(File photo)
The Drayton Valley Thunder are currently undefeated in their four-game home stand this month, with two more victories against Bonnyville over the weekend after defeating the Spruce Grove Saints 3-2 in overtime on Jan. 8.
The first of back-to-back games against the Pontiacs took place Jan. 14, with the Thunder coming out on top 4-3.
The Pontiacs were first on the board at 6:57, however, as Austin Saint got assists from Sebastian Tamburro and A.J. Macaulay. The Thunder took advantage of a power play opportunity at 13:52 though, as Brett Bamber picked up assists from Rylan Brown and Ethan Browne. When the buzzer sounded on the first period, it was a 1-1 tie.
The Thunder then went on to dominate in the second period. Jack Silverberg scored at 1:14, getting assists from Drew Sutton and Luca Ricci. The Pontiacs responded at 2:28, as A.J. Macaulay received the assist from Austin Saint to make it 2-2. The Thunder then picked up two in a row. First, Kadyn Chabot picked up the assist from Hunter Price at 3:05. Then Ethan Browne scored at 7:00, thanks to assists from Kadyn Chabot and Daniel Kernaghan. The Pontiacs got one more on the power play at 14:10, as Kash Rasmussen was assisted by Will Hilfiker and Matteo Giampa. At the end of the second, the Thunder had a 4-3 lead.
And that is the way it stayed after a scoreless third period. Drayton goalie Jackson Berry managed to turn away all 11 shots thrown his way to ensure the Thunder victory.
The two teams were pretty evenly matched, as the Pontiacs just barely outshot the Thunder 40-38. The Pontiacs were 1 for 3 on the power play, while the Thunder were 1 for 6.
The rematch came on Jan. 15, as the Thunder managed another one goal victory, beating the Pontiacs 5-4.
The Pontiacs were first on the board at 2:09, as Trey Funk picked up assists from Nick Traggio and Austin Saint. The Thunder then responded with three in a row. Jack Silverberg scored at 4:23, with an assist from Moe Hakim and Drew Sutton. Andrew Larson then picked up a goal at 15:10, thanks to an assist from Evan Forrest and Sammy May. Then Ethan Browne scored on the power play at 17:44, assisted by Sammy May and Brett Bamber. At the end of the first, the Thunder had a commanding 3-1 lead.
The Pontiacs were the only ones to score in the second period. Cole Hipkin scored unassisted on the power play at 8:07. At the end of the second, the Thunder were still leading 3-2.
The Pontiacs managed to tie things up at 10:45 in the third. Kash Rasmussen received an assist from A.J. Macaulay. Kadyn Chabot of the Thunder then responded with a pair of goals. First at 13:22 with an assist from Ethan Browne, and then again at 14:53 with the assist from Matthew Strilets. The Pontiacs managed to get one more goal before the end of the third, as Sebastian Tamburro scored at 16:36, with assists from Kash Rasmussen and Nick Traggio. Final score was 5-4 for the Thunder.
The Thunder outshot the Pontiacs 41-30. The Thunder went 1 for 3 on the power play, while the Pontiacs were 1 for 5.
The Thunder are currently holding at fourth in the Viterra AJHL North Division, with 50 points and a record of 22-12-6.
The Thunder wrap up their home stand on Jan. 18, when the Fort McMurray Oil Barons come to town. The game was originally scheduled for Dec. 30, but had to be postponed by the Oil Barons for COVID-19 related reasons.
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