What the hell was that?😐 In all reality though both teams could still beat the San Jose Sharks. That was not the same team that played the night before? What do you do? Even though the players probably didn’t if anyone asks they should just say they were out all night the night before. Like in the movie Varsity Blues when they stayed out all night and got their ass kicked the next day.
Only thing is we all know that didn’t happen, that movie came out before any of the players were born, I wonder if any of them have ever seen or heard of it, and its hard yet still a little comical when I am the size of Billy Bob telling these kids to move their asses quicker. Plus they’d have to go to Red Deer to do that anyway.
You will never get hit with a puck in Drayton Valley or at least should not with all that netting around the arena. Watching a game there feels like the equivalent of going to a game in Blackfalds but attending the game while wearing a helmet and cage. The Wolverines may play in the “Safety Arena” in Whitecourt. But trust me it is not as safe as Drayton’s.
Brendan Ross opened up the scoring on the Power Play assisted by Edward Moskowitz and Jayden Joly at Edward Moskowitz scores while standing at the doorstep of the goal to make it a 2-0 game less than a minute later at 6:57 of the first. Assists on the goal to Jayden Joly and Layne Loomer.
Former Bulldogs Ty Gordon scores on the 5 on 3 Power Play to get the Thunder on the board and make it a 2-1 game. Assists on the goal to Ryan Neuman. I thought Sammy May got it at first while watching. Then I seen it again and it still looks like May shot it directly in. Not that it really matters. The AJHL site didn’t even give him an assist on it.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-12 for the Bulldogs.
Brendan Ross scores his second goal of the night and 16th of the season to make it a 3-1 game. The assists on the goal from Edward Moskowitz and Tanner Willick just 9 seconds into the PP 3-1
Matthias Bessey scored his second goal of the season to get the Thunder within one and make it a 3-2 game with the assist to former Bulldog Ty Gordon. Was the goal nice? Couldn’t tell you that. The camera was sitting idle where no play was occuring (camera was not in that end). I get it its Sunday camera man may be volunteer or court ordered community service.
Former Bulldog Yale Commit Kurt Gurkan ties it up for the Thunder 3-3 on the Power Play into a wide open net from Will Christian and Adam Grenier at 14:32 of the second period.
Aaron Brown after coming so close the last few games and having a bunch of great chances scores to make the game 4-3. With the assists to Alexander Dimitriadis and Hunter Brown with just over 3 minutes remaining in the second.
Shots in the second period 18-14 for the Bulldogs
In all reality they should of just left after the second period. Its 4-3 now were done see ya!
Adam Grenier scored his 9th goal of the season unassisted to make it a 4-4 tie at 15:59 of the third period. Then just under a minute later former Okotok Oiler Ryan Newman scored his 7th goal of the season to give the Thunder the lead 5-4. With the assists on the goal to Kurt Gurkan and 20 year old West Vancouver native Luke Roberts.
Jack Plandowski scored into the empty net with 4 seconds left to make it a 6-4 game.
Cameron Doucette stopped 27 of the 31 shots that he faced for the win. While Ethan Morrow stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced. The Thunder called up goalie Xavier Roy from The Sexsmith Vipers of the NWJHL an 18 year old from Rigaud, Quebec. In case you are wondering Rigaud is a small town about an hour outside of Montreal near the Ontario/Quebec border. Which makes one wonder what happened to that goalie they had at the beginning of the year Chazz Nixon? Oh found out what happened below.
November 1, 2023 – Drayton Valley player, Chazz Nixon, is suspended for three (3) games as a result of being assessed a Match Penalty for an attempt to injure during an October 31, 2023 game in Drayton Valley. The suspension falls under the AJHL Bylaws and Regulations for Match Penalties. This suspension is to be served during the Thunder next three (3) games.
October 31, 2023 – Drayton Valley Thunder player, Evan Smutney, is suspended for eight (8) games as a result of being assessed a Match Penalty for Head Contact during an October 29, 2023 game in Okotoks. The suspension falls under the CJHL Suspension Guidelines for Head Contact.
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Three Stars of tonight’s game were 1) Kurt Gurkan 2) Adam Grenier 3) Brendan Ross
Ty Gordon won a Tim’s gift card as player of the game in Drayton.
Attendance in Drayton Valley was 447.
Bulldogs next game is on Wednesday November 8th in Blackfalds against the Canmore Eagles and it is Super Hero Night at the EBC.
Former Bulldog Jacob Dennis has signed with the Kindersley Klippers of the SJHL. Former Bulldog Jack DesRuisseaux has signed with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings of the NAHL.