Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

Battling with just eight players on the bench, the White Pines Wolverines showed determination and resilience but ultimately fell 5–2 to the St. Mary’s Knights on February 1st at the John Rhodes Centre in Sault Ste. Marie High School Hockey League action.

The Knights wasted no time setting the tone early in the first period. Just 52 seconds into the game, Bates Borelli opened the scoring with his 7th goal of the season, assisted by Ethan Agawa, giving St. Mary’s a quick 1–0 lead.

The Wolverines responded with energy in the second period. At 11:48, Owen Sanderson tied the game at 1–1 with his 15th goal of the season, assisted by Ethan Marsh and Easton Foster, injecting life into the White Pines bench. However, the Knights quickly regained control at 6:31 when Bates Borelli scored his 8th of the season and second of the game, finishing the play unassisted to make it 2–1.

Momentum continued to swing in favor of St. Mary’s as the period progressed. At 5:33, Russell McNally extended the Knights’ lead with his 3rd goal of the season, assisted by Bates Borelli. Less than a minute later at 4:48, Nathan Watts added to the advantage, scoring his 15th of the season, with Hunter Jackson picking up the assist, sending the Knights into the third period ahead 4–1.

In the final frame, St. Mary’s continued to press. At 5:35, Tucker Bennett made it 5–1 with his 5th goal of the season, scoring unassisted. Despite the short bench, the Wolverines battled to the final buzzer and were rewarded late. With just 15 seconds remaining, Nolan Wilding scored his 2nd of the season, assisted by Ben Belleau, closing out the scoring at 5–2.

Despite the loss, the White Pines Wolverines showed grit and perseverance under challenging circumstances.

The Wolverines will return to high school hockey action on February 3rd when they face the CASS Huskies at the Northern Community Centre, with puck drop set for 3:30 p.m.