Last Tuesday, the Canucks travelled across town for another matchup against the Calgary Mustangs. After beating the Mustangs 6-0 the last time they faced off, the Canucks were looking for another strong performance. Although both teams had their fair share of scoring opportunities neither was able to get one on the board. The first would end with the Canucks leading in shots 14-12. In the second the Canucks got things rolling with a goal from #19 Zach Russell, who was assisted by #7 Michael Clarke and # 21 Riley Thorpe. Just over 2 minutes later, #6 Scott Nicholson put one in the back of the net from #17 Tyler Petrie and #16 Max Struss to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead. Things didn’t stop there as #24 Hayden Ursulak scored his first of the night to extend the Canucks lead with help from #13 Cooper Johnson and #21 Riley Thorpe. The Mustangs responded with a power play goal from #8 Tanner Klassen at 13:53 of the second. Assists went to #20 Jackson Salt and #15 Liam Freeborn. The Canucks weren’t going to let the Mustangs back into the game, getting one back quickly to regain a three goal lead courtesy of #18 Blake Stevenson. Assists on the play went to #25 Zach Webb and #22 Josh Giacomin. #17 Tyler Petrie contributed with a goal of his own before the period ended to give the Canucks a 5-1 lead, from #7 Michael Clarke and #19 Zach Russell. The third would remain relatively quiet on both ends of the ice, but in the final minute #19 Zach Russell would get his second of the night with a short-handed goal set up by #11 Alex Wilkins. The final score would be 6-1 Canucks!
Saturday night the Canucks hosted the Bonnyville Pontiacs for a North/South AJHL matchup. The Pontiacs were first on the board with a goal from #10 Isaac Saniga at 12:38 of the first. On the power play the Pontiacs extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal from #6 Ryley Hogan. The Canucks responded with a power play goal of their own courtesy of #7 Michael Clarke. The goal was assisted by #19 Zach Russell and #18 Blake Stevenson. The first period would end with the Pontiacs leading 2-1. Mid- way through the second #22 Josh Giacomin tied up the game with a power play goal from #25 Zach Webb and #24 Hayden Ursulak. The Canucks continued to put on the pressure allowing Canucks captain #4 Kyler Newman to get one into the net on to take the lead after a set up from #25 Zach Webb and #22 Josh Giacomin. With just under a minute left in the period the Pontiacs tied up the game with a goal fom #16 Bobby Young. After 40 minutes the game was 3-3. At 9:58 of the third #15 Luke Albert scored for the Pontiacs to make it 4-3. A short time later the Pontiacs would extend their lead to 5-3 as #9 Olson Werneka put one in the net. With 2 goals to make up the Canucks put on the pressure in an attempt to tie the game up once again. The Canucks were rewarded as #22 Josh Giacomin scored his second of the game from #19 Zach Russell and #4 Kyler Newman. With the goaltender pulled the Canucks would try for another goal, however, time would run out. The Pontiacs would win 5-4.
Sunday afternoon the Canucks were set to play the Fort McMurray Oil Barons for the third time this season. The Oil Barons were first on the board after a goal from #20 Shane Fraser at 2:09 of the first. Things remained 1-0 late into the second when the Canucks scored off a deflection to tie the game. The Canucks first goal was scored by #12 Andrew Marshall, assisted by #2 Brody Medeiros and #30 Kolby Matthews. With everything on the line in the final 20 minutes both teams came out to play. The Oil Barons took the lead at 2:47 of the third with a goal from #22 Trevor Schroder. The Canucks battled back scoring a goal of their own to even the score mid-way through the period with a goal from #7 Michael Clarke who was set up by #24 Hayden Ursulak and #16 Max Struss. The third would finish in a tie and the game would head to overtime. Though the Canucks dominated they play in OT nothing would be settled so the game was on to a shootout. In the first round #25 Zach Webb would score for the Canucks to give them the advantage heading into the following rounds. #30 Kolby Matthews would stop all three of the Oil Barons shooters and the Canucks would win 3-2!
This past Wednesday, the Canucks would face off against the Camrose Kodiaks. The Canucks took an early lead as #13 Cooper Johnson put one into the back of the net from #24 Hayden Ursulak. #7 Michael Clarke added to the Canucks lead a few minutes later to make it 2-0 after a set up from #23 Mark Drohan and #11 Alex Wilkins. The Kodiaks responded taking advantage of the power play to move within one after a goal from #18 Kyler Kupka. The Kodiaks tied the game with a goal from #7 Carson Welke at 12:48 of the first. After a busy first period the period would end 2-2. In the second the Canucks would battle hard putting up 15 shots in the period. #17 Tyler Petrie would give the Canucks the lead with just 2:27 left in the period off a pass from #25 Zach Webb. In the final few minutes of the game the Kodiaks would tie things up once again with a goal from #16 Tyler Schendel. Time would expire and the game was once again headed to overtime. The Kodiaks would end up on the power play in the overtime period but the stellar play of goaltender #30 Kolby Matthews would keep the Canucks in it and we were off to another shootout. In round 1, Matthews would stop the first shooter before #25 Zach Webb put one in for the Canucks to take the advantage. In round 2, Matthews would once again prevent the Kodiaks from scoring and the game would be settled as defenceman #23 Mark Drohan put one into the net. The Canucks would win 4-3!
The Canucks will be back in action on December 29th when they head out to Olds for a matchup against the Grizzlys. Then the boys will head to south of the city to take on the Okotoks Oilers on December 30th.
Go Canucks Go!
