Recap by Mackenzie Grafton
The Canucks finished the month of September and the AJHL Showcase weekend in Blackfalds with a record of 1-4-1-1. Before kicking off the 2022-2023 season, the Canucks proudly announced their new Leadership Group. Justin Barker was named the Canucks latest captain, with Jordan MacFarlane, Blake Setter, and Caden Steinke as Assistant Captains.
Player Spotlight
Cale Sanders leads the Canucks with 3 goals and 7 points, scoring the game winner in the lone Canucks Win. Sanders had a 5 game point streak, and back-to-back two-point games in September.
Upcoming Home Games
- Sat, Oct 8 vs Drumheller Dragons @ 7:30 pm
- FREE Bull Bells for Kids (*While Supplies Last)
- Fri, Oct 14 vs Grande Prairie Storm @ 7:00 pm
- Sat, Oct 15 vs Lloydminster Bobcats @ 5:00 pm
- Tue, Oct 25 vs Brooks Bandits @ 7:00 pm
- It’s Toonie Tuesday – Kids and Seniors tickets are ONLY $2!
- Sun, Oct 30 vs Okotoks Oilers – 2:00 pm
- Spooky Sunday – Kids in costumes get in FREE!
September Summary
Fri, Sep 16 @ Brooks Bandits
The Canucks hit the road to start the 2022-2023 season with a trip to Brooks. Calgary would find themselves down in a 2-1 after two periods of play thanks to a goal by Zephyr LaPlant. The Bandits would add 3 more goals in the third period, taking this contest 5-1.
Sat, Sep 17 vs Olds Grizzlys
Olds jumped to a 2-0 lead after one period of play. In the second, captain Justin Barker would put the Canucks on the board for a 2-1 game. The Grizzlys would hold a short-lived 3-1 game in the 3rd period before Ty Hipkin would find the back of the Olds net twice in under 4 minutes. Calgary and Olds would be all tied all up at 3-3, even after some overtime action where the Canucks had a chance with a 5-on-3 powerplay. The two teams would head to a shootout, where the Grizzlys would take this game 4-3.
Fri, Sep 23 @ Drumheller Dragons
Cale Sanders picked up the first goal of the game, but the Dragons scored three unanswered to lead 3-1 against the Canucks after the first. Ty Hipkin and Blake Setter would add two more goals for the Canucks, with the Dragons scoring one in the second frame for a 4-3 game in Drumheller. The Dragons would take control of the third period, adding on 4 more goals for an 8-4 win. Justin Barker scored the lone third-period goal for the Canucks.
Sat, Sep 24 vs Canmore Eagles
Special teams came out to play in this Saturday night edition of Canucks Hockey. Cale Sanders needed 15 seconds to score on the powerplay to give the Canucks an early 1-0 lead. Eagle’s Riley Dekowny would tie it for a 1-1 game after one. The Canucks would get back to work in the second with two more powerplay goals from Caden Steinke and Matt Corbet. In the third period, Dekowny scored his second of the game for the Eagles. Later that period, Daniel Rozsival found himself behind two Eagles defenders, scoring on the backhand. The Eagles would add on one more goal to make it a 4-3 game. Penalty Kill (4/4) and powerplay (3/3) played a huge factor for the Canucks were perfect on the Special Teams. The Canucks would win their first game of the season 4-3.
Tue, Sep 27 vs Okotoks Oilers
After a scoreless first period the Canucks found themselves down 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes, with a goal from Justin Barker. In the 3rd, the Quintin Unreiner would make it a one-goal game for Calgary, but that would be all as the Oilers would add on another for a 4-2 Win. Canucks would have another busy night on the special teams as they went 9 for 11 on the Penalty Kill.
2022 AJHL Showcase: Fri, Sep 30 vs Spruce Grove Saints
Daxton Budd, Rylan Jockims, and Cale Sanders showcased their talents in Blackfalds, each scoring a goal in the 2nd period against the Saints. Heading into the final frame, the Saints would fight back from a 3-2 deficit, forcing and winning the game in Overtime.
2022 AJHL Showcase: Sun, Oct 2 vs Sherwood Park Crusaders
The Canucks would end the 2022 AJHL Showcase weekend getting shutout 13-0 by the Crusaders.