Fantastic Saturday night Wolverines game at the Scott Safety Centre brings big cheers from fans

The Whitecourt Wolverines took on the Camrose Kodiaks on Saturday night at the Scott Safety Centre. The fourth home game of the month saw a larger crowd in the seats thanks to a Whitecourt Minor Hockey U9 Tournament in town that brought lots of young hockey players out to watch the game.

The Whitecourt Wolverines couldn’t stay out of the penalty box in the first period, taking three, high sticking, boarding, and roughing. The Camrose Kodiaks didn’t miss the opportunity and pocketed two goals on the man advantage, taking a two-goal lead after twenty minutes.

In the second period, things flipped for the hometown team as the Wolverines players managed to keep themselves out of the penalty box and, instead, got four opportunities on the man advantage as the Kodiaks took penalties for holding (x2), goalie interference and a ten-minute misconduct. With four chances on the powerplay, the Wolverines capitalized on one, with Aiden Long grabbing his ninth of the year thirty-two seconds into the period.

Not to be outdone, the Whitecourt Wolverines continued their push, scoring an even-strength goal just over a minute later thanks to an unassisted marker by Kaiden Wiltsie, his sixth of the year. The Wolverines had successfully climbed out of the hole they found themselves in after the first period, tying things up 2-2. But that wasn’t it. Just before the halfway point of the second period, Graham Skinner, assisted by Jonah Bevington, scored his second of the year, giving his team their first lead of the game, 3-2.

The third period would be about staying out of the penalty box for both teams. The fast-paced game could change in the blink of an eye so staying away from penalties was key. Twenty-five seconds into the frame, the Whitecourt Wolverines increased their lead with a wicked shot by Colby Browne, unassisted, bringing the score to 4-2.

Things got a bit unhinged as the Wolverines took a penalty for hooking. Ten minutes later, the Wolverines took another penalty, this time for unsportsmanlike conduct. And, just two minutes further, they took another penalty, as Chase Broda was sent to the box for goalie interference. Wolverines’ goalie Ben Charette held firm for his team as he maneuvered shots and fought through three near back-to-back penalties, protecting the Wolverines’ lead.

Thanks to their goaltender working his butt off in the crease, and players fighting off the Kodiaks advances to get back into the game, the Whitecourt Wolverines held strong and managed to increase their lead in a period where they shouldn’t have been able to, given the penalties against them. Kaiden Wiltsie pocketed his second of the game, bringing the Wolverines’ total to five goals on the night.

The Camrose Kodiaks put up a brave fight and scored one final goal at the seven-minute mark of the third but fell short of tying things up. The final score from the Scott Safety Centre was 5-3 for the Wolverines. The next home game for the Whitecourt Wolverines comes this Friday and Sunday. On Friday, the Wolverines welcome the Spruce Grove Saints, and on Sunday, for the matinee, they welcome the Grande Prairie Storm to town.