Canucks fall to the Oilers
Wednesday night the Canucks geared up for another battle against the Okotoks. In previous match ups against the Oilers the Canucks have struggled and have yet to come away with a win.
The Oilers were first on the board as #24 Jacob Bernard-Docker put one in the back of the net 4:45 into the first. Oilers forward #19 Regan Doig extended the Oilers lead to make it 2-0. The Canucks pushed back late in the period scoring their first of the game at 18:52 when #5 Coby Mack put one past #33 Riley Morris to make it 2-1. Assists on the goal went to #27 Jordan McConnell and #8 Dylan Williamson. With just 6 seconds remaining in the period #8 Dylan Williamson scored to tie the game with help from #19 Parker Ward and #23 Mark Drohan. After 20 minutes of play the game was tied up at 2. Shots on net were 14-12 in favour of the Oilers.
With a tied game both teams were looking to make an impact in the second. Things worked out for the Oilers as #27 Trey Degraaf put another on the board to make it 3-2 Oilers. The Canucks tried to tie up the game once again but were unable to get anything in the back of the net. At the end of the period shots were 29-21 for the Oilers.
Down by one the Canucks were looking to have a strong period to get back in the game. Unfortunately, #6 Carson Beers scored midway through the period to extend the Oilers lead to 4-2. With just over 10 minutes left in the period the Canucks were battling hard. Their efforts paid off as #5 Coby Mack scored his second of the night at 17:32 to bring the Canucks back within one, with help from #18 Matt Painchaud and #19 Parker Ward. Things didn’t work out for the Canucks in the final minutes of the period, the Oilers took the win 4-3. Shots at the end of the game were 37-37.
With 2 goals #5 Coby Mack was selected as the game star for the Canucks.
Canucks go to a Shootout vs the Pontiacs
Looking to bounce back after a difficult December the Canucks hosted the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Friday night. With the Canucks winning game 1 in the series and the Pontiacs taking game 2 everything came down to game 3.
Bonnyville struck first as #25 PJ Marrocco scored a shorthanded goal giving the Pontiacs a 1-0 lead. The Canucks responded quickly as #22 Josh Giacomin scored a power play goal at 5:08, with help from #12 Andrew Marshall and #13 Connor Blake. With his second goal in the game #22 Josh Giacomin put the Canucks up by one scoring at 13:32 of the first. Assists on the goal went to #16 Brayden Brown and #17 Cale Chalifoux. At the end of the period the Canucks had a 2-1 lead and were outshooting the Pontiacs 13-10.
Midway through the second the Canucks extended their lead to 3-1 with a goal by #19 Parker Ward who was set up on the play by #27 Jordan McConnell and #8 Dylan Williamson. #4 Derek Brown brought the Pontiacs back within one with a goal at 14:48 of the second. After 40 minutes of play the Canucks were still holding onto the lead and were outshooting the Pontiacs 28-16.
To start the third the Pontiacs tied the game with a goal by #22 Alden Dupuis. The Canucks battled to regain the lead as Canucks Captain #9 Ben Assad put one in the back of the net with help from #28 Brett Van Os and #5 Coby Mack. Before the period was over the Pontiacs tied the game up once again with a goal by #8 Luke Israel. With nothing settled after 60 minutes the game was headed to overtime. Shots at the end of the period were 33-26.
In a back and forth overtime neither team was able to score sending the game into a shootout. In the first round #22 Josh Giacomin shot first but was unable to get it past the Pontiacs goaltender. On the other end Pontiacs forward #4 Derek Brown scored. Up next for the Canucks was #13 Connor Blake, who was able to get the puck in the net; however, the referee called it no goal. The Pontiacs shooter was now up but was unable to get it past Canucks goaltender #31 Branden Bilodeau. In round three #12 Andrew Marshall scored on his shot attempt. With the last shot in the round #10 Isaac Siniga scored giving the Pontiacs the win.
#22 Josh Giacomin was selected as the game star for the Canucks with 2 goals.
Canucks Defeat Fort McMurray 6-0
In the final game of year the Canucks hosted the Fort McMurray Oil Barons Sunday afternoon. With goaltender #30 Logan Drackett returning to the lineup after a four game absence due to the World Jr A Challenge, the Canucks were looking to finish December on a high note.
In a relatively calm first period the first goal of the game came at 16:23 when #8 Dylan Williamson put it in the back of the net to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead. Assists on the goal went to #16 Brayden Brown and #17 Cale Chalifoux. At the end of the first the Canucks were able to keep their 1-0 lead and were outshooting the Oil Barons 9-6.
Things picked up in the second as #4 Allan MacPherson put one in the net with help from#13 Connor Blake and #16 Brayden Brown to extend the Canucks lead to 2-0. Fourteen minutes into the period #22 Josh Giacomin added to the Canucks lead as he tipped one off the shot of #4 Allan MacPherson. Just a minute later #21 Kyler Magus made it 4-0 Canucks after being set up by #5 Coby mack and #3 Eric Gilholme. After two the Canucks had a 4-0 lead and shots on net were22-17 in favour of the Canucks.
Thing continued going the Canucks way in the third as #5 Coby Mack capitalized on a power play opportunity to add another one for the Canucks at 5:40. Assists on the goal went to #4 Allan MacPherson and #28 Brett Van Os. At the midway point #8 Dylan Williamson scored his second of the night making it 6-0 Canucks, with help from #19 Parker Ward and #27 Jordan McConnell. At the end of the game shots on net were 31-24.
While many Canucks had a multi-point game, #30 Logan Drackett was selected as the game star after recording his third shutout this season.
The Canucks are looking forward to a 2 week break to finish December but will be back in action Thursday, January 5, 2017 when they make a trip across town to take on the Calgary Mustangs. The Canucks then return home to Max Bell for back-to-back games. First up on Saturday, January 7th the Canucks host the Olds Grizzlys at 5:00 pm, then on Sunday, January 8th the Drumheller Dragons are in town for an afternoon matchup at 4:00 pm.
Go Canucks Go!