​Ripley Wolves trail final series, 2-0, against Minto 81s

The Ripley Wolves have a big hill to climb in the Ontario Elite Hockey League final against the Minto 81s after suffering two losses on the weekend.

The Wolves lost, 4-2 (including an empty-netter), Friday night in Ripley; and 6-4, Saturday night in Palmerston, to fall behind 2-0 in a series they're playing without line-up stalwarts Ethan Skinner and Gerrit Satosek, who are both out with injuries.

Friday night, the Wolves jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period on markers by Garrett Meurs and Logan Swanton. Assists went to Tyler McCarthy, Brett Catto and Todd Hellyer.

Minto scored goals late in both the first and second periods, and took the lead for good with nine minutes left in the third, adding an empty-netter just before the buzzer.

Goalie Jason Hamilton was incredible in the Wolves net, stopping 27 of 30 shots in the loss.

Saturday night, a huge contingent of Ripley fans made the trek to Palmerston for Game 2. Dan Nicoloff broke the deadlock with a laser under the bar with just three seconds left in the first, before a wild second period saw both teams score three goals each, giving the Wolves a 4-3 lead after two.

Unfortunately, Minto turned up the pressure and scored three unanswered goals in the third period to win, 6-4.

Wolves goals were scored by Nicoloff, Drew Davidson, Jarred Colling, and Catto. Assists went to Cody Britton (2), Meurs (2), Pat Looby and Nicoloff.

Hamilton stopped 28 of 34 shots in the Wolves net, while Ripley fired 23 on Minto's net, including just five in the third period when the ice tilted in the wrong direction.

Ripley looks to get back into the series at home, Friday, March 28, at 8:30 p.m., with Game 4 going Saturday, March 29, at 4 p.m. in Palmerston.