Weekend Recap: 3 Game Homestand

This past weekend the Grizzlys wrapped up 3 very big games at the Olds Sportsplex this past weekend against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Calgary Canucks and the Grande Prairie Storm where they finished 1-1-1.

Wednesday night saw a packed Sportsplex for the first regular season matchup between the Grizz and the Oil Barons, the last time these two teams faced off there was 238 combined penalty minutes, but this game was a big change of pace. The first period ended scoreless with just a handful of penalties, before things ramped up in the 2nd. Fort Mac started the 2nd with 3 unanswered goals before Sean Richards found the back of the net for his 5th goal of the season, which was short lived with a 4th goal of the period by the Barons. The 3rd started with two big goals from the boys in Black & Gold. Local player, Ryder Riedel, netted the first of his season back from injury, followed by breakout rookie talent Jordin St. Louis scoring his 6th of the season on the power play. Unfortunately, that was it for the Grizz as the MOB would go on to get one more powerplay marker, capped off by an empty netter to finish off a 6-3 loss for Olds. Connor Johnson played a solid game in net making 36 saves on 41 shots, along with Brendan Thomas and Sean Richards finishing with 2 points each playing integral roles to the teams offence.

The Calgary Canucks were back in town on Friday night for a rematch exactly a week later, where the Grizzlys came short in a shootout picking up 1 point. Corbin Sanderman started in net looking to continue his dominance against the Canucks after not allowing a goal until the shootout winner the weekend before. Sam Giangualano started off the game with a power play marker less than 3 minutes into the game for his 5th goal of the season, followed by rookie defenceman Zee Jamal finding the back of the net for the first time to give the Grizz a 2 goal lead after the first. The 2nd period was opened up by the Canucks immediately scoring, before Riley Pederson fired right back with his 2nd goal of the season. The power play continued its success with a 2nd goal of the night for Giangualano making the score 4-1 for the home team. The Canucks ended, and started the 2nd and 3rd with two early and late goals from Connor Radke to get the Canucks within one goal, before who else but Sammy G, caps off a hat trick to secure the 4th win of the season for the boys in Black & Gold. Corbin Sanderman delivered in net making 38 saves on 41 shots for a much deserved first career win. Sean Richards had 3 big assists on the Giangualano hat trick along with Ryder Riedel continuing his string play with 2 assists on the opening goals.

Corbin Sanderman won Player of the Game for his first win, along with Sam Giangualano with Hardest Worker after his hat trick.

Following a big win against the Canucks, the boys were hungry to get another one. Superstitions were followed, yesterday was relived, everything possible was followed to make sure we could cap off the weekend with 2 wins. Two tired teams faced off with the GP Storm in town. The Grizzlys were playing their 5th game in 9 days, while the Storm were playing their 4th game in 5 days on the final stop of a southern road trip. Just like Fort Mac, the last time these teams faced off there were 282 combined penalty minutes, but once again, this was a different game compared to the last. Sammy G opened up the scoring in the 1st just 58 seconds into the game for his 8th of the season, before GP struck twice to gain a lead. That was short lived as rookie forward Calder Hutt forced a tie with his first career goal at the end of the 1st. The 2nd was started with an early GP goal, before Giangualano scored AGAIN to tie the game back up at 3 a piece. The 2nd was capped off by 2 Storm goals to gain a 5-3 lead over the Grizz. The Grizzlys weren’t done yet as they wanted to leave with a win, and it showed with an early marker by Jordin St. Louis for his 7th of the season, before the game was tied by who else but Sam Giangualano for back-to-back hat tricks to tie the game scoring from behind the net. This back and forth game was now forced to go to an extra frame of overtime where the Grizz were on the wrong side of a win after GP’s captain scored with 1:36 left in OT. Connor Johnson made 25 saves on 31 shots coming close to a win. This game seen the same story as previous games, with a Sammy G hat trick, and 2 points each from Sean Richards and Brendan Thomas.

Next weekend the Drumheller Dragons are in town on Saturday the 15th for Bike Night presented by Westview CO-OP where bikes will be given away at intermission, before the Grizz are back on the road for a Sunday afternoon matinee in Camrose for the first Battle of the Bears at the Encana Arena.