Wolves snap 13-game losing streak

It was only the second win of the season for the Sudbury Wolves, but you would have thought it was the clinching game of a playoff series.

The Wolves put a disastrous month of October behind them and started November by beating the Niagara Ice Dogs 7-2 Saturday night to end a franchise-setting 13-game losing streak.

A relieved head coach Paul Fixter says he was happy for the players. "It's been hard on all of us, but it's been really hard on the players," said Fixter after the game. "I'm a little bit older and I've been through stretches, not like this, but tough times.

"I'm happy for the team ... that it gives them a little relief, and now we can move forward."

The teams played a tentative first period, but a goal by Matt Schmalz gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead after the first period.

Each team scored once in the second, including Nathan Pancel's third of the season, as the Wolves led 2-1 after two periods — the first time this season the Wolves carried a lead into the third period.

The Wolves then outscored the Ice Dogs 5-1 in the third period, including two more for Pancel, who completed the hat-trick, and now has five goals on the season.

Matt Schmalz scored his second of the game and now has a team-leading nine goals.

Nick Baptiste and Pavel Jenys added singles.

Maybe the biggest smile was on the face of Nathan Pancel.

"It feels good," Pancel said. “Finally the younger guys can experience winning again. They've never experienced a road win, so it's a nice feeling that they can experience what a bus ride is like after a win.”

Pancel said he's been feeling the pressure since he was supposed to be
one of the players to score goals.

"It felt good to score three tonight, and I hope I can keep it going now," he said.

Sam Tanguay got the start, made 35 saves and recorded his first ever OHL win.

The Wolves are now 2-13 on the season, with both wins coming against the Ice Dogs.

"It was a real team effort from the goaltender on out, a real 60 minute game tonight," said Fixter.

Sudbury finishes the weekend with a game Sunday afternoon in London against the Knights.