The Whitecourt Wolverines had a busy weekend that started with a trip to Drayton Valley on Friday, Dec. 13, to take on the Thunder and finished at home on Saturday, Dec. 14, with a matchup against the Canmore Eagles.
The Wolverines were in Drayton Valley Friday to take on the Thunder for the Hockey Hooky Day faceoff, winning 5-2 in front of a crowd of more than 1200 students.
Jalen Bianchet opened the scoring for the Wolverines just 1:00 into the first period. Bianchet’s ninth goal of the season was assisted by Joey Vetrano and Ethan Short.
At the end of the first period, both teams had put nine shots on net but the Wolverines took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Travis Verbeek extended the Wolverines’ lead at 5:48 of the second period with his third goal of the season. Verbeek’s goal was scored short-handed with assists from Dwane Jean Jr. and Reid Larson.
Tucker Tullikopf finally got the Thunder on the board with a power play goal scored at 18:47. Matthew Gallant and Haper LoLacher were credited with the assists on Tullikopf’s fourth goal of the season.
At the end of the second period, both teams had put 11 shots on net, but the Wolverines took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Joey Vetrano kept the pressure on for the Wolverines, scoring his seventh goal of the season just 2:17 into the third period. Jalen Bianchet and Jack Pollock were credited with the assists.
Ethan Short extended the Wolverines’ lead to 4-1 with a power play goal at 4:07. Short’s 11th goal of the season was scored on a power play with assists from Dwayne Jean Jr. and Ewan McPherson.
Drayton Valley’s Gabriel Filion then scored his first goal of the season on a power play at 9:30. Harper LoLacher and Luke Marley were credited with the assists on what turned out to be the Thunder’s last goal of the game.
Dylan Ruptash scored an empty net goal at 18:53 to secure the Wolverines 5-2 victory. Ruptash’s 17th goal of the season was assisted by Ethan Short and Reid Larson.
The Whitecourt Wolverines outshot the Drayton Valley Thunder 13-8 in the third period and 33-28 in total.
Drayton Valley Thunder goaltender Nicholas Cristiano made 28 saves on 32 shots.
Whitecourt Wolverines goaltender Elliott Pratt made 26 saves on the 28 shots he faced in support of the Wolverines’ victory.
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The Wolverines were back on home ice on Saturday, Dec. 14, to play host to the Canmore Eagles, winning 3-1.
Braden Keeble opened the scoring for the Wolverines 8:02 into the first period. Dwayne Jean Jr. and Spencer Claerhout were credited with the assists on Keeble’s sixth goal of the season.
Casey Black tied the game for the Eagles at 16:24 with a power play goal. Black’s third goal of the season was assisted by Owen Jones and Aidan Tkachuk.
At the end of the first period, the Canmore Eagles had outshot the Whitecourt Wolverines 9-8 but the score was tied 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Whitecourt Wolverines outshot the Canmore Eagles 12-10, but neither team was able to score.
Ewan McPherson broke the tie with his eighth goal of the season at 7:19 of the third period. Joey Vetrano and Jalen Bianchet assisted on the go-ahead goal.
Ethan Short then secured the 3-1 victory for the Wolverines with an empty net goal at 19:23. Xavier Lacoste was credited with the assist on Short’s 12th goal of the season.
The Whitecourt Wolverines outshot the Canmore Eagles 10-9 in the third period, but the shots finished tied 29-29 after 60 minutes.
Canmore Eagles goaltender Alexander Scheiwiller made 26 saves on the 28 shots he faced.
Whitecourt Wolverines goaltender Zan Onyskiw made 28 saves on the 29 shots he faced in support of the Wolverines’ victory.
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With these wins, the Wolverines now have a record of 20-6-1-1, for a total of 42 points, keeping them in first place in the AJHL North Division and the overall League Standings.
The Wolverines have a busy week ahead of them to wrap up 2024. The team will take a trip to Bonnyville on Tuesday, Dec. 17 to take on the Pontiacs, then continue on to Lloydminster for a date with the Bobcats Dec. 18, before coming home to host the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Saturday, Dec. 21.
