Photo Credit: Melissa Baker Photography
Whitecourt, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines (28-12-5) continued their offensive dominance on Saturday night as they knocked off the Calgary Mustangs (19-24-4) by a score of 8-2.
The Wolverines were led by Yannik Bertrand as he tied a franchise record scoring four goals on the night, making him just the third player in franchise history to achieve the feat (Jerome Raymond(x2) and Jess Tanguay). Bertrand’s first goal came just 2:16 into the opening as he slid a shot along on the ice and between the legs of Mustang’s starting goalie Joey May on a two-on-one rush. His second marker was set up by a great rush by defenceman Matthew Monk who waltzed into the offensive zone and got the puck to the net for a rebound that Bertrand would slam home with just over five minutes to play in the first period. Sandwiched between those two Bertrand goals was a power play goal by Tyr Thompson as he took a pass at the point from Liam Motley and walked into the slot, roofing a wrist shot.
The Mustangs got on the board 5:46 into the second period as Tanner Klassen got in on the forecheck, stripped a puck behind the Wolverine net and set up Ryan Stoynich in front. The Wolverines quickly restored their three-goal lead as Bertrand completed his hat-trick, walking out of the right-wing corner, with several defenders draped over him, and snapping home a shot off the post from the top of the right circle. Three minutes later, Bertrand recorded his fourth goal, sniping a short-side shot top shelf from inside the left circle, increasing the Wolverine’s lead to 5-1 heading into the second intermission.
Joseph Karpyshyn pulled the Mustangs back to within three goals less than a minute into the third period as he converted a pass from Ryley Smith on a nifty faceoff play but again the Wolverines would answer just over a minute later; Jude Butler deposited his second power play goal in as many nights as he chopped in a sensational backdoor pass from Chase Haygarth. The Wolverines added two more goals before the night was out; at the 8:57 mark, Matthew Monk sifted in a point shot with Stevie Bryant, who was playing in 100th game as a Wolverine and 200th career junior hockey game, providing a screen in front and with under five minutes to play, Estian Coetzee chiseled in the Wolverines third power play goal of the night.
The Wolverines return to action Saturday night when they welcome the Okotoks Oilers (36-6-2) to the Scott Safety Centre at 7:30 p.m.
Whitecourt Wolverine’s head coach Gord Thibodeau discusses another dominant performance by his team:
Scoring Summary
1st Period:
WCT Goal – 2:16 – Yannik Bertrand(1) from Ben Evanish and Matthew Monk (EV)
WCT Goal – 12:35 – Tyr Thompson(16) from Mackenzie Harden and Liam Motley (PP)
WCT Goal – 14:48 – Yannik Bertrand(2) from Stevie Bryant and Matthew Monk (EV)
2nd Period:
CGY Goal – 5:46 – Ryan Stoynich(6) from Tanner Klassen (EV)
WCT Goal – 7:16 – Yannik Bertrand(3) from Ben Evanish (EV)
WCT Goal – 10:17 – Yannik Bertrand(4) from Ben Evanish and Stevie Bryant (EV)
3rd Period:
CGY Goal – 0:56 – Joseph Karpyshyn(24) from Ryley Smith (EV)
WCT Goal – 1:59 – Jude Butler(5) from Chase Haygarth and Brayden Labant (PP)
WCT Goal – 8:57 – Matthew Monk(4) from Yannik Bertrand and Stevie Bryant (EV)
WCT Goal – 15:03 – Estian Coetzee(20) from Tanner Foster and Jaedon Leslie (PP)
Shots – WCT 35 (15-8-12) CGY 22 (6-7-9)
Power plays – WCT 3/5 CGY 0/2
Goalies:
WCT – Tye Morin (7-3-1) 20sv/22sh
CGY – Joey May (7-9-3) 7sv/10sh (14:48), Ashton Abel (12-11-0) 20sv/25sh
Three Star Selection:
1. WCT-Yannik Bertrand
2. WCT-Ben Evanish
3. WCT-Matthew Monk
Hardest Working Wolverine: Stevie Bryant.
Recap presented by:
