The Whitecourt Wolverines have maintained their AJHL North Division lead after two weekend wins.
On Friday, Dec. 12, they edged the Drumheller Dragons 5-4.
Drumheller netted a penalty shot less than five minutes into the game, but Whitecourt recovered with two before the end of the period for a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Wyatt Ball scored at 12:32, with assistance from Nolan Cardinal, and Jalen Bianchet had support from Kyle Tucker at 15:01.
In the second frame, Wolverine Alex Symes headed to the box at 5:49 for delaying the game. Drumheller took advantage of the powerplay about one minute later for a 2-2 tie.
Cole Barrett answered for Whitecourt unassisted at 11:05, bumping the team to 3-2.
The Dragons pushed back one minute later, however, to tie things again 3-3.
At 13:49, Dragon Nick McLennan also took a minor for delaying the game. With 37 seconds left in the play, Kyle Tucker netted another for Whitecourt to push the team to the lead again, 4-3. Quentin Bourne and Cole Barrett got the helpers.
Drumheller was relentless, earning another powerplay goal at 16:37 to end the frame in a 4-4 tie.
Braden Nienaber and Chayse King broke the tie at 10:44 in period three for a 5-4 finish.
Saturday, they won 3-2 in overtime against the Olds Grizzlys.
No one scored in period one, but Wolverine Tristan Slywka opened the action at 2:53 in period two for a 1-0 lead.
Olds then netted two for a 2-1 lead, but in the third frame, Brendan Ruskowski tied things up, sending the teams into overtime. Jalen Bianchet and Quentin Bourne assisted.
In overtime, Quentin Bourne netted his fourth goal of the season at 3:49 for the 3-2 win.
