A hard fought effort for the Wolverines

A hard fought effort for the Wolverines

The Whitecourt Wolverines faced back-to-back losses on November 5 and 6, one at home and one on the road. On Friday, the Wolverines took on the Spruce Grove Saints in the Grant Fuhr Arena. The first period remained light with only one goal and one penalty, both from the Saint’s side.

In the second period, the Whitecourt Wolverines scored two big goals, both unassisted and both from Tyler Mahan, taking the lead for the first time. Just past the halfway mark, the Spruce Grove Saints managed to squeeze one past the Wolverines netminder, William Grimard, tying things up 2-2.

The final twenty minutes were a bit hairy as both teams traded penalties with four apiece. In the end, the Spruce Grove Saints scored twice, while the Whitecourt Wolverines could not capitalize on their powerplay opportunities. The final score from Spruce Grove favoured the Saints 4-2. With his two unassisted markers in the second, Tyler Mahan was the Wolverines star of the game.

The next evening, the Wolverines were back in their barn, welcoming the Lloydminster Bobcats in for a scramble. Attendance was a bit higher than in recent games, with 366 in the seats. The visitors found their way onto the scoreboard in the first period with a shorthanded goal just past the eight-minute mark. On the same powerplay, less than a minute later, the Whitecourt Wolverines redeemed themselves with a goal from Christiano Aiello, which tied things up 1-1.

In the second, the Bobcats once again took the lead, with a powerplay goal at 16:39. Just when it looked as though Lloydminster would keep their lead heading into the second intermission, the Whitecourt Wolverines clawed back. Alex Dominique sniped one past the Bobcats goalie with twenty-two seconds left on the clock. It was one of a handful of big moments for Dominique during the game. The crowd roared to life as the buzzer rang out to end the period.

In the third, try as they might, neither team could put the puck in the net. Even a penalty shot couldn’t undo the knot between the Bobcats and the Wolverines. Enter in the overtime frame! Following a brief pause, the teams squared off for the fourth period. As quickly as it started, it ended when the Bobcats managed to pot one in, a mere 32 seconds into the frame.

The Whitecourt Wolverines will no doubt be after some redemption with a four-game homestand on the way. Fans can catch all the action at the Scott Safety Centre on November 10 against the Sherwood Park Crusaders, the 13th versus the Canmore Eagles, the 14th against the Camrose Kodiaks, and, finally, against the Spruce Grove Saints on the 17th.