A Family Day matinee matchup saw The Wolverines visit the AJHL leading Spruce Grove Saints.
The Saints came out hard and strong to start the game firing the game’s first 11 shots on Wolverines goaltender Riley Corbin who was making back to back starts for the first time this season. The Saints opened the scoring on the power play on a goal by Carson Samoridny. The Saints however wouldn’t stop there as a goal from Jake Mykituk & then Samoridny again on the power play that would make it 3-0 for the Saints just 8:33 in to the first period. That would be enough to end Corbin’s night allowing 3 goals on 14 shots as he would be replaced by Mac Engle.
A time out seemed to spark the Wolverines as Evan Warmington would go onto strike on the power play with his 16th goal of the season at the 15:03 mark. Matthew Abt would spring Trace Elson on breakaway just 0:24 later as Elson would slip his 18th goal of the season past Kenny Cameron to make it a 1 goal game. With time ticking down in the 1st period former Wolverine Jared Hauptman would restore a 2 goal lead for the Saints making it 4-2 heading into the 1st intermission.
Both teams would exchange goals in the 2nd frame as Correale would strike for the Saints at the 2:11 mark and Lawson would net his 7th as a Wolverine and 13th of the season at 12:50.
The Wolverines would make it a 5-4 game in the 3rd period on a goal by a pinching Matthew Abt who put the puck behind Kenny Cameron for his 9th of the season. The Wolverines continued to battle hard as both teams put on a clinic full of work horses as the Wolverines tried to tie the game, However in the last minute late pressure from the Saints didn’t allow Mac Engle to get to the bench for the extra attacker before Cameron Hughes put it behind Engle to seal the deal for the Saints. The Saints would take the contest 6-4 dropping the Wolverines record to 23-30-3 on the season.
Not in the lineup for the Wolverines: Joseph Leonidas, Mitch Deacon & Gianni Mangone.
The Wolverines return to action Friday February 21st at home as the visiting Drayton Valley Thunder come to town. However before that the Wolverines will take part in Tim Horton’s Day on Thursday with events starting at 4pm.
Devin Rideout
Director of Media Operations
