This weekend, the Olds Grizzlys played on a 3 game road trip against 2 of their divisional rivals. The boys in Black & Gold made the trip down to Calgary twice, and drove north to Camrose for another Battle of the Bears.
On Wednesday night, the Olds Grizzlys made the trip down south to the Ken Bracko Arena for a midweek matchup. This was the first time since the teams very first preseason game that the Grizzlys visited the Canucks where the Grizz won 5-4 in OT. This game started off with a lone Calgary goal and no penalties to make an uneventful first period. The second started to ramp up as Sam Giangualano found the back of the net for his 12th of the season to get Olds on the board. This was short lived as Calgary quickly struck back to gain the lead. This period was more eventful with some coincidental penalties to keep that side of things even. Just 2:01 into the 3rd period, local boy Rhett Miller struck on the power play to tie things up at 2 a piece as the Grizzlys play ramped up. Unfortunately, a blue line turnover on the power play lead to a shorthanded go-ahead goal for the Canucks as it lead to 3 unanswered Canucks goals, leading to a 5-2 loss for the Grizz. Corbin Sanderman stood tall in net with 31 saves on 35 shots. Rhett Miller would face a 1-game suspension following this game for a slashing major after an exchange with the Canucks players.
After two days of rest, the Grizzlys hopped on the bus to drive north to the EnCana Arena to face-off against a familiar foe in the Camrose Kodiaks for their teddy bear toss game. The Grizzlys struck first with Braeden Veldhuizen striking for his 6th goal of the season, before Presley Kerner got the monkey off the back netting his first career AJHL goal going the Grizz a 2-0 lead after 20. The Kodiaks were quick to action in the second striking just 51 seconds in for the teddy bear toss goal, before adding 2 more to get a 1 goal lead with a 3-2 lead after the second. Luckily for the Grizzlys, the 3rd period had a hot start with Sammy G striking just 32 seconds in to tie the game, before Brody Martin scored his 2nd of the season just 1:32 later with a shot from the slot. The lead was momentary as the Kodiaks tied things up, but Brendan Thomas ended his personal drought with his first of the season with another shot from the slot to gain a 5-4 lead. That would be all for the boys in Black & Gold, besides a missed empty net breakaway by Ryland Molde, the Grizzlys would be heading back with a win! This was the most disciplined game of the season with 6 total penalty minutes between the two teams. Connor Johnson keeps adding to his new win record with 5 on the season after making 37 saves on 41 shots. While Hubert Larose had the best game of his season with 3 assists on some big goals for the Grizz.
Sean Richards received Player of the Game and Calder Hutt received Hardest Worker of the Game for this win over the Kodiaks.
Early Sunday morning, the boys were back on the bus heading back to Calgary for an afternoon matchup. The Canucks ended the 1st the same way the Grizzlys started their last, up 2-0. Unfortunately, the second was the same with the score becoming 4-0 for the Canucks. The 3rd is where the game went south, where not much can be said without bluntly criticizing officiating, but the Canucks added one more to shutout the Grizzlys 5-0. Brody Martin dropped the gloves late in the game with the already kicked out Adam Halat who was still on the ice for some late-game fireworks. This game had a combined 169 penalty minutes and was one to forget.
The Grizzlys are back on home ice December 6th when the Lloydminster Bobcats visit the Olds Sportsplex for the first time this season for our Teddy Bear Toss game with Teddys available for purchase at the Brick, where all Teddys will be donated to Kirstens place for victims of domestic violence. The Devon Xtreme are also making their first trip of the season the next day for a Sunday afternoon matchup on December 7th.
Skip the line and secure your seats today: tickets.oldsgrizzlys.ca
