Wolverines gain revenge over Colts in NOSSA final

The White Pines Wolverines proved on Wednesday night that they can win when it counts.

After winning the regular season title in the Sault Ste. Marie High School Hockey League to gain a spot in the Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) tournament, the Wolverines dropped the playoff title to the Korah Colts.

It was those same Colts who were looking to spoil the Wolverines bid to move on to OFSAA in Timmins later this month.

The Wolverines opened up a 2-0 lead in the third period and then held off a late-game charge by the Colts, earning a 2-1 victory and a AA NOSSA championship.

The Wolverines earned a spot in the finals after defeating the Confederation Chargers from Sudbury by a 4-0 scored. The Colts defeated Matttawa's F.J. McElligot Voyageurs 5-2. The victories by both Sault clubs led to a three-way tie for top spot between White Pines, Korah, and Confederation with the two local teams getting through on goal-differential.

After a defensive battle through two periods and much of the third period, the offensive floodgates opened late in the third period.

Matt Santos broke the scoreless tie for White Pines at 10:07 when he deflected a point shot by Matt Ritchie past Korah goaltender Mitchell Zorzit. Just 1:12 later Tommy Swystun beat Zorzit to give White Pines a two-gaol cushion.

Rob Calvert pulled the Colts to within one goal at 12:43, but not even a late flurry in the White Pines zone could pull the Colts even as the Wolverines, led by goaltender Kevin Sawyer, held off the onslaught.

The victory for White Pines was their first over the Colts since game one of the city championships.