Blackfalds Bulldogs Bonnyville Pontiacs Brooks Bandits Calgary Canucks Camrose Kodiaks Canmore Eagles Drayton Valley Thunder Drumheller Dragons Fort McMurray Oil Barons Grande Prairie Storm Lloydminster Bobcats Okotoks Oilers Olds Grizzlys Sherwood Park Crusaders Spruce Grove Saints Whitecourt Wolverines

Wolverines Win Streak Snapped, Fall to Bonnyville 3-2

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: