OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys are in for a challenge tonight (Jan. 11) as they face off against the Oilers in Okotoks.
As of Monday, the Oilers were second in the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s south division with a 23-13-1-2 record for 49 points in 39 games.
The Grizzlys remained in the eighth and final spot in that division with a 12-25-3-0 record for 27 points in 40 games.
So beating the Oilers in their home barn would seem an uphill task. However, anything can happen in hockey.
The on Saturday, Jan. 14, the Grizzlys have a chance for revenge at home against the Drumheller Dragons. Game time at the Sportsplex is 7 p.m.
This past Friday, the Grizzlys were edged 4-3 by the Dragons in the first game of a two-game home stand.
As of Monday, the Dragons were in fourth place in the south division with a 21-14-2-2 record for 46 points in 39 games.
The Dragons scored the lone goal in the first period, then took a two-goal lead at 6:41 of the second period.
Blake (Daniel) Matheson finally got Olds on the board at 9:18 of that middle frame, assisted by Cade Moxham and Sheldon Kwiatkowski.
The Dragons got two more early in the third period, to go up 4-2, but the Grizzlys battled back with two goals of their own, both of which were scored by Tanner Klimpke (his 22nd and 23rd), assisted each time by Liam Hughes.
Klimpke’s second goal was scored on the powerplay.
The third period was also marred by a fight between Moxham and Drumheller’s Wil Christian at the 6:26 mark.
Both received majors and game misconducts. Moxham was also charged another two minutes for illegal equipment.
Hughes also received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the game.
The Grizzlys were one for five on the powerplay; the Dragons were blanked on all three of their opportunities.
Klimpke was named the game star for the Grizzlys.
On Saturday, the Grizzlys got off to a promising start.
Niklas Gudmundson opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season at the 12:07 mark of the first period, assisted by Tristan Baumung.
But the Canucks answered back with two goals at 15:04 and 16:17 of that period for a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.
Calgary added two more at 2:28 and 10:35 of the second period before Jayden Watson scored his ninth goal of the season at the 12:46 mark of that period on the powerplay, assisted by Hughes and Klimpke.
A Canucks goal at 3:36 of the third period was the final nail in the coffin.
Watson was named the Grizzlys’ star of Saturday’s game.
The Grizzlys scored on one of their two powerplay opportunities. The Canucks scored on one of their three chances.
Marcus Cumberworth tended net for the Grizzlys in both of those weekend games.
