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Nucks News: January 2025

Hayden Fechner takes a shot against the Grande Prairie Storm on December 20, 2024, at Ken Bracko Arena. (Photo by Dave Watling/Dave Watling Photography)

The Canucks finished the month with a record of 5-2-1 and currently sit second in the AJHL South division with 54 points. With a game in hand, Calgary is now sitting five points behind the league-leading Canmore Eagles. 

The Canucks have been a powerhouse team at home this season with a record of 14-3-2.  Still, when it comes to playing on the road, it’s something the team is looking to improve on, “I think we struggle with our in-game consistency for a full 60 minutes, and finding that intensity coming off the bus,” said Assistant Coach Riley Hearn. 

Last weekend the Canucks picked up two road wins and improved their road record to 11-8-2, “Great Weekend. I think we did an excellent job of that last weekend,” said Heran. 

“So we had a good comeback win in Drayden Valley because we maintained that intensity for a full 60, and then in Whitecourt, it was another full 60 effort from start to finish. We are just trying to recreate that for the rest of the season.”

Next up the Canucks will be returning to Siksika Nation this Saturday to host the second-ever home game at the Siksika Deerfoot Sportsplex against the Olds Grizzlys and will then hit the road for one game in Camrose before returning home. 

January Recap

January 4th vs Bonnyville Pontiacs 

After the holiday break, the Canucks returned to winning ways with a 6-3 victory over the Bonnyville Pontiacs at home. After trailing 1-0 early in the game, Calgary scored three unanswered goals. Jack Plandowski and Nolan DuPont scored in the first period, while Cody Pisarcyk added another 1:35 into the second period. Later, the Pontaics made it a 3-2 game, but Bowden Singleton responded by making it 4-2. In the third period, Bonnyville scored, while DuPont and Singleton each notched their second goal in the 6-3 win.

January 5th vs Drumheller Dragons  

The following night, the Canucks came out strong, scoring three goals in the opening period. Gavin Schmidt, Jack Plandowski, and Matthew Paszkiewicz each found the back of the net. In the second period, Schmidt scored his second of the game, with Singleton finding the back of the net in between two goals from the Dragons. In the third period, Jayden Joly extended the lead to 6-2, with the Dragons scoring a late power-play goal. The Canucks picked up a 6-3 win, extending the win streak to five.

January 10th at Drumheller Dragons 

The following weekend, the Dragons got revenge by shutting out the Canucks, ending the win streak. Despite the outcome, Lukas Renaud was solid in net, stopping 27 of 28 shots and earning the visiting team’s star award.

January 11th vs Camrose Kodiaks

Returning home to host the Kodiaks, Camrose took an early 1-0 lead three minutes into the game. Jayden Joly tied the game late in the period, but the tie was short-lived as the Kodiaks responded just six seconds later. In the second period, Rhett Melnyk tied the game again with a shorthanded goal, making it 2-2. The score remained tied, and the game went into overtime. Ultimately, the Canucks fell short, falling 3-2 in extra time.

January 17th at Drayton Valley Thunder 

Back on the road, the Canucks would find themselves down 3-1 with ten remaining in Drayton Valley. Jack Plandowski brought the Canucks within one goal at 9:59 left in the third period. Then, with just 54 seconds left in the game, Nathan Maloney scored, tying it at 3-3 and sending it into overtime. In the extra period, Gavin Schmidt became the hero by scoring his second goal of the game, securing a 4-3 victory for the Canucks.

January 18th at Whitecourt Wolverines 

The game was scoreless after one period of play, with Riley Bracko opening the scoring for the Canucks at 8:17 of the second period. Later that period the Wolverines responded, tying the game 1-1. One minute and 22 seconds later, Bowden Singleton would put the Canucks back in the making it 2-1. The score would hold on, and the Canucks secured a 2-1 victory in Whitecourt.

Nathan Maloney celebrates after scoring overtime winner against the Drumheller Dragons at Ken Bracko Arena on December 1, 2024. Maloney was named Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week for January 20-26, 2025 with four points. (Photo by Dave Watling/Dave Watling Photography)
Nathan Maloney celebrates after scoring the overtime winner against the Drumheller Dragons at Ken Bracko Arena on December 1, 2024. Maloney was named Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week for January 20-26, 2025 with four points. (Photo by Dave Watling/Dave Watling Photography)

January 25th vs Whitecourt Wolverines

The following weekend, the Wolverines responded with a 4-1 victory over the Canucks at Ken Bracko Arena. Nathan Maloney scored the lone goal for the Canucks in the game.

January 26th vs Devon Xtream

16 different skaters earned points in the 11-1 victory over the Devon Xtream. Hayden Fechner led the charge with a hat trick and a total of four points with Rhett Melnyk contributing with two goals. Bowden Singleton, Rhys Jamieson, Jayden Joly, Nolan DuPont, and Logan Murray each added one goal to the scoreboard, while Nathan Maloney and Matthew Paszkiewicz picked up three assists. Gavin Schmidt scored a goal and registered three assists, while Cruz Chase made 20 saves on 21 shots, securing his tenth win of the season.

Player Spotlight – #7 – Hayden Fechner 

Hayden Fechner ended the month on a high, scoring a hat trick and finished the month with 7 points in 8 games, “Putting up points is great, but if it leads to winning that’s the most important thing, and if we’re winning that’s all I care about,” said Fechner. In his fourth AJHL season and first with the Canucks, Fechner is in the midst of a career-high season with 15 goals and 33 points so far and sitting fifth in team scoring.

In the News:

CTV News: Calgary Canucks goaltenders give team a chance to win every night

Cruz Chase and Lukas Renaud celebrate a win against the Devon Xtream at Ken Bracko Arena on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Dave Watling/Dave Watling Photography)
Cruz Chase and Lukas Renaud celebrate a win against the Devon Xtream at Ken Bracko Arena on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Dave Watling/Dave Watling Photography)

Upcoming Home Games:

  • Sat, Feb 1st vs. Olds Grizzlys: 6 PM puck drop @ Siksika Deerfoot Sportsplex – Tickets will be available at the door!

 Mackenzie Grafton

Lead, Marketing Content

Calgary Canucks Junior A Hockey Club

mgrafton@calgarycanucks.ca

www.calgarycanucks.ca