Photo Credit: Melissa Baker Photography
Whitecourt, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines (31-16-6) returned to home ice in dominating fashion as they dispatched the Bonnyville Pontiacs (17-28-8) by a score of 9-1 on Tuesday night.
The Wolverines kick-started their offensive outburst 6:28 into the first period after Mackenzie Harden banged home a rebound goal generated by a Tanner Foster point shot on a power play. The Wolverines built on their lead with just under five minutes to play in the first period as Spencer Bast took a pass from Stevie Bryant in the left-wing circle and spun around sweeping the puck between the legs of Pontiac's starting goalie Justin Travis.
The Wolverines built on their lead early in the middle frame as 3:31 into the period Brayden Labant re-directed in a point shot from Simon Lavoie right off a faceoff win. Less than two minutes later, Wolverine's captain Ryan Grant extended the Wolverines lead to four as he stepped into the right-wing circle and roofed a wrist shot over the shoulder of Travis on another Wolverine's power play. Ben Evanish tacked on his team-leading 30th goal of the year just past the midway point of the period after taking a pass from Foster in front of the net and shoveling in a backhand past Dario Latessa who came on in relief of Travis.
The third period would see Harden score two more times to complete a hat-trick, the first goal came 1:16 into the final stanza as he took a pass from Liam Motley on a two-on-one rush and stepped around Latessa slipping the puck home; the second goal came with just 4:38 to play as he jammed home a puck during a net-front scramble on a power play. Prior to Harden's hat-trick goal, Jaedon Leslie sniped in a shot from the slot on a power play while Chase Haygarth ripped in a one-timer from the right-wing circle. The Pontiacs lone goal came midway through the period as Lucas Thorne tipped in a Bekkam Willis shot.
The Wolverines continue their homestand on Friday night as they welcome the Lloydminster Bobcats (22-28-2).
Whitecourt Wolverines associate coach Shawn Martin discusses his team's victory:
Scoring Summary
1st Period:
WCT Goal – 6:28 – Mackenzie Harden(7) from Estian Coetzee and Tanner Foster (PP)
WCT Goal – 15:01 – Spencer Bast(17) from Stevie Bryant and Ben Evanish (EV)
2nd Period:
WCT Goal – 3:31 – Brayden Labant(5) from Simon Lavoie (EV)
WCT Goal – 5:27 – Ryan Grant(5) from Matthew Monk (PP)
WCT Goal – 10:23 – Ben Evanish(30) from Tanner Foster and Stevie Bryant (EV)
3rd Period:
WCT Goal – 1:16 – Mackenzie Harden(8) from Liam Motley and Estian Coetzee (EV)
WCT Goal – 6:14 – Jaedon Leslie(13) from Chase Haygarth and Simon Lavoie (PP)
BP Goal – 10:34 – Lucas Thorne(14) from Bekkam Willis and Joel Ray (EV)
WCT Goal – 11:10 – Chase Haygarth(5) from Matthew Monk and Jaedon Leslie (EV)
WCT Goal – 15:22 – Mackenzie Harden(9) from Liam Motley and Jake Hobson (PP)
Shots – WCT 36 (12-12-12) BP 29 (12-6-11)
Power plays – WCT 4/6 BP 0/3
Goalies:
WCT – Xavier Potvin (24-12-5) 28v/29sh
BP – Justin Travis (8-14-1) 12sv/16sh (25:27), Dario Latessa (0-0-0) 15sv/20sh (34:33)
Three Star Selection:
1. WCT-Mackenzie Harden
2. WCT-Simon Lavoie
3. WCT-Matthew Monk
Hardest Working Wolverine: Jaedon Leslie.
Recap presented by:
