Recap by Mackenzie Grafton
The Canucks currently hold a record of 11-6-1-1, picking up six wins in October. Calgary now sits fourth in the league and has made some key additions this past month to bolster the lineup. To help on the blueline the Canucks signed, Chris Kobelka, Adam Leitch and Jackson Romeril. Along with the signings, they also traded for forward Carter Anderson from the Spruce Grover Saints in exchange for future considerations.
Player Spotlight – #6 Gavin Garland
Gavin Garland currently has five goals and seven assists in the first 19 games with the Canucks. Garland was identified on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List released at the end of October and is also committed to the University of Nebraska – Omaha.
October Recap
October 1st vs Camrose Kodiaks
Canucks started October with a match-up against the Camrose Kodiaks. Calgary jumped out too early 1-0 from Kenny Sutton’s first goal as a Canuck, followed by Gavin Garland making it 2-0 moments later on the powerplay. The Kodiaks would also grab a powerplay goal, cutting the deficit to one. In the second, the Canucks would score three more goals making it 5-1. Jackson Bessette with his first AJHL Career goal, Garland with his second of the game, and Riley Hearn with his first of the season. Camrose still had some fight left as they crawled back to make it a one-goal game, with two more goals in the second and another in the third. But that push would fall short for the Kodiaks as the Canucks would hold on for a 5-4 win, picking up their fifth straight win.
October 7th @ Spruce Grove Saints
The Canucks would head up north for a two-game road trip, with the first stop in Spruce Groove. After trailing 2-0 early in the first, the Canucks rallied back scoring four unanswered goals from Julien Gervais (2 goals), Sam Callahan, and Gavin Schmidt over the next 30 minutes of play. The Saints would make it a 4-3 game in the 3rd, but the Canucks would secure two more goals with the Saints empty net, from Gervais and Kasey Russel Jr’s first of the season. Gervais not only grabbed his first AJHL goal this game, but he also scored the hat trick. The Canucks kept the win streak rolling with their sixth straight and picked up their first road win of the season.
October 8th @ Sherwood Park Crusaders
Canucks returned to work the next night on the two-game road in Sherwood Park. The Crusaders grabbed an early lead 35 seconds into the game, but Ty Hipkin would tie it up with his fifth of the season. Just under a minute later the Crusaders would grab another lead, making it 2-1. With 1:04 to play in the opening period, Julien Gervais would tie it 2-2 with Gavin Schmidt scoring in the second period for the Canucks first lead of the game. Sherwood Park would respond in the third, with his game heading to overtime and eventually a shootout. The home team would secure the victory, ending the Canucks win streak end at six games, but with the point streak stretching to seven games.
October 10th vs. Grande Prairie Storm
Returning home, the Canucks got set to host former Canuck Matt Corbet and the Grande Prairie Strom. Corbet, who played part of four seasons with the Canucks made his presence known with a pair of quick goals to start the game. Later in the period, Ethan Casper would respond with a pair of his own to tie this game at 2-2. Kenny Sutton would then take the lead for the Cauncks 22 seconds later. The second saw a lone goal by the Storm to tie this game up and a quick goal to start the final frame would see the Storm hold a 4-3 lead for the majority of the period with under four to play, Sam Lozinski and Gavin Schmidt would each score their fifth of the year en route to a 5-4 victory and extended the point streak to eight games.
October 12th vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Gavin Garland made it a 1-0 game with his fifth of the season to kick off this matchup with the Fort McMurray. Barons, Nikolas Hoogenddorn would tie this game up at 1-1 for a shortlived 45 seconds, as Gavin Schmidt would make it 2-1. In the second, the Barons would score twice to take the lead, but Julien Gervais tied this game up before the period.
In the third Hoogenddorn would complete the hat trick with two more goals, winning the game 5-3 for his team, snapping the Canucks point streak at eight games.
October 14th @ Blackfalds Bulldogs
The Canucks head up to Blackfalds for a Saturday matchup with the Bulldogs. After trading goals early to start the game, the Bulldogs locked it down and scored four more goals for the remainder of the game for a 5-1 win. Ethan Casper scored the lone goal for Calgary.
October 16th vs. Whitecourt Wolverines
After two periods of scoreless action at Ken Bracko Arena, the Wolverines would find the back off the net. A few minutes later saw the Canucks tie it up, from Sam Lozinski. During the midway point of the period. Julien Gervais would break the tie with the eventual game-winning goal. Julian Molinaro was solid, stopping 42 of 43 in the 2-1 victory for the Canucks.
October 20th @ Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Canucks got set for three games in three nights with the first game in Fort McMurray. Gavin Schmidt snagged two goals in the first and second period, with Bowden Singleton making it 3-0. The Barons would score two goals of their own, cutting the lead and making it a 3-2 game. In the third, Chris Kobelka would score against his former team, with his first as a Canuck. Zephyr LaPlante would seal the game with an Empty net goal for his first of the season, with the Canucks going on to win it 5-2.
October 21st @ Fort McMurray Oil Barons
The second game would go once more in Fort McMurray, with the Barons breaking the clean sheet in the second period. Chris Kobelka would tie things up to start the third period for the Canucks. Tied at 1-1, late in the period saw the Barons break the tie with 32 seconds to play, winning this game 2-1.
October 22nd @ Sherwood Park Crusaders
Playing in the third game in three nights, saw the Canucks head into Sherwood Park. The Crusaders were firing on all cylinders as they scored 7 seven straight goals through a period and a half of play. Bowden Singleton would score his fifth of the season, along with Sam Lozinski finding a goal in the second. The Crusaders would score two more in the third, winning this game 9-2.
October 28th vs Drayton Valley Thunder
Trailing 1-0 in the second Sam Lozinski tied the game, scoring the lone goal for the Canucks. The Thunder would score four more in the third for a 5-1 win. Despite the outcome, the Canucks penalty kill was strong killing off all five Thunder attempts on the Man advantage.
October 29th vs Lloydminster Bobcats
Ty Hipkin and Sam Lozinski both scored in the first to make it a 2-0 game, with a Sam Callahan goal making it 3-0 in the second. In the third period, each time the Bobcats got on the scoresheet, the Canucks would have an answer. Riley Bracko, Bowden Singleton, and Julien Gervais scored in response to each Bobcats goal. Canucks would end the month of October with a 6-3 win, snapping a three-game skid in the process.
November 2nd @ Camrose Kodiaks
Coming off a win to end October, 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. The Kodiaks would remain scoreless until near the end of the third period when they tied the game with under six 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 along with stopping all three Kodiaks shootout attempts.
Upcoming Home Games
- Sat, Nov 4 vs. Bonnyville Pontiacs: 5 PM puck drop
- Sun, Nov 5 vs. Spruce Grove Saints: 2 PM puck drop
- Sun, Nov 12 vs. Olds Grizzlys: 7 PM puck drop
- Mon, Nov 20 vs. Okotoks Oilers: 7 PM puck drop
- Wed, Nov 29 vs. Brooks Bandits – STAY TUNED FOR AN UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT