​Ripley Wolves win Game 7 against Durham, setting up rematch with Minto 81s

The Ripley Wolves came out flying, Sunday afternoon, and held off the Durham Thundercats on their way to a 5-3 win in Game 7 of the North Division semi-final. They now face the Minto 81s which swept Ripley in last year's Ontario Elite Hockey League final on their way to a strong showing in the 2025 Allan Cup.

Durham forced Game 7 after defeating Ripley, 6-3 and 6-1, earlier on the weekend.

Friday night, at the Ripley Arena, the Wolves gave up the game-winning goal with five minutes left in the third (followed by two empty-netters) in the 6-3 loss.

Wolves goals were scored by Ethan Skinner (2), and Garrett Meurs. Assists went to J.D. Falconer, Jordan Moulton, Cody Britton, and Meurs.

Ripley goalie Jason Hamilton stopped 24 of 28 shots in the loss.



Cody Britton (in green sweater) of the Ripley Wolves, controls the play for the top of the circle, in Game 5 of the semi-final playoff series, Friday night at the Ripley Arena; photos by Geoffrey Dadson

Saturday night, the Wolves travelled to Durham and fell, 6-1, pushing the series to Game 7, Sunday afternoon.

Skinner scored the lone Wolves goal, assisted by Christian Monachino and Dan Nicoloff.

Hamilton stopped 28 of 34 shots.

Sunday, at the Ripley Arena, the Wolves carried the play for the first two periods, leading 2-0 after one period and 3-0 after two, on goals from Carter Servais, Trent Houghton, and Dan Nicoloff. Durham scored early in the third before the Wolves regained their three-goal lead on Servais' second of the night.

Durham pulled within two, with 7:45 left on the clock, and got within one with just over 2:30 left and their net empty.

It was a nerve-wracking final two minutes before Ripley's Kaden Hoggarth scored into the empty net to seal the Game 7 victory.

Assists went to Pat Looby (2), Garrett Meurs, Dawson Fahrer, Tyson Soers, Jordan Moulton, and Houghton who recently finished his Junior B season with the Listowel Cyclones and was added to the roster along with defenceman Aidan Renaud and back-up goalie Kaleb Meyer.

Hamilton was fantastic in net, stopping 25 of 28 shots for the win.

The Wolves move on to face Minto which swept Elmvale in its semi-final. Game times are still to be determined, but Ripley will have home-ice advantage by finishing atop the North Division in the regular season.

Watch the Wolves website, Facebook and Instagram for game times as they become available.



Aiden Renaud (right) of the Wolves fires on the Durham net, in Friday night's game



Garrett Meurs (left) of the Wolves lines up the Durham defence as the play goes around them



Cody Britton (left) of the Wolves blasts a shot on the Durham net from the top of the face-off circle