Photos by Melissa Baker Photography
Whitecourt, AB ? Whitecourt Wolverines kicked off the regular season with an exclusive video created by videographer Ryan Steinke and light show followed by the introduction of the 2019/2020 Whitecourt Wolverines. Mayor Maryann Chichak joined in the pregame activities to drop the ceremonial first puck of the 2019/2020 season.
Wolverines opening night roster consisted of players from four provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec) and two states (Florida and Illinois). The Wolverines entered the regular season with Whitecourt local player, Spencer Augot, entering his third season as a Wolverine. Wolverines opening roster has sixteen Alberta born players.
Whitecourt Wolverines hosted the Bonnyville Pontiacs in this doubleheader weekend in front of a combined two-day total of 1,772 fans, who were treated to the edge of the seat hockey both games.
September 13, 2019
In this fast-paced game, both teams came out shooting with a lot of opportunities going both ways. During the first period, Wolverines would get 14 shots and the Pontiacs 11, but both Hesse and Duplessis would turn aside every chance, closing the first 20 minutes with no scoring. In the second period, Wolverines would give up five penalties, and Thomas Kramer would capitalize on one to make it 1-0 Pontiacs. Wolverines Charles-Antoine Giguere would take advantage of a Bonnyville penalty kill in the third period to tie the game at 1. After 37 to 30 shots this game was going to overtime, where nothing could be decided. It would take five shooters in the shootout to complete the contest. McKim, Benoit, Dubois and Thorne scoring for Bonnyville and Robinson, Bowes and Ergang scoring for the Wolverines to have a 2-1 final score with Bonnyville getting the extra point. Bonnyville Pontiacs were 1 for 7 on the powerplay (14.3 %). Whitecourt Wolverines were 1 for 3 (33.3%) on their powerplay. Goaltenders on both sides earned the Viterra Stars of the Game.
September 14, 2019
Rookie Ben Wood would open the scoring on Saturday night for the Wolverines with a quick shot from the point off the face-off from Eric Perneel. This goal would be Wood’s first AJHL goal and put the Wolverines ahead 1-0. Cassidy Bowes would make the game 2-0 quickly after Leyer generated a turn over at center ice. Pontiacs answered back in the next minute on the powerplay with Lucas Thorne cutting Whitecourt’s lead in half. The second period saw an even eight shots for each team, with no change in the score. Thomas Kramer from the Pontiacs would tie up the game at eleven minutes into the third period. The Wolverines would retake the lead at 15:19 on the powerplay with Cassidy Bowes scoring his second of the night assisted by Adam Sandstrom and Hayden Clayton. Pontiacs Jaden York answered right back at 16:00 minutes again tying the game at 3. Wolverines had some opportunities late in the game, but once again these two teams were headed to overtime where once again a winner could not be decided.
Vincent Duplessis faced five shooters and shut the door allowing no goals in the shootout. Hayden Clayton notches the lone shootout goal, and the Wolverines get the win. Bonnyville went 1 for 2 (50%) on the powerplay. Whitecourt Wolverines were 1 for 3 (33.3%) on the powerplay. Final shots were 31 to 24 for Whitecourt. Viterra Stars of the Game were Adam Sandstrom (1 assist) and Matthew McKim (2 assists) for Bonnyville.
Our next home game is Tuesday, October 8th at the Scott Safety Center as the Drayton Valley Thunder come to town for our first matchup of the regular season. Get your season or gameday tickets at our website:
https://www.whitecourtwolverines.ca/tickets/tickets/season-tickets.html