The Wolverines are on fire as the countdown to the playoffs is on

By: Serena Lapointe
Whitecourt’s AJHL team, the Wolverines, are only a couple of games away from the
postseason, with the team and fans alike excited to see playoff action back in the community,
rocking the lid off JDA Place. Three of the last eight regular season games wrapped up last
week, including two home games.
On Tuesday, February 25, the Whitecourt Wolverines welcomed the Bonnyville Pontiacs to town
for their second last meet-up of the regular season schedule. The game started slowly, with no
scoring and three penalties in the first period. In the second period, the Wolverines opened up
early, pummeling the Pontiacs with four games against.
In the third, the Wolverines managed to score two more. Tim Kim, the newly acquired Wolverine
who proudly wears jersey number four, scored his second goal for his sixth point in only six
games so far as a Wolverine. Also on the scoresheet were Jalen Bianchet (#20, who scored
twice), Joey Vetrano (#11), Travis Verbeek (#12) and Braden Keeble (#16). Whitecourt won 6-2.
Two days later, on Friday, February 28, the Wolverines went on the road, taking on the Grande
Prairie Storm at the Bonnetts Energy Centre in front of a crowd of nearly two thousand. Like on
Tuesday, the first period was a nothing-burger, with no goals and only two penalties on the
board.
In the second period, the Grande Prairie Storm found the back of the Wolverine’s net, scoring
twice, 1:20 apart, including one shorthanded. With just over two minutes to go in the period,
Jalen Bianchet snipped home his 22nd goal of the season, assisted by Kyle Tucket and Travis
Verbeek, bringing life back into the Whitecourt team as they headed into the third.
In the final twenty minutes, the floodgates opened, and the Wolverines scored three
unanswered goals, not only tying up the game but taking their first and most crucial lead. Try as
they might, the Storm players could not get another goal past Wolverines netminder Zac
Onyskiw. The Wolverines took it 4-2.
Fan favourite Jalen Bianchet had an impactful February with four multi-point games, including
two three-point games. Number 18 had 46 points in 46 games to wrap up the month, obliterating
his stats from last season. Bianchet is from Pickering, Ontario and is in his second season with
the Whitecourt Wolverines franchise.
The first game of March was a home game on Saturday, March 1, against the Grande Prairie
Storm, and the visitors were looking for payback after being handed a loss the night before. In
the first, the Storm scored the period’s lone goal, an unassisted marker from Cade Kozak. In the
second period, Kozak scored again, for his second of the night. The Storm notched one more
goal with fifty seconds left to make it 3-0, taking a big lead going into the final period.
In the third, things got a bit dicey. Both teams picked up their stride, landing massive hits and
increasing the speed and intensity of passes. It felt more like a playoff game than a regular
season one. There was even one moment when a Storm player attempted to bat a puck out of
the air in front of the Wolverine’s net.
Forty seconds in, the Storm got a whistle after one of their players got caught kneeing a
Wolverine. While on the powerplay, Wolverine Braden Keeble scored a beauty, assisted by

Jalen Bianchet, his 24th, and Travis Verbeek, his 17th. The Wolverines were finally on the
board. Eight minutes later, Wolverines Ethan Short was sent to the penalty box for holding,
giving the visitors a chance on the powerplay. The Storm did not miss, landing another goal on
the scoreboard and extending their lead to 4-1.
Less than a minute later, Travis Verbeek added to his point totals, assisting on Ty Rayan’s sixth
goal. Mason Russell also assisted. The Wolverines were only two away from tying up the game.
With two minutes to go and needing a pair, the Wolverines pulled their goalie. With a wide-open
net and a lucky bounce, the Grande Prairie Storm grabbed one more goal before the final
whistle, ending the game with a 5-2 victory.
There are five games left for the Whitecourt Wolverines before playoffs begin. Thanks to the
great season, the Wolverines have solidified home-ice advantage for the first round. The final
two games will be at home at JDA Place on Friday, March 14 (against Drayton Valley) and
Saturday, March 15 (against Camrose). The first day for playoff action will be on March 21 at
home. Their contender is yet to be determined.