The Canucks cap off the year going 4-7-0 in the month of February and are off to the Playoffs with a first-round matchup against the Drumheller Dragons.
February 1st at Drumheller Dragons
The Canucks hit the road to start the month with a two-game road trip, with the first stop in Drumheller. After a scoreless first period, the Dragons came up with two goals in the second to make it a 2-0 game. 11 seconds into the third, Dylan Price cut into the Dragons’ lead, making it a 2-1 game. The Canucks had some opportunities to tie the game with two chances on the powerplay, but unfortunately, the comeback fell short as the Dragons scored on the empty net to take this game, 3-1.
February 4th at Brooks Bandits
The second stop of the road trip was in Brooks to take on the national leading Bandits. The Bandits were strong scoring three goals in each period to win the game 9-0.
February 5th vs Camrose Kodiaks
The Canucks returned home to Ken Bracko Arena to take on the Camrose Kodiaks. The Kodiaks took a 1-0 lead midway into the first and added two more goals in the second to make it a 3-0 lead. Rylan Jockims scored the Canucks lone goal as the visiting Kodaks would go on to win 3-1.
February 11th vs Canmore Eagles
A busy first period saw the Canucks and Eagles trade five goals, with a 3-2 lead for the Eagles. Aidan Moore scored the two goals for the Canucks, including one on the powerplay. The Eagles would add two more goals in the second to win this game 5-2 in Calgary.
February 12th vs Drumheller Dragons
The Dragons would lead 1-0 after one, but Dylan Price and Warren Marcotte would score in the second for the Canucks. Calgary would win this game 2-1, for their first win of February.
February 16th at Blackfalds Bulldogs
The Canucks would head up to EaglebuildersLP Centre for a high-scoring game against the Blackfalds Bulldogs. Daniel Rozsival started the scoring for the Canucks but the Bulldogs would score two for a 2-1 lead after one period of play. The two teams traded seven goals in the second, with Matthew Brunton, Riley Hearn, and Justin Barker scoring three of the seven goals. Canucks would fall just short to the Bulldogs in a wild 6-4 game.
February 18th at Olds Grizzlys
Caden Steinke got the scoring going for the Canucks on the road, with the first period ending tied at 1-1 in Olds. The Grizzlys took a 2-1 lead in the second before Justin Barker would tie the game at 2-2. The Canucks would leave unhappy as the Grizzlys added a goal in the third for a 3-2 win.
February 19th vs Olds Grizzlys
Caden Steinke led the Canucks to a 6-2 win over the Grizzles with a hat-trick performance. Steinke scored two in the first period for a 2-0 lead, before Olds could score one for themselves early in the second period. Alex Walicki would score two goals and Steinke would add his third of the game, making it a 5-1 game. The Grizzles would rally in the third and score three goals to make it a one-goal game with 39 seconds to play but would fall short as Aidan Moore scored on the empty net. Canucks win this contest 6-4.
February 21st at Okotoks Oilers
It was all the home team as the Oilers would take this game 9-2. On a positive note for the Canucks, Conner Bertamini would score in his 200th AJHL game.
February 23rd vs Okotoks Oilers
After nearly two scoreless periods, the Okotoks Oilers found the first goal of the game on the powerplay with 49 seconds to play in the second. Jordan MacFarlane would find the tying goal for the Canucks at the 5:40 mark of the third, his goal would send this game to Overtime. After back and forth overtime action, Jordan MacFarlane would be the overtime hero, scoring with 58 seconds left for a 2-1 win over the Oilers.
February 26th vs Canmore Eagles
It was all powerplay action for the first period as the two teams would trade three goals, with Conner Bertamini and Caden Steinke having two of those three goals. Daniel Rozsival would add another goal in the second to make it a 3-1 game. Moments later the Eagles snagged another powerplay goal to cut into the Canucks lead. Late in the period, Steinke would score his second of the game to retake the two-goal lead. Justin Barker scored the only goal of the third period, and the Canucks would end the regular season with a huge 5-2 win.
Player of the Month
Conner Bertamini scored 2 goals and 5 points in February, the Canucks Captain also celebrated playing over 200 games in his final season in the AJHL. Early this year it was announced that Bertamini has committed to Albertus Magnus for the 2022-2023 season.
Playoff Preview
The Canucks are coming into the playoffs on a bit of a roll after ending the season winning four of their last seven games. The Canucks are set to face the second seed, Drumheller Dragons in the opening round of the Inter Pipeline Cup playoffs. Calgary finished the season with a record of 15-39-6 and was led by Justin Barke, who scored 20 goals and 51 points. This season the Canucks went 1-5 against the Dragons, with the only win coming in form of a 2-1 win back on February 12. As for the Dragons, Drumheller is coming into the playoffs fresh of a win over the Brooks Bandits and finished the season 34-18-8. The Dragons were led by Carter Belitski, who scored 22 goals and 59 points.
The series is currently tied 1-1 as the Canucks bring playoff hockey back to Calgary and the Ken Bracko arena at Max Bell!
UPCOMING HOME GAMES – BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
Game #3 vs Drumheller – Tuesday, March, 8 (free tickets for Calgary minor hockey players wearing their jersey)
Game #4 vs Drumheller – Wednesday, March, 9 (free tickets for Calgary minor hockey players wearing their jersey)
Game #6 vs Drumheller – Sunday, March, 13*
*if necessary
