.
Waywayseecappo added another one 10:10 as Logan Wotton scored his second of the game.
In the third, Swan Valley started a comeback, with two goals in the first half of the period.
Brad Fortin scored at 2:30 on the powerplay, while Jordan Gagnon scored at 9:02 to make it a one goal game.
But the Wolverines shut the door after that, behind Liam Tereposky’s 36 saves in the game to take the win.
September 30th 2022: Wolverines 3-2 Flyers
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines scored three unanswered to lift themselves to a victory over the Winkler Flyers by a score of 3-2.
The Flyers got the first goal of the game when Brody Beauchemin received a pass in front from Jesiah Bennett and slipped it five hole through Tresor Wotton.
It wasn’t until the second period when the Wolverines answered, when Jack Clarke wired one from just inside the blue line past Malachi Klassen to tie the game.
Just under two minutes later, Carson Baptiste received a pass from Andrew Boucher on a two-on-one to make it 2-1, and give the Wolverines a lead heading into the third period.
Early on in the third, Baptiste got his second of the game in front of the net to make it 3-1.
Winkler answered with 7:34 left in the game, when a bouncing puck went off of Trent Penner and into the net to make it a one goal game.
But that’s how close Winkler got to tying the game, and the Wolverines were able to hold off for the win.
Tresor Wotton stopped 25 of 27 shots in the win.
