The Waywayseecappo Wolverines clawed their way to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Neepawa Natives on the road Tuesday night to improve their preseason record to 4-2.
It wasn’t the start the Wolverines were looking for on Tuesday night as Tanner Robin’s change-up would beat Liam Tereposky to give the Natives a 1-0 lead, 1:16 into the first.
The Wolverines would have a pair of powerplay chances shortly after Neepawa’s opening goal and would capitalize on their second chance.
Nick Doyle would make a nice move at the blue line and bank a shot off the end boards that would land on the stick of Noah Westgate who would make no mistake in finding the back to tie the game at 1-1.
For the second straight period, the Natives struck early. This time, Graeme Patrick knocked a rebound past Tereposky 1:50 into the second to give Neepawa a 2-1 lead.
Just as a Wolverines powerplay expired, Jaymes Knee finished off a nice passing play by squeaking one past Ethan Peterson which would tie the game at 2-2. Nick Doyle would make another slippery move to get the puck in front and picked up an assist on the play.
Six minutes into the third, Dylan Soosay would spring Gerrik Ripley on a breakaway. Ripley would walk in and get a backhand up and over Peterson to give the Wolverines a 3-2 lead. Both Soosay and Noah Westgate would draw assists.
No more than two minutes later, Neepawa would respond. Corbin Mariash’s slapshot would get by Tereposky to tie the game at 3-3.
The flurry of scoring would continue two minutes later when Ryley Cardinal’s blasted one home to give the Wolverines a 4-3 lead. Chase Fischer and Alex Lucken picked up the helpers on the scoring play.
Charlie Kashmark would find the empty net to make it 5-3 Wolverines which would seal the deal for the win. Reagan Rabbit and Matt Swanson added assists.
Liam Tereposky stopped 35 of 38 shots in his first full preseason game. The Wolverines powerplay went 1 for 6, while their penalty kill unit clipped at 100%.
Next up for the Wolverines is their preseason finale in Virden on Saturday night before the club opens their regular-season schedule on the road in Neepawa on Friday, September 20.