As heard on 96.5 The Ranch, more stunning shootout success for the Olds Grizzlys occurred on Tuesday (January 21st) as they took another round of the Battle of the Bears from the Camrose Kodiaks.
Olds outlasted the Kodiaks 3-2 in a shootout thanks to the goaltending of Connor Johnson (2006) from Calgary and the scoring touch of Keegan Dunn (2007) from Richmond, B.C.
Johnson faced an AJHL career high 55 shots and made an AJHL career high 53 saves during 65 minutes of hockey. He then shut the door on all three players that Camrose sent his way in the shootout. Johnson also kept the game alive for his team by making a sensational save in overtime.
Johnson going 3 for 3 in making saves in the shootout means that netminders for Olds have now turned aside 26 of 27 shootout attempts or penalty shots in extra time during the 2024-2025 Alberta Junior Hockey League season. 20-year-old netminder Ben Dardis from Minnesota is 22 of 23 in shootouts and 1 for 1 on penalty shots in overtime for the Grizzlys who are now 5-0 in shootouts this season and all of those have happened on home ice.
Dunn joined the Black & Gold last week after a stint this season with the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League. In his first home game with Olds, the 17-year-old had the first of what would be many memorable moments on the night against the Kodiaks as he scored the opening goal of the game on a penalty shot late in the second period.
Dunn would net his second AJHL goal early in the third period.
Dunn now has a pair of goals plus a shootout winning goal in 2 AJHL games for Olds.
The Grizzlys (14-22-1-0) have now won 2 of the 4 meetings with Camrose this season – and both have needed breakaways to decide a winner. Olds also got past the Kodiaks 5-4 in a shootout at the SportsComplex back on October 5th. The Grizzlys won the shootout that night by a 2-1 count in 7 rounds. Camrose’s 18-year-old forward Garrett Thom from Edmonton is the only player in the AJHL during this current campaign to score a goal against Olds in a shootout.
Tuesday’s loss ended a six game winning streak for Camrose. Overall, the Kodiaks are 9-0-1-1 in their last 11.
The OGs will finish up the six game season series with the Kodiaks (23-8-2-3) by making appearances at the Encana Arena in Camrose on February 8th and again on March 1st.
Up next after snapping a 5 game losing streak (0-4-1-0), the OGs will head out on the road for a pair of games against the Oil Barons (17-19-2-1) in Fort McMurray this weekend.
96.5 The Ranch will have the call on Tuesday, January 28th when Olds returns home to face off with the Canmore Eagles (24-9-4-1) at 7pm. The Birds lead the league with 53 points. The Grizzlys have 17 regular season games left and they are 11 points back of the fourth and final playoff spot in the South Division. Drumheller (19-16-2-0) is in fourth place.
Listen to 96.5 The Ranch’s pre-game conversation with Head Coach Brad Tobin.
The Ranch also spoke with the play-by-play voice of the Camrose Kodiaks, Tim Ellis before Tuesday’s game.
Check out the new intro Grizzlys hockey on 96.5 The Ranch.
