The Wolverines are second and third in the North Division and AJHL standings

The Whitecourt Wolverines ended November by taking on the Grande Prairie Storm at the Scott Safety Centre on the 30th. The Wednesday evening matchup was a chilly one as temperatures outside dropped to negative double digits, and a sizeable snowfall earlier in the day kept many fans at home. Just shy of 300 fans made the slippery drive to the arena to cheer on their team.

Much of the action between the two teams came in the first twenty minutes of the game, including three goals and five penalties. The first penalty-caused whistle blast went against the Wolverines as Tanner Komzak sat for two for cross-checking. Less than a minute later, Grande Prairie Storm player Ayden Peters was caught hooking a Wolverine, landing a squat in the penalty box.

One minute later, Peters’ Storm teammate Logan Cunningham received a double minor for high sticking, giving the Whitecourt Wolverines one minute with a five-on-three man advantage and three minutes of five-on-four to try and get themselves on the scoreboard.

Nearing the end of the extended powerplay, Wolverine Colby Browne, flanked by Tanner Komzak and Spencer Rheaume, took full advantage of the remaining seconds, batting the puck behind the Storm’s goaltender. The Wolverines had struck first, 1-0.

Forty-four seconds after Browne’s ninth goal of the year, Wolverine Evan Smutney was caught hooking onto a Storm player, calling a penalty. Sixty seconds into the man advantage, with Smutney looking on from the penalty box, the Grande Prairie Storm seized the opportunity before them and tied things up, 1-1.

The fast-paced first period continued with a sniper of a shot off Aiden Long’s stick, giving the Whitecourt Wolverines back their lead, 2-1. Long was assisted by Cooper Smyl, with his eighteenth assist, and Adam Lore, his third. The period saw one more penalty, a slashing call against Wolverine Matthew Sutter, but the Storm could not capitalize on the powerplay.

In the second period, the quickness of the game continued, but there were fewer whistles to speak of. Unlike the action in the previous period, the second only saw three penalties. The Grande Prairie Storm sat a player for a two-minute interference penalty, and the Whitecourt Wolverines sat for two penalties: Graham Skinner for high sticking and Kaiden Wiltsie for cross-checking.

In the third, things were much quieter on the penalty front. The teams moved back and forth quickly and kept up the fast pace that started the game off originally. Near the period’s midpoint, Wolverine Michael Lovsin was called for goalie interference and sat for two. In the game’s final minute, Wolverine Jarred Feist was caught tripping a Storm player. His penalty lasted forty-eight seconds, and fans were on edge, hoping the Wolverines could hold onto their lead and take the win. Thankfully, the Whitecourt Wolverines did just that, ending November with a big win against their rivals. There are four home games at the Scott Safety Centre this month. The Wolverines play against the Olds Grizzlys on Friday, December 9, the Canmore Eagles on Saturday, December 10, the Sherwood Park Crusaders on Friday, December 16, and the Drayton Valley Thunder on Thursday, December 29, which will be their final game of the year. All games are 7 pm starts.