Hard-fought win electrifies fans at JDA Place

September and half of October were not very kind to the Whitecourt Wolverines. After rough losses to
their division rivals at home and on the road, the Wolverines found themselves in an uncommon spot,
floating in the lower range of the AJHL standings.
On October 15, the Wolverines slapped the Canmore Eagles, annihilating their opponent’s scoreboard
with a massive 7-0 win. The road victory significantly lifted the team, giving them a much-needed
confidence boost heading into a stretch of home games at JDA Place.
The Olds Grizzlys were the first team to enter the Wolverines’ lair following the end of the road trip on
Friday, October 20. Over 530 fans attended the home game, ready to cheer loudly for their Wolverines.
After a late start due to a highway accident which delayed the Olds’ bus, the fun began shortly after 7
p.m., and fans were ready for a great night of hockey.
Right from the start, both teams hit the ice with determination, finishing hits, skating hard, and fighting
for the puck. Just over four minutes into the first, the Olds Grizzlys struck first with a goal from Greye
Rampton, assisted by Cade Moxham and Ryder Many Grey Horses. The Wolverines answered back
quickly, with a goal from Joey Melo less than two minutes later, assisted by Braden Keeble and Travis
Verbeek.
The same process happened again in the second period, with different players and a more spread-out
timeline. Olds scored first, quickly into the game, making it 2-1. The Wolverines followed suit, this time
waiting until the 33-second mark remaining on the clock to tie things up, 2-2. Braden Keeble scored his
second of the season on the power play, returning the game to even.
Things also got a bit ugly in the second, with seven penalties, most going to Olds. From tripping to
hooking, checking from behind, game misconduct, roughing and slashing, the rising tension on the ice
was evident to fans on the other side of the glass. The game was nowhere near done.
In the 3rd, the game got deafeningly silent on the scoring and penalty sheets. No goals and no penalties
were recorded. If fans were looking at the game record afterwards, they might think there wasn’t a
whistle blast to think of, but they would be wrong.
The game was fierce, bouncing back and forth from end to end with huge saves from both goalies. The
goalie for the Olds Grizzlys, #31 Aidan Comeau, made exceptional saves for his team, slamming the door
shut on eager Wolverines wanting to take their first lead of the game. Ultimately, his performance
rightfully got him crowned the game’s first star.
As the third continued, fans got deeply involved, reacting as one big unit each time the home team
nearly scored or a player made a big hit. The sounds from the stands increased higher and higher, with
some fans standing up, anticipating a goal. When the timer sounded, ending the period, the game was
still tied up, 2-2. Fans were getting more than their money’s worth with some overtime!
The moment the ref dropped the puck, things got serious. The game felt like the postseason with a
championship title on the line. The Wolverines were ferocious, controlling the puck with confidence.
Nearly 50 seconds into the extra frame, fans and players got precisely what they wanted: a Wolverines

goal. Matthew Ronn scored his second of the season, thanks to a beauty of a pass from Colby Browne,
his tenth. Fans erupted, rising to their feet to tell their boys how happy they were with their gameplay.
The Wolverines raised their sticks to salute the fans who have always stuck by them through thick and
thin.
Since much of the previous five weeks were spent on the road, the Wolverines have several home
games coming up. On Friday, October 27, they welcome the Brooks Bandits to JDA Place, and on
Saturday, October 28, they will welcome Sherwood Park. Then, on Wednesday, November 1, local fans
will see the Wolverines take on Grande Prairie.