WATERLOO, Ont. - On a snowy night in Waterloo, the Laurier Golden Hawks stayed hot to start the second half of the season with a 2-1 road win against the Waterloo Warriors.
In winning their second consecutive game since the restart, Laurier continued to show their depth with six players earning points on a low-scoring affair - including another Golden Hawk receiving their first OUA point.
Making 30 saves on 31 shots,
Christian Propp continued to impress in his OUA debut season, improving his season save percentage to .930, good for sixth in USports and fifth in the OUA. In addition, Propp has the eighth best goals-against average in USports and the fifth best in the OUA with a 2.18 GAA.
With the win, Propp improved to 4-2-0 to start the season, or the best individual start to a season since Chris Festarini in 2017 went 5-1-0.
After starting the season 7 for 11 (63.6%) on the penalty kill, the unit has been rock solid; going 19 for 21 (86.3%) since. However, the Golden Hawks will need to limit infractions, as seven penalties per game to start the new year is not sustainable, even if 13 for 14 (92.8%) in the last two games is impressive.
The first period saw no scoring, but the battle was fierce as both teams laid out bone-crushing hits. Not to be outdone, the towering 6'7"
Steven MacLean had the impact of the game in the corner to lay out a Warrior.
Laurier could not capitalize on their lone power-play of the period. A cross-checking call against
Anthony Sorrentino late in the frame meant they had to kill off their tenth penalty in four periods.
However, the team managed to come out of the first unscathed and built momentum to start the second as they had now killed ten straight penalties.
After a strong cycle down low, the Golden Hawks managed a couple of good chances on goal, which finally ended with
Justyn Gurney burying the puck in front for his fourth goal of the season. The goal brought Gurney into a tie for the team lead with captain Sorrentino.
Sullivan Sparkes and
Mack Graham each had an assist on the play to extend their point streaks to two apiece, with Graham getting his first assist of the season.
The Golden Hawks drew an interference and a hit-to-the-head penalty after the first goal but could not extend their lead, as the power-play remained cold. With a 5 for 13 (38.4%) success rate to start the season, Laurier had one of the best power-plays in the conference, but since then they have gone just 1 for 18 (5.5%), including an 0 for 4 showing on this night.
Meanwhile, at even strength, the Golden Hawks continued to get scoring from across the roster, with defenceman
Adrian Nabuurs getting his second goal of the season after crashing the net.
Both
Michael Silveri and
Nick Giunta picked up their first assist of the season, with Giunta recording his first OUA point on the play.
The second goal proved to be all Laurier needed as they locked it down defensively. The Golden Hawks killed off another two penalties to finish the second period and maintain their lead.
In the final frame, the Warriors came out gunning. A miscalculated cover from Propp on the fresh ice surface left the puck wide open in the crease for Waterloo to bring the game within one early in the third. However, Nabuurs make a desperate attempt to clear the puck out of harm's way, saving a goal in the process and ultimately making the difference in this contest.
Later in the period, Sparkes was caught with a head contact penalty and, on the ensuing power-play, Waterloo would capitalize for their lone goal of the game.
Another failed power-play attempt from Laurier in the middle of the frame meant no insurance goal as it came down to the wire. With under three minutes to play, Sorrentino was charged with interference and Laurier would be tested one more time.
Thankfully, even with the extra attacker to go 6 on 4, Waterloo could not muster anything past Propp, who stood tall when it mattered most. Furthermore, an icing call led to a face-off in the neutral zone, causing Waterloo to put the goalie back in the net instead of the extra player, leading to another successful kill for the squad.
Drama ensued in the dying seconds as Waterloo fired a point shot off the post, but the last line of defence was there for Propp, who thanked his post enthusiastically as the final horn sounded.
The two points are crucial for Laurier as they continue their climb to .500 and work their way up the OUA Far West standings to build distance between themselves and the fifth-place Guelph Gryphons.
Players of the Game
Laurier
D -
Adrian Nabuurs
The rookie scored his second goal of the season, which was the game-winner. He also made a clutch dive and poke-check to save a sure goal at the beginning of the third, which proved a difference-maker in the close game.
Waterloo
F - Connor Cole (Kitchener, Ont.)
The fourth-year veteran scored his first goal of the season and the lone Warriors goal of the evening on the power-play to give the team a chance in the third.
Next Up
The Golden Hawks will be back on the ice Saturday at home for another Battle of Waterloo as they look to make it three straight in 2022. Get your tickets today at tickets.laurierathletics.com and take in the action! You can also catch the game live on OUA.tv
