Lloydminster, SK – The Whitecourt Wolverines (22-10-5) saw their losing streak hit five games with a 3-2 loss to the Lloydminster Bobcats (14-22-2) on Saturday night.
The Wolverines opened the scoring on this night as Estian Coetzee got the last touch on a goalmouth scramble at the 7:02 mark of the first period on a power play. The Bobcats would answer back on a power play of their own with 4:27 left in the opening frame as Rylan Nivon batted a rebound out of mid-air and into the back of the net. An even first period saw the teams enter the intermission tied on the scoreboard at 1-1 and the shot clock at 11-11.
The Wolverines would again take the lead as just 2:45 into the second period, Liam Motley broke away shorthanded and slipped a backhand five-hole on Bobcat’s starting goalie Pierce Diamond. Like the first period, the ‘Cats had an answer late in the period as Kobe Walker strolled in on a two-on-one rush and roofed a wrist shot leaving the teams tied once again at the intermission.
The third period began with the Wolverines shorthanded two players for the opening 90 seconds but the penalty killers got the job done keeping the game even at two. With the teams back at even-strength, the Bobcats would take advantage of a sloppy change by the Wolverines and again it would be Kobe Walker keeping, shooting and scoring on a two-on-rush to give his team their first lead of the game. The Wolverines pressed for an equalizer all through the third period but could not solve Pierce Diamond for a third time.
The Wolverines return to action Friday night when they visit the Drayton Valley Thunder (9-27-1) at 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary
1st Period:
WCT Goal – 7:02 – Estian Coetzee(16) from Noah Tooke and Tyr Thompson (PP)
LLYD Goal – 15:33 – Rylan Nivon(4) from Reid Irwin and Brock Sottile (PP)
2nd Period:
WCT Goal – 2:45 – Liam Motley(13) unassisted (SH)
LLYD Goal – 14:00 – Kobe Walker(19) from Evan Wood (EV)
3rd Period:
LLYD Goal – 7:01 – Kobe Walker(20) from Zach Kaiser (EV)
Shots – WCT 35 (11-16-8) LLYD 31 (11-11-9)
Power plays – WCT 1/7 LLYD 1/6
Goalies:
WCT – Xavier Potvin (17-8-4) 28sv/31sh
LLYD – Pierce Diamond (6-12-0) 33sv/35sh
Three Star Selection:
1.LLYD-Kobe Walker
2.LLYD-Pierce Diamond
3. WCT-Liam Motley
Hardest Working Wolverine: Stevie Bryant.
Recap presented by: