The Whitecourt Wolverines notched two key victories over the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Bonnyville Pontiacs Thursday and Friday at the Scott Safety Centre.
Whitecourt outscored the Crusaders 6-4 Thursday night, with Matthew Abt (4 assists) and Colten Mayor (2 goals and 1 assist) leading the way. Special teams were very important in this game, with Whitecourt netting two of their goals on the power play and Sherwood Park scoring three of their four on the power play. Colten Mayor opened the game’s scoring with a goal at 4:41 of the first period from Matthew Abt. Mayor scored again at 16:25 from Brandon Switzer and Dalton Olsen to stake the Wolverines to a 2-0 lead. After Sherwood Park got on the board early in the second period, Clay Spencer scored at 9:49 on the power play from Trace Elson and Matthew Abt to put the Wolverines up 3-1. Sherwood Park got their second of the game soon after before Trace Elson gave the Wolverines a two goal cushion again on the power play when he scored at 14:38 from Matthew Abt and Clay Spencer. The back and forth affair continued into the third period when Sherwood Park scored early to make it 4-3, but Brandon Switzer gave Whitecourt a two goal lead again with his goal at 3:30 from Colten Mayor. Sherwood Park would come back one more time at 6:33 of the third period to make the game close, but Joel Herbert scored a big goal at 9:41 from Evan Warmington and Matthew Abt to seal the 6-4 victory. Tanner Kovacs picked up the win in goal for Whitecourt, stopping 30 of 34 shots.
Whitecourt continued their winning ways with a hard fought 3-2 shootout victory over the Bonnyville Pontiacs Friday night. Brandon Switzer got Whitecourt on the board early with a goal at 4:32 from Dalton Olsen and Evan Warmington. Bonnyville got a goal from Wyatt Noskey at 12:27 of the first period to even the score. There was no scoring in the second period and it was Whitecourt who would score next and get the 2-1 lead, with Ryan Berlin scoring at 6:10 of the third period from Joel Kocur and Colten Mayor. Shelby Kostyshen scored at 13:23 for Bonnyville and the score would end at 2-2 through regulation time. There was no overtime scoring and ultimately it was Colten Mayor scoring the lone shootout goal, settling the score in this game and gaining the win for Whitecourt. Tanner Kovacs had a solid game in goal for Whitecourt stopping 38 of 40 shots and all three shootout attempts.
The Wolverines will now travel to Grande Prairie for a game vs. the Storm this Sunday in a 2:30 pm start.