The Whitecourt Wolverines have advanced to the AJHL championship after defeating the Canmore Eagles 3-1 in game 7 of the AJHL semifinal at JDA Place Tuesday night.
Zach Coutu scored the first and only goal of the game for the Eagles, unassisted at 12:16. That was Coutu’s sixth and final goal of the playoffs.
The Whitecourt Wolverines outshot the Canmore Eagles 15-5 in the first period, but the Eagles took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Travis Verbeek got the Wolverines on the board with a powerplay goal 11:32 into the second period. Matthew Ronn and Braden Keeble were credited with assists on Verbeek’s seventh goal of the postseason.
Joey Melo extended the Wolverines’ lead to 2-1 with another powerplay goal scored at 16:12. Melo’s third goal of the playoffs was assisted by Evan Johnson and Matthew Ronn.
At the end of the second period, the Canmore Eagles had outshot the Whitecourt Wolverines 114-11. However, the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Travis Verbeek’s second goal of the game was a powerplay goal, scored at 14:37 of the third period. Verbeek’s eighth goal of the postseason was assisted by Braden Keeble and Joey Melo to secure the 3-1 victory for the Wolverines.
The Canmore Eagles outshot the Whitecourt Wolverines 13-9 in the third period.
Eagles’ goaltender Matthew Malin made 32 saves on 35 shots.
Wolverines’ goaltender Nicholas Avakyan made 31 saves on 32 shots to help win game seven.
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The Wolverines will now face off against the Calgary Canucks in the championship round of the 2024 Inter Pipeline Cup Alberta Junior Hockey League Playoffs.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12.
Game one
Calgary Canucks at Whitecourt Wolverines
7:00 p.m.
JDA Place Arena
SATURDAY, APRIL 13.
Game two
Calgary Canucks at Whitecourt Wolverines
7:00 p.m.
JDA Place Arena
TUESDAY, APRIL 16.
Game three
Whitecourt Wolverines at Calgary Canucks
7:00 p.m.
Ken Bracko Arena
WENESDAY, APRIL 17.
Game four
Whitecourt Wolverines at Calgary Canucks
7:00 p.m.
Ken Bracko Arena
SATURDAY, APRIL 20.*
Game five
Calgary Canucks at Whitecourt Wolverines
7:00 p.m.
JDA Place Arena
TUESDAY, APRIL 23.*
Game six
Whitecourt Wolverines at Calgary Canucks
7:00 p.m.
Ken Bracko Arena
FRIDAY, APRIL 26.*
Game seven
Calgary Canucks at Whitecourt Wolverines
7:00 p.m.
JDA Place Arena
* If needed.