The Canucks headed up North this past weekend for a three game road trip. The road trip kicked off Friday night against the Grande Prairie Storm. The Canucks were the first on the board in the first period with a goal by #8 Dylan Williamson, assists going to #12 Andrew Marshall and #11 Alex Wilkins. The Grande Prairie Storm responded with a goal of their own in the second period as #12 Noah Walters put one in the net from #13 Connor Blake and #10 Dallas Comeau. The Canucks and the Storm headed into the 3rd period tied at one a piece. At 4:03 of the third #22 Josh Giacomin put the Canucks in the lead after a set up from #9 Cooper Page and #4 Kyler Newman. With 3:14 left in the third the Storm’s #23 Jonothan Hader tied the game with an assist from #4 Alex Lindstrom. With nothing decided in regulation the game was headed to overtime where neither team was able to put one in the back of the net. The game headed to a shootout. The shootout wasn’t decided until Round 6 where #27 Jordan McConnell netted the winner and the Canucks won 3-2!
After the big overtime win the Canucks travelled to Whitecourt to battle the Wolverines for the second time this season after previously defeating their opponent at the AJHL Showcase. The Wolverine were the first to get things going with a goal from #18 Spencer Bast, assists going to #20 Tanner Foster and #14 Stevie Bryant. Later in the period the Canucks were able to tie the game thanks to a power play goal from #19 Zach Russel, assists from #28 Chad Varney and #2 Brody Medeiros. Early in the second period the Whitecourt Wolverines scored from #26 Jaedon Leslie from #3 Noah Tooke and #29 Liam Motley. The Canucks battled through a series of penalties in the third and were unable to make the comeback. The final score was 2-1 Wolverines.
Sunday, in game 3 of their north road trip the Canucks were set to take on the Drayton Valley Thunder. The Thunder were first to get on the board with a goal from #4 Zac Cunningham, assisted by #5 Zach Bokenfohr and #11 Sam Anzai at 13:24 of the first. With things wrapping up in the first the Canucks were outshooting the Thunder 15-8 in the period. In the second the Canucks took advantage of an early power play to tie up the game. The goal came courtesy of #27 Jordan McConnell with assists going to #8 Dylan Williamson and #11 Alex Wilkins. With a feisty second period coming to a close, the Canucks took the lead with 5 seconds remaining in the period as #2 Brody Medeiros scored on the power play with help from #7 Michael Clarke and #24 Hayden Ursulak. To kick off the third #7 Michael Clarke put one in the back of the net from #24 Hayden Ursulak to make it 3-1 Canucks. The tides turned in favour of the Thunder as they battled back to take over the lead. The Thunder got their second goal of the game at 4:57 of the third with an unassisted goal from #9 John Elliot. The Thunder tied the game up just a short time later as #18 Levi Johnson put one in the net from #24 Dryden Wust. Just past the midway mark the Thunder took the lead with a goal from #10 Micheal Boutoussov, assists going to #7 Brett Bamber and #26 Max McPeak. The Canucks weren’t going to sit back though and fought hard in the final minutes of the game. Their efforts were rewarded as #27 Jordan McConnell scored with 0.04 seconds remaining in the period to make it 4-4. The goal was assisted by #11 Alex Wilkins and #5 Coby Mack. With time expiring the Canucks were headed to overtime. Unfortunately at 2:36 of extra time the Thunder scored to win the game with a goal from #17 Josh Borynec. Final shots on net were 44-31 in favour of the Canucks.
Up next, the Canucks are back at home on Saturday when the Camrose Kodiaks are in town, game time at 5:00pm. Then Sunday, the Canucks will wrap up their October schedule with a battle against Lloydminster Bobcats in an afternoon showdown at 2:30pm.
Go Canucks Go!