OUA West Semi-Finals: Western Mustangs vs. Waterloo Warriors

Following a two-games-to-none sweep of the UOIT Ridgebacks, the Western Mustangs men’s hockey team advances to this week’s OUA West Semi-Finals where they will face the Waterloo Warriors. This season the Mustangs are 3-0 against the Warriors and will be looking to pick up two more wins as the on their way to the OUA championship.

The Mustangs are coming off two big wins against the Ridgebacks after the team struggled down the stretch and into the playoffs. In the first two games of the playoffs eight different Mustangs have scored goals, and this offensive outburst is highlighted by the play of freshman forward Daniel Erlich who through two games leads the Mustangs with five points (1 goal, 4 assists).

Leading the team in goals are forwards Steve Reese and Shaun Furlong both players have 3 goals and one assist after the first round. While the Mustangs offence was scoring almost at will the defence stood strong, led by outstanding play from goaltender Josh Unice. Unice enters the second round with a goals against average of 1.50 and a save percentage of .941, while only allowing four goals on 51 shots through the first round of play.

But Western isn’t the only team coming into the second round riding a hot streak, the sixth ranked Waterloo Warriors are coming off an upset win over the number three Lakehead Thunderwolves. The game stories from the two Warriors win’s read much like the ones from the Mustangs, Waterloo has received strong team play with balanced scoring and great goaltending through the first round.

Warriors defenceman Joe Underwood leads the team so far this post season with five points (1 goal, 4 assists) while senior goaltender Keaton Hartigan has provided the team with strong play on the back end, he has a goals against of 2.00, a save percentage of 0.941 and has allowed four goals on 68 shots through the first round.  Although quiet through the first round with only two assists, Waterloo is also home to the leading scorer in the CIS in forward Justin Larson, who led the country this season with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists).

Puck drop for game one in the best-of-three series is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. at Thompson Arena. Game two goes Saturday night in Waterloo, and if necessary game three is set for Sunday at 7:00 p.m. back at Thompson Arena.