The Waywayseecappo Wolverines just didn’t look ready in game one of the MJHL Player Showcase as they dropped a 5-0 decision to the Selkirk Steelers on Monday in Winnipeg.
Shortly after Ryley Cardinal went off for hooking early in the first period, former Wolverine Brady Pupp got the scoring started when his blast from the point squeezed through Isaac LaBelle at 4:09 to put the Steelers out front 1-0.
Just as the Wolverines started to play their brand of hockey, Kylar Fenton’s cross-checking penalty would prove to be costly. Carter Barley’s shot would beat LaBelle just five minutes after their first powerplay marker.
The Wolverines would have one more letdown near the end of the first period when Jackson Kobelka scored at 18:47 to give the Steelers a 3-0 lead over the Wolverines.
It would be more of the same for the Wolverines in the second period after Nathan Reay would relieve Isaac LaBelle in net. Despite getting a 5 on 3 for 1:50, the Wolverines would collapse for a few minutes. Brett Namaka would score a pair of goals for the Steelers just over five minutes apart to extend Selkirk’s lead to 5-0.
By the end of the second period, Selkirk held a slight edge on the Wolverines in the shot department, leading 20-18.
Selkirk continued to play hard in the third period and would continue to press the Wolverines as bad blood would boil between both clubs. In what was a penalty-filled third period, Waywayseecappo would break the shutout when Anthony Bilka stuffed in the rebound at 13:29 on the powerplay. Michael Heitkamp and Greg Lee chipped in on the helpers.
Despite getting one back, Nate Halverson would score a late one for the Steelers to give them a 6-1 lead and the victory over the Wolverines.
Coming into relief in the Wolverines net, Nathan Reay stopped 22 of 25 shots sent his way.
The loss drops the Wolverines record to 12-14-1-2 as the club will have a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow with their final game at the Showcase at 4:00 pm against the Dauphin Kings.