LONDON, Ontario — The Mustangs Men's Hockey program celebrated a major milestone for their Head Coach after a 7-2 win over Waterloo on Saturday afternoon, marking Clarke Singer's 500th win with the team.
"Most importantly I was happy we got a win tonight and got a split of the opening weekend, I think our guys played hard in all areas and I was proud of them for that," said Singer. His players and staff recognized him in the locker room post game which included a shower of water bottles and water cooler that drenched the legendary coach. "They say there are 10 things in life you always remember: the day you got married, the day your children were born are some of those for sure, but I think, based on the post-game reaction tonight, this will definitely be one of those occasions for sure."
Assistant Coach Patrick Ouellete, who has played for Singer and now coaches along side him pointed to the impact behind the milestone: "It's never about himself, but he does so much for the program and what I said in the dressing room is X's and O's on the boards, the breakouts, the power play, and the systems is one thing, but it is what he brings to the program outside of that." said Ouellete. "I was actually a player for him when he got his 250th win against York, if I recall correctly. It just shows his longevity, but you don't stay in this game that long if you don't have success, right?"
GAME RECAP
The Mustangs scored twice in each of the first two periods, added three goals in the third and held a 44-29 advantage in shots.
Waterloo had the first power-play opportunity after a Zac McCann penalty at 3:10, but Aaron Davidson's charging penalty at 4:46 ended that advantage. Western capitalized at 5:38, when McCann scored a power-play goal off a Nicholas Yearwood assist for the first goal of the game. After more special-teams play through the middle of the first period, Bodie Nobes scored at 17:07 from Yearwood and Lawson Sherk, sending the Mustangs into the intermission ahead 2-0.
The second period developed through a series of special-teams situations, with Waterloo going on the power play after Connor Driscoll's interference penalty at 5:30 and the Mustangs later getting an opportunity after Sami Douglas-Najem was called for tripping at 11:15. After another Western penalty gave Waterloo a power play at 16:24, the Mustangs broke through at 16:52 when Sherk scored off assists from Nathan Sauder and Noah Van Vliet, moving the listed score to 3-0. The period remained penalty-filled late, but Western added another goal at 19:04 as Owen Saye finished from Yearwood and Nobes, giving the Mustangs a 4-0 score line after a 2-0 second-period edge.
Waterloo opened the third-period scoring at 2:55 when Nate Bierd converted on the power play after a Western cross-checking penalty, making it 4-1. The Mustangs answered with two straight goals, as Yearwood scored at 7:21 off assists from Darius Bachler and Zander Veccia before Bachler added another at 11:43 with Connor Driscoll and Caleb Ven de Ven assisting to push the score to 6-1. Cory Jewitt got one back for Waterloo at 14:12, but Saye scored at 16:08 from Sherk and Nobes as Western finished the third period ahead 7-2.
"I think everybody was going. There wasn't just one line. There was all lines going, all defensemen. Stu (Goaltender Liam Sztuska) was kicking in the pipes. That's how we're going to win games. It's going to be a team effort through in and throughout." said Captain Aidan Prueter.
"It's important to at least get the split this weekend so we're not behind the eight ball which was we've been in the last few years always chasing the game then the points in the standings. That was a great effort to come back." Looking ahead, he said, "I think that's going to build some confidence for a lot of guys, we just have to build from that. Take the good and bring it for next week, make sure we work on the bad then correct it and make sure we're better as we move on."
WESTERN KEY STATS
Nick Yearwood
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- 1 goal
- 3 assists
Lawson Sherk
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- 1 goal
- 2 assists
- game-winning goal
Bodie Nobes
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- 1 goal
- 2 assists
Owen Saye
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- 2 goals
Liam Sztuska
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- 27 saves
- 2 goals allowed
NEXT GAME
The Mustangs will start a split weekend against the Windsor Lancers next Friday night. They will skate on home ice at Thompson Arena, puck drop is set for 7:00 pm. Fans can buy their tickets at
WesternMustangs.ca/Tickets.Western and affiliate students get FREE admission with valid ONECard.
