This week the Canucks acquired 98-born forward Michael Clarke from the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. Clarke started with the Canucks back in the 2014-2015 season before in traded to the Grande Prairie Storm midway through the 2015-2016 season.
The week started off with a game against the Drumheller Dragons. Looking to turn things around the Canucks hit the ice with a mission as #22 Josh Giacomin kicked off the scoring for the Canucks with a power play goal just 1:19 into the period. Assists on the goal went to #28 Chad Varney and #12 Andrew Marshall. The Dragons evened the playing field with a goal of their own courtesy of #18 Joren Parenaude who was set up by #3 Andrew Kartusch and #19 Dawson Bruneski. With just 21 seconds remaining in the period the Canucks regained the lead as #2 Brody Medeiros put one in the net on the power play from#19 Zach Russell and #24 Hayden Ursulak. In the second the Dragons turned up the heat and once again tied the game with a power play goal from #37 Markus Boguslavsky, assisted by #14 Jordan Taupert and #11 Troy Dudley. The Canucks responded quick as #12 Andrew Marshall put another on the board for the Canucks to make it 3-2 with help from #27 Jordan McConnell and #21 Landon Melzer. The second period wrapped up with the Canucks holding a 3-2 lead. Early in the third #28 Chad Varney extended the score to 4-2 after a set up from #2 Brody Medeiros and #19 Zach Russell. Fending off the Dragons for the remainder of the period the Canucks were able to take the 4-2 win!
Coming off Tuesday night’s win against the Dragons the Canucks headed up north to face off against the Bonnyville Pontiacs. Things started off in favour of the Pontiacs as #26 Brandon Whistle took advantage of an early power play opportunity with help from #4 Derek Brown and #10 Isaac Saniga. #9 Cooper Page battled hard on the penalty kill to even things up scoring a shorthanded goal off a pass from #24 Hayden Ursulak at 12:44 of the first. After 20 minutes of play things were tied 1-1. Early in the second #9 Cooper Page got his second goal of the game to make it 2-1 Canucks. Assists on the goal went to #20 Michael Johnson and #25 Braydon Jenkins. #5 Coby Mack added another for the Canucks on the power play, with help from #22 Josh Giacomin and #11 Alex Wilkins. The Pontiacs moved back within 1 scoring a power play goal with just 14 seconds left in the period. The goal was scored by #44 Bekkam Willis, assist going to #25 PJ Marrocco. The Canucks settled things in the third as #7 Michael Clarke put one in the net from #5 Coby Mack to take a 4-2 lead at 16:21 of the period. With time running out the Canucks won 4-2!
Up next the Canucks travelled to Lloydminster for a battle against the Bobcats. While neither team was able to make anything happen in the first the Canucks played hard racking up 12 shots on net, while holding the Bobcats to 5. The Canucks were first on the board scoring mid-way through the second to take a 1-0 lead. The goal was scored by #23 Mark Drohan assisted by #7 Michael Clarke and #28 Chad Varney. #11 Alex Wilkins extended the Canucks lead at 18:09 of the second with help from #8 Dylan Williamson. The second concluded with the Canucks holding a 2-0 lead over the Bobcats. Just a few minutes into the third the Bobcats got on the board with a goal from #27 Connor Odelein who was set up by #26 Zach Ziegler and #11 Braeden Nesbitt. In the final minute of the periowho was set up by #26 Zach Ziegler and #11 Braeden Nesbitt. In the final minute of the period the Bobcats pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker in hopes of tying things up. The Canucks capitalized on this as #7 Michael Clarke scored an empty net goal. With a final score of 3-1 the Canucks took the win to finish the week 3-0!
This weekend the Canucks are heading up north for a 3 game road trip. Up first, the Canucks take on the Grande Prairie Storm Friday night, before heading to Whitecourt for a showdown against the Wolverines on Saturday. Then the Canucks will be in Drayton Valley on Sunday for a matchup against the Thunder.
Go Canucks Go!