Even with high expectations, the Waterloo men’s hockey team was unable to make playoffs this year, ending the season in ninth, just ahead of Laurier.
The hockey season started with promise; two winning home games versus UOIT and Queens, respectively, but three back-to-back losses foreshadowed the rest of the year. Winning streaks were hard to come by, lasting no more than two or three games — losing streaks were the same though.
In 28 games, the Warriors were able to score 98 goals, with an average of 35.2 shots per game and 3.43 goals per game. Waterloo had a percentage score of .429 — low compared to the leader of the west division, Western with their PCT of .750.
Home games were a definite advantage for the Warriors; the season ended with a standing of 10–4 while at CIF; away games resulted in 2–12. The overall standings were 12–12–4.
Despite ending in second-last place, Waterloo was able to hold their own versus the top ranks. In their two games versus Western, they only lost by one point; 4–5 and 2–3. When they played second-place Lakehead back-to-back in away games, they only lost 4–6 and then 2–3 in overtime.
When asked for a statement of the Warriors performance this year, head coach Brian Bourque said, “We are disappointed with our season. We have high expectations for our program and we did not come close to reaching our team’s goals.”
There was good news at the end of this season. A pair of Warriors earned spots on the OUA all-star team: third-year captain Joe Underwood and first-year rookie <dfn>Stephen Silas. Silas ended the season with six points and 34 penalty minutes, Underwood finished as leader of ice-time and 22 points. Not only that, fifth-year forward Luke Lynes</dfn> has signed a contract with the Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
