Recap by Mackenzie Grafton
The Calgary Canucks end November with a record of 6-5-0 and currently sit in fifth place in the AJHL with a record of 16-11-2. “You know there’s ups and downs as there’s with any team, any season. It’s the mid-season grind where there’s a little bit of injuries,” said Head Coach Brad Moran.
“We got to make sure we’re focused and don’t get complacent and make sure that it’s 60 minutes every night. I think right now we have some little slides that are costing us, but then we can get re-engaged. We’re putting up points, but we got to be more consistent.” added Moran.
In December, the Canucks will play nine games, including three home games with the Kick Off Christmas at Max Bell Centre starting December 3rd.
Player Spotlight – #18 Bowden Singleton
The Calgary Canucks Captain, Bowden Singleton is leading his team by example. Singleton is on a seven-game point streak, scoring six goals and 12 points in November. He leads his team with 12 goals and 17 assists in his second season with the Canucks. “Singleton has consistently put up the numbers and we want guys to follow that throughout our lineup,” said Brad Moran
November Recap
November 2nd @ Camrose Kodiaks
The Canucks headed up to Camrose for a one-game road trip. A quick powerplay got things going as Sam Callahan found the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead. The Kodiaks would remain scoreless until near the end of the third period when they tied the game with under six minutes to play. This game would ultimately be decided in a shootout, with Gavin Garland scoring on the Canucks first attempt. Julian Molinaro picked up the win with 31 of 32 saves and stopped all three Kodiaks shootout attempts in the 2-1 win.
November 4th vs Bonnyville Pontiacs
The Canucks would like that one back, as they fall 7-1 to the Bonnyville Pontiacs. Bowden Singleton scored the one Calgary goal in the first period with his seventh of the season.
November 5th vs Spruce Grove Saints
The Canucks returned to work on a Sunday afternoon jumping out to a 2-0 lead against the Saints in the opening twenty. Ty Hipkin would score 1:29 into the game, and Gavin Garland would snag a goal at the period’s midway point. In the second the Canucks would score three more goals, with the first being another early goal from Bowden Singleton. Over ten minutes later, Easton Hewson scored his first, making it 4-0. Making 5-0, Garland would score his second of the game. Julian Molinaro would shut the door in the third, picking up his second shutout of the season with 22 saves in the win.
November 10th @ Brooks Bandits
The Canucks headed to Brooks for a matchup with the first-place Bandits. It would be a tough matchup as the Bandits would win the game by a score of 9-0.
November 12th vs. Olds Grizzlys
Returning home, the Canucks would get set to host the Olds Grizzlys. Olds would grab the game’s first goal and take a 1-0 lead into the second period. Midway through the period, Ben Buckley would score his first AJHL goal, making this a tie game. Near the end of the period, Julien Gervais would snag the Canucks first lead of the game, making it 2-1. In the third, the Grizzlys would tie this game at 2-2, and take this game into overtime. This game would be a goalie battle, as it needed all five minutes of 3-on-3 hockey and seven rounds of the shootout. Easton Hewson would be the hero with a beautiful deke to put the Canucks one save away from a win and, Julian Molinaro would make a big save on the last shooter and pick up the win for his team 3-2.
November 14th @ Okotoks Oilers
After picking up a win at home, the Canucks would head back on the road with a game in Okotoks. Trailing by a goal in the second, Riley Bracko tied this game up at 1-1 with his third goal of the season. In the third period, Ty Hipkin would score, making it a 2-1 lead for one minute and 34 seconds with the Oilers answering back making it a 2-2 game. This game would head into overtime and would quickly be ended by Gavin Schmidt, one minute and 20 seconds into extra hockey for the Canucks second straight win.
November 18th @ Olds Grizzlys
Down two goals to zero on the road in Olds, Captain BowdenSingleton would rally his team back in the third to force overtime with his ninth and tenth goal this season. Like the last game with the Grizzlys, this game would need another shootout. Gavin Schmidt and Singleton would each score while Julian Molinaro only allowed one shooter to score in the 3-2 shootout win, bringing the win streak to three games.
November 20th vs Okotoks Oilers
Oilers jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two periods of play, with Ty Hipkin scoring in the opening minute of play in the third. The Oilers would snag two more goals in the 5-1 road win for the Oilers.
November 24th @ Spruce Grove Saints
Bowden Singleton opened the scoring at Grant Fuhr Arena on a Friday night matchup against the Spruce Grove Saints. Later in the first, the Saints would grab a 2-1 lead. Ty Hipkin would make this a tie game with his tenth goal this season, but around five minutes later, Spruce Grove would regain the lead. No goals to report in the third as the Saints took it by a score of 3-2.
November 26th @ Camrose Kodiaks
After a scoreless opening frame, Bowden Singleton would grab the second opening goal in a row making it 1-0. Still buzzing, the Canucks would make it 2-0, 65 seconds later from Ty Hipkin. In the third, Hipkin would score his second of the game, leading his team to a 3-0 win. Julian Molinaro would pick up his third shutout of the season in a 41-save win on the road.
November 29th vs Brooks Bandits
89 kilometres from the Max Bell Center, the Canucks would host the Bandits on an off-site game at Siksika Nation’s Deerfoot Sportsplex in front of a crowd of 400 fans. It was not the result the Canucks wanted as the Bandits would win it 6-1, Ethan Hewson picked up his second goal this season. Head Coach Brad Moran phrased the hosts of the game saying the hospitality from the Siksika Nation was great. “What a great event they put on, and then the aftershow and dinner, said Moran, “I think it’s great to be engaged with their community and we look forward to partnering and doing events with them in the future.”
Upcoming Home Games
- Sat, Dec 2nd vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs: 5 PM puck drop
- Sun, Dec 3 vs. Fort McMurray Oil Baron: 2 PM puck drop
- Mon, Dec 18 vs. Blackfalds Bulldogs: 7 PM puck drop
- Minor Hockey Association Night: Featuring McKnight Mustangs!
- Bring your team to a game with our Calgary Minor Hockey Association Experience!
