From tough road games to slinging pumpkins for a great local cause

The Whitecourt Wolverines played southern road games from September 22 to the beginning of October, taking on teams like the Brooks Bandits, Drumheller Dragons, and the Camrose Kodiaks. The stretch yielded a big win against Drumheller and some heartbreaking losses. On October 5, the team returned to home base to play against the Blackfalds Bulldogs in front of their Whitecourt fans.

The cheering squad of 539 fans was ready for a night of great local hockey and cheered loudly as the puck dropped shortly after 7 p.m. at JDA Place. Blackfalds came out with an unrivalled passion, pushing hard from the get-go. Their push landed them on the scoreboard, scoring 42 seconds into the game. Following a hook from Wolverine Spencer Rheaume, a late-period powerplay gave the visitors the man advantage. They did not miss. Blackfalds closed out the first period with a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Wolverine Colby Browne scored a beauty of a goal, assisted by Joey Melo. It looked as though the Whitecourt team was on the road to a comeback. A little over a minute later, the Bulldogs regained their two-goal lead, making it 3-1. Less than 60 seconds later, they scored another, extending their lead to 4-1.

With only thirty seconds left in the second period and the Wolverines scrambling to get a puck in the net, both teams played hot-potato hockey, bouncing quickly between each other, moving from end to end. The Wolverine goalie, Lukas Renaud, made some big saves, even batting the puck out of the air at one point. With thirty seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs managed to slide one in past the Wolverine’s netminder, taking a massive 5-1 lead.

When the ref blew the whistle to signal the start of the third, fans cheered on their team, urging them not to give up. Just over three minutes in, the lone scorer for the Wolverines, Colby Browne, potted his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Kaiden Wiltsie, his third. Outside of four penalties, that was the last scoreboard-related action for the game. The Bulldogs took the win 5-2.

Following the hard loss, the Whitecourt Wolverines got out into the community. They participated in a Pumpkin Giveaway held by List It With Lexi & Lyndsay and sponsored by RE/MAX, IGA, United Rentals and New Venture Safety Services Ltd. The Wolverines signed autographs and took pictures while helping collect donations for the Whitecourt Food Bank in exchange for pumpkins.

RE/MAX started the giveaway in the mid90s. Years later, the event began to dwindle. In 2012, Lexi Ames, who worked at the Whitecourt Teen Centre, restarted it to help raise food for lunches for kids at the centre. When the centre closed, she and RE/MAX returned to supporting the Whitecourt Food Bank.

“It’s the biggest feel-good event. It’s the perfect weekend to give back to the community that has given us so much,” said Ames. As shoppers approached the store, a Wolverine player handed them a piece of paper with some of the most commonly needed items for the Whitecourt Food Bank. Those who donated were given a free pumpkin from IGA.

“My favourite is when you see parents start explaining to their kids why they are buying something for the Food Bank and what the Food Bank is, and then they come back, and the kids are excited to hand over the donation they picked out. Then the bonus is they get to pick out a pumpkin for it,” explained Ames. “Last year, we had a guy come, and he gave a twenty dollar bill and said he was one of the people using the Food Bank the year before. It chokes me up. That’s why we all do this.”

The Whitecourt Wolverines have helped with the event every year, and as players have changed, new players have gotten to experience it. Hunter Motley joined the team as an affiliate late last season and is now a full-time member. He said he enjoyed shopping with his teammates and being part of the donation process. “It makes us feel great to be out here. We really have to take advantage of any chance we get to give back because it’s such a great community that we have here in Whitecourt,” said Motley. “This has been fun.”

The handful of players involved took time to shop for specific items with any monetary donations received. “We love that the Wolverines come. They are celebrities for the kids, and they love seeing them. I think they are great role models because it takes courage to come into a new community, not know anybody, and get out and volunteer like this. I feel like it teaches them a lot of good attributes to have as an adult,” said Ames. “We should support them too, like they support us.”

Ames said they can’t say “thank you” enough to the community. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s the public that makes this happen. We can facilitate an event, but they are the ones that make it a success. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Whitecourt, for your money, time, and willingness to participate. It’s so appreciated, and we know the Food Bank and those receiving it appreciate it too. Big thank you to our sponsors for making it all happen.”

The Wolverines will be back in action at JDA Place on October 20 and 21, taking on Olds and Canmore, and again on Friday, October 27 and 28, to take on Brooks and Sherwood Park. The Wolverines love a loud barn and encourage fans to come out for some great hockey action at the local rink. “It’s a great atmosphere, “said Motley.