Game Summary

The Waterloo men's hockey team moved to 2-0 on the season with a decisive 7-2 victory over the visiting Nipissing Lakers on Saturday evening at the CIF arena. 

Six different Warriors scored on the night including three power play goals and starting goalie Justin Leclerc (Saskatoon/) did the rest stopping 32 of 34 shots faced to pick up his first win of the season.

Fifth year centre Chris Ray (Kelowna/) opened up the scoring only four minutes into the game with a determined short handed effort to put Waterloo up by one.  Only two minutes later Waterloo would add to their lead with Jarrett Schnurr (Waterloo/) banging home a rebound on the power play for his first goal of the season giving Waterloo a 2-0 lead heading into the second.

The black and gold would continue their offensive pressure early in the second frame when Ray would turn the jets on to a highlight reel goal, his second of the game to put Waterloo up 3-0.  Ray slid the puck neatly through the Lakers defenceman's legs and fired the shot through the five hole of Nippisng goalie Daniel Spence (Langley, B.C.).

Nipissing would find their legs late in the second determined to make a game of it.  With the Warriors back on their heels, the Lakers would be rewarded as Dan Watt (Winnipeg, Man.) found the back of the net to cut into the Warriors lead.  Nipissing would continue their offensive pressure but Leclerc made timely saves to maintain the two goal Waterloo lead.

The third period would open with Nipissing getting into penalty trouble and Waterloo would take advantage on a 5-on-3 with Kirt Hill (Winnipeg/) continuing his torrid pace to the season notching his fourth goal of the weekend.  Josh Schappert (Winnipeg/) and Ryan Molle (Calgary/) added assists on the power play marker.

Steve Whitely (Petrolia/) put the final nail in the coffin at 11:28 of the third period firing a shot from the point on the power play for his first of the season giving Waterloo a 5-1 lead. 

Nipissing added their second goal of the game with right winger Marcus Watson scoring his second of the season before Waterloo would add two late third period goals only 30 seconds apart.  Blake Chartier (Winnipeg/) and Josh Schappert (Winnipeg/) each added late markers on similar goal mouth scrambles.  Hill picked up assists on both goals to complete a seven point weekend.

Leclerc was stellar between the pipes for the black and gold earning the win while Spence was peppered all night long facing 39 shots in the loss.

Waterloo continue their cross-over games as they travel to Toronto next Friday to face the Ryerson Rams before heading down the 401 to Ottawa to battle the Carleton Ravens on Saturday.  Both games are set for 7:30pm.