Camrose, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines (5-2-2) left the 2017 AJHL Showcase with a split after falling to the Calgary Canucks (3-4-0) in overtime on Saturday at the Max McLean Arena.
The Wolverines continued their scoring ways from the night previous as just 4:21 into the first period, Liam Motley raced into the offensive zone, slammed on the brakes and snapped a shot top corner from the right-wing circle. A penalty-filled period saw the Wolverines head into the intermission with the 1-0 lead.
Tanner Foster extended the Wolverines lead early in the second period after getting an off-speed point shot past Canuck goalie Caiden Kreitz just 4:15 into the frame. The Wolverines were given a lengthy two-man advantage a short time later but were unable to increase their lead any further. Feeding off the momentum of their penalty-kill, the Canucks were able to tie the game getting goals from Jordan McConnell and Cooper Johnson just 37 seconds apart with just over eight minutes to play in the second period.
Just 11 seconds into the third period, the Wolverines were back in front as Tyr Thompson took a centering feed and put home his second goal in as many games. The Wolverines had yet another chance with a power play to pull further ahead but again could not convert, and it would cost them. Just as the Canucks 6th minor penalty of the game expired, they tied the game on a goal from Blake Stevenson at the 6:27 mark of the period. The teams remained tied through regulation and for a second straight meeting between the two clubs, they were overtime bound.
The Canucks completed their comeback with just over two minutes to play in the bonus period as Chad Varney walked out from behind the Wolverine net and snapped a shot over the blocker of goaltender Xavier Potvin.
The Wolverines return to home ice on Friday night when they welcome the Sherwood Park Crusaders (4-2-1) to the Scott Safety Centre for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff.
Scoring Summary
1st Period:
WCT Goal – 4:21 – Liam Motley(5) from Tanner Foster (EV)
2nd Period:
WCT Goal – 4:15 – Tanner Foster(1) unassisted (EV)
CGY Goal – 11:12 – Jordan McConnell(2) from Dylan Williamson and Coby Mack (EV)
CGY Goal – 11:49 – Cooper Johnson(1) from Noah Williams and Josh Giacomin (EV)
3rd Period:
WCT Goal – 0:11 – Tyr Thompson(2) from Jaedon Leslie and Liam Motley (EV)
CGY Goal – 6:27 – Blake Stevenson from Zach Russell (EV)
Overtime:
CGY Goal – Chad Varney(2) from Josh Giacomin (EV)
Shots – WCT 32 (11-13-7-1) CGY 32 (9-9-12-4)
Power plays – WCT 0/6 CGY 0/5
Goalies:
WCT – Xavier Potvin 28sv/32sh (3-2-2)
CAM – Caiden Kreitz 29sv/32sh (1-1-0)
Three Star Selection:
1. CGY-Chad Varney (GWG)
2. CGY-Josh Giacomin (2a)
3. WCT-Liam Motley (1g, 1a)
Hardest Working Wolverines: Tanner Foster (1g, 1a)
Recap presented by:
