The Whitecourt Wolverines started the AJHL playoffs with a 5-3 loss at home against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Friday, but recovered with a 7-1 win on Saturday.
Friday night, Fort McMurray opened the scoring in period one, including one powerplay goal, for a 3-0 lead by 9:23.
Then, Whitecourt’s Jalen Bianchet answered with help from Alex Symes at 10:11, to make it 3-1.
The Wolverines Bianchet then struck again at 16:38 with assistance from Kyle Tucker and Tyler Pretty, on the power play to bring the score to 3-2.
The second frame saw the Oil Barons score twice more, including a powerplay goal after Wolverine Xander Schulte went to the box for roughing, bringing it to 5-2.
At 15:22 in period three, Tristan Slywka scored a shorthanded goal unassisted, for Whitecourt to finish two points behind at 5-3.
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Saturday evening, the Wolverines Cole Barrett opened the scoring at 3:03, with assistance from Braden Nienaber and Mason Russell. Then, assisted by Spencer Claerhout and Nolan Schmidt, Jalen Bianchet scored his third of the playoffs at 9:34 for Whitecourt to finish the frame with a 2-0 lead.
Period two saw Whitecourt’s Brendan Ruskowski score on a powerplay just 36 seconds in for a 3-0 lead. The helpers went to Kyle Tucker and Cole Barrett.
The Wolverines Billy Hooson then earned a roughing minor, giving Fort McMurray a chance to score on the powerplay and bring it to 3-1, with the Wolverines still in the lead.
At 7:19, Spencer Claerhout assisted Tyler Pretty with a goal to bring Whitecourt to a 4-1 advantage.
Wolverine Brendan Ruskowski then scored twice before the end of the frame for a 6-1 lead, including one powerplay goal. Xander Schulte and Alex Symes assisted at 15:46, and Jalen Bianchet assisted at 18:21.
The third frame was tense, with more than 10 major penalties being handed out for misconduct, fighting or boarding, mostly to the Oil Barons.
While on a powerplay at 7:57, Whitecourt’s Brendan Ruskowski scored again, his fourth of the playoffs, with the helpers going to Jalen Bianchet and Spencer Claerhout. Whitecourt finished with a 7-1 lead.
The Wolverines are hosted by the Oil Barons for game three on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
