Laurier Golden Hawks goaltender Olivier Lafreniere makes one of his 43 saves against Waterloo on Thursday night. (Photo Courtesy of Charity Matheson)

Golden Hawks shutout Warriors in Battle of Waterloo

This year's installment of the Battle of Waterloo, played annually at The Aud, between the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and the Waterloo Warriors took place on Thursday night and was amplified by major playoff implications for both teams. The U-Sports West division was extremely tight coming into this matchup, with Laurier and Waterloo separated by only two points, but with four teams between them in the standings. Laurier could clinch a postseason berth with a victory, while the Warriors needed a win to help their bleak playoff hopes.

The game started slow in front of nearly 800 Laurier and Warriors students and fans in attendance, with both teams trading chances but to no avail. Late in the first period, though, the deadlock would be broken. Former Kitchener Ranger Jake Henderson scooped up the loose puck off an offensive zone faceoff and fired a wrister over the shoulder of Warriors goalie Julian Sime to give the Golden Hawks the 1-0 lead. Michael Silveri and Lucas Batt collected the helpers for Laurier. The score would not change until the third period, when Laurier freshman forward Mac Lewis redirected fellow rookie Alex Black's point shot past Sime to double Laurier's advantage. It was Lewis' first U-Sports goal and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Golden Hawks, as Waterloo made its big push with 18 shots in the third. 

There to answer every Warriors attempt was rookie goaltender Olivier Lafreniere, who joined Laurier in November after a junior career that saw him make stops with the OHL's Owen Sound Attack and Ottawa 67s. Lafreniere was sensational in this game, earning his first U-Sports shutout while turning aside 43 Warriors shots. Sime stopped 30 of 32 Laurier shots in the losing effort.

The win gives Laurier its fourth consecutive trip to the U-Sports playoffs, which will begin next week. The Golden Hawks' first round opponent is yet to be determined, as much could still change in the West standings. The Warriors remain in 10th place, but sit just a single point back of University of Toronto for the 8th and final playoff spot. They will count on Laurier to beat Toronto tonight, otherwise Waterloo's playoff hopes die with U of T earning a point. The Warrior's must also win their last game for a chance at the playoffs, which will be played at home tonight against the University of Windsor Lancers. With a loss of any kind, Waterloo is eliminated.