After split decisions over the weekend, the Drayton Valley Thunder have moved up to first in the AJHL South Division.
On Friday night, Oct. 16, they beat the Bonnyville Pontiacs 5-2 on the road.
The Thunder’s Colson Ganser started period one scoring with a power play goal to make it 1-0, after a boarding penalty to the Pontiacs. Ganser was assisted by Taynton Lavender. Bonnyville tied things up 1-1 before the end of the frame.
In period two, Drayton’s Kade Corbet earned a slashing minor. Bonnyville scored at 13:36 while on the man advantage for 2-1.
Less than 10 seconds later, the Thunder’s Avery Watson tied it 2-2 again. He was assisted by Damien Wiebe and Daniel Zhou.
Drayton Valley dominated the third period, with Jerrett Ross scoring once while on the man advantage, making it 3-2, with assistance from Zhou and Dylan Snelgrove.
The Thunder’s Dane Pyatt increased the lead to 4-2 with an empty-netter at 18:34. The helper went to Daniel Zhou.
Damian Hill clinched the 5-2 win for Drayton with a second empty-netter, this time unassisted.
—
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Thunder dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Lloydminster Bobcats.
Drayton’s Taynton Lavender started period one action off with a power play goal at 12:11. Assists went to Damian Hill and Oskar Aitken-Salmons.
Late in the second frame, one Thunder player, Colson Ganser, along with two Bobcats, wound up in the box simultaneously, leaving Drayton with a man advantage. Damian Hill would score with the extra man, making it 2-0 — the helpers coming from Snelgrove and Lavender.
Lloydminster netted their first goal at 18:56 of period three for the 2-1 lead, then tied things 2-2 with 31 seconds left in the game.
The game went into overtime, but it went scoreless. The Bobcats went on to win in the shootout.
Taking three of four points in the two games, the Thunder have jumped to first in the AJHL South Division with a record of 6-1-2-1. They start a five-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m., and then 2 p.m. on Oct. 25, both against Drumheller.
Comments