Tonight, the Olds Grizzlys will host the Brooks Bandits in a rematch of last season's second round playoffs, where the Black and Gold were swept.
The Grizzlys are coming off a pair of losses this weekend.
On Sept. 20, the Grizzlys lost 6-3 in Fort McMurray against the Oil Barons.
The following night, they fell 6-2 to the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
The team now has a 3-3-1 record and sits in third place of the AJHL south division.
Olds moved into first place of the Alberta Junior Hockey League's south division on Sept. 16 after a 5-4 victory at home over the Canmore Eagles.
With the score tied late in the third period, Grizzlys forward Josh Zablocki deflected defenceman Jack Goranson's shot into the Eagles' net to give Olds the lead. The goal proved to be the game-winner as the Grizzlys' record improved to 3-1-1 on the season.
“We pressured hard there to get that goal. I think there was a good effort by his linemates there; they had a couple good opportunities on that shift and ended up putting that one in,” said Grizzlys head coach Brett Hopfe.
Neither team led by more than a goal throughout the game.
Eight minutes into the first period, Olds forward Christopher Gerrie opened scoring on the power play with his team-leading fourth goal of the year, taking Landon Kletke's pass from the corner and roofing a wrist shot over Eagles goalie Ryan Ferguson from the top of the left faceoff circle.
Nineteen seconds into the second period, the Eagles tied the game when Logan Ferguson chipped a puck past Grizzlys goalie Jordan Piccolino, who stopped 34 of 38 shots that night for the win.
Following goals by Jordan Revie for the Eagles and Kyle Moore for the Grizzlys, the teams were tied 2-2 after the second period.
Early in the third period, Goranson dangled his way around Eagles defenceman Griffin Mumby and drove to the Canmore net.
His shot was stopped by Ferguson, but Grizzlys assistant captain Austin Kernahan was there to collect the loose puck and score, giving Olds a 3-2 lead.
Eagles forward Ryley Risling tied the game 3-3 after the Grizzlys turned the puck over at their blueline.
Olds took a 4-3 lead after a power-play goal by Goranson but the Eagles responded with a goal by Lane Olson.
Goranson finished with a team-high three points.
“He's been solid for us. He's a 19-year-old but plays like a 20-year-old,” Kernahan said about the Grizzlys defenceman. “He's going to be huge for us. Huge leader back there and we're going to rely on him a lot and in the future.”
Kernahan recorded two points in his first home game since returning from a prior suspension and Hopfe said the Grizzlys benefited from having the 6-4, 225-pound forward in the lineup.
“Austin's a big body and he's an intimidation factor there. Guys don't want to play against him. That's something that gives guys on our team some confidence,” he said.
Despite now having won three games in a row, Hopfe was not happy with his team's defensive zone coverage.
“I think that we struggled a lot in our D-Zone. I think it was a very ugly win. We didn't deserve the win,” he said.
Hopfe was also concerned with the number of turnovers his squad committed.
“Most of those turnovers were done by veteran players and that's something that's unacceptable,” he said.
The Grizzlys next play on the road against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons this Saturday, Sept. 20.
Pull Quote
"I think that we struggled a lot in our D-Zone. I think it was a very ugly win."
