Whitecourt, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines (4-2-1) dropped a 3-2 decision on home ice Tuesday night to the Bonnyville Pontiacs (3-2-0), ending their four-game win streak.
The Pontiacs supplied all their offence in a span of 7:39 across the midway point of the first period. First, Derek Brown opened the scoring on a Pontiac power play after taking a nice cross-seam pass from Brandon Whistle in the left-wing circle and snapping a shot into the top corner. Just as another Bonnyville man-advantage expired at the 12:41 mark of the first period, P.J. Marrocco sliced into the offensive zone and on a great individual effort, he too fired home a shot from the left-wing circle. The Pontiacs stretched their lead to three on their third power play of the period as Brown circled the Wolverines zone and ripped a shot off the cross-bar and in.
The Wolverines started to shake off a lethargic start in the second period and at the 7:21 mark got on the scoresheet as Cody Laskosky tipped a Pontiac pass out to centre ice, skated onto it racing into the offensive zone and whistling a shot over the glove of Bonnyville goalie Sandro Silvestre. Despite giving the Wolverines life, the Pontiacs continued to defend well through the remainder of the period and took a 3-1 lead into the final period.
The Wolverines carried the play in the third period as the Pontiacs sat back defending their two-goal advantage. With the clock becoming the enemy, the Wolverines got a gift with 4:26 remaining in the third period as Alessio Luciani picked off a Pontiac outlet pass and snuck a quick shot short-side past the Silvestre, bringing his team to within a goal. The final four minutes were spent, for the majority, inside the Pontiac’s zone but every Wolverine scoring chance was either blocked by a defender or denied by Silvestre as the team failed to find a late tying goal.
The Wolverines are back in action on Friday night at the AJHL Showcase in Camrose as they take on the host Kodiaks (2-1-2) at 7 p.m.
Whitecourt Wolverine’s associate coach Shawn Martin discusses his team’s effort:
Notes: The Wolverines traded ‘99 F Joshua Dobberthien to the Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) earlier in the day in exchange for future considerations…The Wolverines have now failed to score a power-play goal in their last four games going 0 for their last 16 man-advantage opportunities…This was the team’s fourth consecutive one-goal game, they are now 3-1-1 on the season in one-goal games…Due to injuries, Easton Haygarth jumped back to play defence tonight…Wolverines forwards Phil Erickson (20) and Tyr Thompson (19) celebrated birthdays today…The Wolverines are 5-5-0 all-time at the AJHL showcase and are 3-1-0 since it was moved to Camrose.
Scoring Summary
1st Period:
BP Goal – 7:16 – Derek Brown(4) from Brandon Whistle and Kirby Proctor (PP)
BP Goal – 12:41 – P.J. Marrocco(4) from Brady Pupp (EV)
BP Goal – 14:55 – Derek Brown(5) from Brandon Whistle and Isaac Saniga (PP)
2nd Period:
WCT Goal – 7:21 – Cody Laskosky(2) from Phil Erickson (EV)
3rd Period:
WCT Goal – 15:34 – Alessio Luciani(1) unassisted (EV)
Shots – WCT 30 (7-10-13) BP 24 (10-9-5)
Power plays – WCT 0/3 BP 2/3
Goalies:
WCT – Xavier Potvin 21sv/24sh (3-2-1)
BP – Sandro Silvestre 28sv/30sh (3-2-0)
Three Star Selection:
1. BP-Derek Brown (2g, GWG)
2. BP-P.J. Marrocco (1g)
3. WCT-Cody Laskosky (1g)
Hardest Working Wolverines: Alessio Luciani (1g)
Recap presented by:
