Local squad goes from devastation to jubilation in 24hrs

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons rolled into Whitecourt last week to take on the Wolverines. The Barons
have had a rough season so far, sitting fifteenth out of sixteen AJHL conference teams, with seven wins
and fifteen losses as of Friday, November 17. Looking to kickstart a winning streak and start a slow climb
out of the basement, the Barons had something to prove and much to lose.
For the Whitecourt Wolverines, the story was a bit different. Sitting mid-pack in the standings, with 11
wins and eleven losses, the hometown squad was looking to tip the scales in a positive direction. Off the
heels of a tough overtime loss the night before against the Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-3, the Wolverines were
after more than just a consolation point.
In front of 520 fans, the puck dropped at 7 pm. The first period was fast, with both teams playing hard
and moving the puck around like a hot potato. There were several big hits in the period, including a
hit/collision that involved #29 Nathan Leek and an Oil Baron that resulted in Leek getting some air
between his skates and the ice. Fans reacted loudly.
Another hit resulted from #20 Joey Melo rushing hard to the net. He was taken down to his knees but
never lost control of the puck, even managing to get back on his feet and get off a shot attempt. Talk
about determination! Undeterred by his failed attempt, Melo came back, and with Keeble and Verbeek
supporting him, he fired one past the Baron’s goalie and into the back of the net. 1-0, Wolverines!
In the second, the Wolverines worked hard to keep their one-goal lead. Four penalties were called, two
to each team. Nikolas Hoogendoorn from the Oil Barons was called for unsportsmanlike behaviour and
received a ten-minute misconduct penalty just after the six-minute mark. For the Wolverines, Nathaniel
Bannister was called for tripping, and Travis Verbeek was called for interference.
Just over halfway through the period, Jarred Feist, assisted by Dylan Leslie, gave the Wolverines a more
significant lead with a beauty of a goal, his sixth of the year. Neither team capitalized on their powerplay
chances, and the period ended with the Wolverines still in the lead, now 2-0.
In the final period of the game, things got hot. There were seven penalties throughout the period as
tensions between both teams escalated. Whitecourt had the majority of the penalties, with four. Travis
Verbeek and Nathanial Bannister each sat for their second of the game. Joey Melo and Dylan Leslie also
sat for two.
Even with the roughness levels rising, Wolverine Ben Charette didn’t waiver. He stood on his head for
his team, keeping their lead intact. At 17:31 of the third, the Barons somehow found a hole through
Charette and got themselves within one. That would be the only chance Charette would give them. With
a locked-down goalie crease, the Barons could do nothing to tie things up. The Wolverines took the win
2-1. Add one to the win column, baby!
For the remainder of the month, the Whitecourt Wolverines are on the road in Grande Prairie, Drayton
Valley, and Blackfalds, but come December, they’ve got a stretch at JDA Place. On Friday, December 1,
they welcome the Grande Prairie Storm and, on the second, the Drumheller Dragons. On December 6,
the Lloydminster Bobcats will roam into Whitecourt and on Friday, December 8, the Calgary Canucks.