This weekend, the Grizzlys wrapped up a 3 game series with the Drumheller Dragons where the two teams faced off in 3 of the Grizzlys last 4 games, where they played once at the Memorial Arena in Drumheller and once at the Olds Sportsplex this last weekend. The Grizzlys looked to build off of a big win against the Dragons the previous weekend when they picked up an overtime win in Olds.
On Friday night the Grizzlys hit the road to make the trip down south to visit the Drumheller Dragons for the first time since the preseason, looking to build off of a win the previous weekend. The game started off strong with Jordin St. Louis netting the 10th goal of his rookie season continuing his strong play. The Dragons tied things up, but that only lasted so long before Jordan Wales came flying down the offensive zone and crashing the net for the lead and scoring his 4th of the season. The 2nd period saw a lone goal by the Dragons to tie things up at 2-2 going into the 3rd. With a tie game going into the final frame, the packed Memorial Arena was in for a treat. Drumheller started the 3rd with a leading goal just 1:28 into the final frame, but just 5 minutes later Braeden Veldhuizen found the back of the net on the power play in his returning game from injury. Nothing else was scored through the 3rd leading to a high anxiety 4th frame of overtime. Overtime saw some close calls from both sides, most importantly a moment where Brody Martin found himself in front of the net and hit the crossbar where the puck just landed before the goal line, but nothing went past the Drumheller goalie and we were going to a shootout. This was the 2nd time of the season the Grizzlys went to the shootout, previously facing a loss to the Calgary Canucks in the final chance of play. The Grizzlys saw 3 skaters go in unsuccessfully, with 4 Drumheller skaters getting stopped by Corbin Sanderman, before who else but Ryder Riedel came in slow and put the puck past Brandon Williams for the shootout winner, before hitting another T-pose on the Dragons fans sending the Grizzlys back to Olds with 2 points! The Grizzlys top players were the three local boys on the roster, with Ryder Riedel getting an assist along with the shootout winner, assistant captain Rhett Miller had his piece in goals with 2 assists, and keeping up his winning play, Three Hills native Corbin Sanderman, made 34 saves on 37 shots to get his 3rd win of his rookie season.
Presley Kerner won Player of the Game and captain Hunter Motley won Hardest Worker of the Game.
The next night, we saw the Dragons make the trip up to the Sportplex hoping to get a win against the Grizzlys in the final game of this small in-season series. The first period was disappointing on the Grizzlys end, being outshot 7-22 with the play in the Olds end most of the period, despite that the period ended 0-0, but that didn’t matter in the second as Sammy G, Sam Giangualano found the back of the net for his 11th of the season for the lone goal of the 2nd period. The Grizzlys lead only lasted so long into the 3rd as the Dragons broke Connor Johnsons shutout tying the game at one-a-piece. That Dragons marker was the last of the 3rd sending the game into extra frames for the 3rd game of this in-season series. Once again, the Grizzlys fans were treated to an exciting OT with back and forth offensive control from both teams and breakaway after breakaway, but rock solid goaltending from both sides sent this game to a shootout for the second game in a row. The Grizzlys decided to shoot first, sending out Ryder Riedel who won the last game, who pulled out the exact same move on the same goalie as the previous night. Drumheller was unsuccessful on their shot, before Hubert Larose sped down the ice putting the Grizzlys up 2-0 in the shootout. In a do-or-die attempt by the Dragons, Bradley Gallo just barely snuck the puck past Johnson to keep them alive. After Sean Richards was unsuccessful, the game was on the line with the 3rd Dragons shooter, and Connor Johnson slayed the Dragon making the save, securing the 2 points for the boys in Black & Gold. Connor Johnson made 45 saves on 46 shots through the game securing his 4th win of the season beating his win total in his rookie season after an incredible game in net. Ryder Reidel once again got an assist along with a shootout goal, playing a huge role over this weekend for the Grizzlys picking up a huge 4 points.
Connor Johnson won Player of the Game and Hubert Larose won Hardest Worker of the Game.
The Grizzlys have 3 away games over this next week with a midweek trip the Calgary to face off against the Canucks on Wednesday the 26th. Before heading back up north to the Encana Arena to face off against the Camrose Kodiaks on Saturday the 29th, before wrapping up the weekend back in Calgary for a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Canucks on the last day of the month for a 2pm puck drop. If you can’t make it to the games watch here: FloHockey
The Grizzlys are back in the Sportsplex on Saturday December 6th when the Lloydminster Bobcats make the trip down for the first time this season. Skip the line and secure your seats today: tickets.oldsgrizzlys.ca
