An early power play goal allowed the Olds Grizzlys to settle in and play with the lead en route to a thrilling 5-3 triumph over the Calgary Canucks on Friday, November 7th.
Centre Sam Giangualano (2006) from Calgary scored at 2:36 on the first man advantage for either team and he would go on to have his first regular season hat trick performance in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Giangualano also had a PPG at 4:26 of the second period which made it 4-1 and he would complete the hatty with an empty netter at 18:10 of the third period. Winger Sean Richards (2007) from Vancouver, B.C. had assists on all three.
Goaltender Corbin Sanderman (2007) from Three Hills earned this first AJHL victory in net by making 38 saves. He kicked out 19 of 20 sent his way in the third period as the Canucks outshot Olds 20-4 in the third period and 41-26 for the night. The win for Sanderman comes in his eight appearance of the regular season. He is now 1-6-0-1 with a 4.96 goals against average and an .873 save percentage during his rookie season. Sanderman was selected by the Everett Silvertips in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
Defenceman Zee Jamal (2008) from Calgary broke through for his first AJHL tally by pouncing on a rebound and roofing it with just over five seconds left in the opening period to boost the Grizzlys lead to 2-0 at that point. Jamal did not register a point in three appearances for Olds last season and his first goal comes in his 16th regular season game this year. His only other point this season was his first point in the league which was an assist against Drayton Valley back on September 28th. The Grizzlys had gone seven games without a goal from a blueliner. Jamal’s goal is the first from the team’s back end since Kylen Martens scored in Grande Prairie against the Storm on October 11th.
Forward Riley Pederson (2007) from Smithers, B.C. had the other goal for Olds in the win and it was arguably the most important. Pederson’s second AJHL goal crossed the line just :29 second after Riley Bracko – the Captain of Canucks – (2005) from Calgary had struck for their first goal at 1:06 of the second period. Restoring the two goal lead was huge and so was Pederson’s powerful presence on the ice on Friday with a handful of punishing hits as he took full advantage of his 6’4″ 219 pound frame.
Olds has 3 points out of a possible 4 against the two-time defending AJHL champions and the reigning Centennial Cup National Junior A Hockey champs this season. A 4-3 shootout loss at home on Halloween night for the Black & Gold was the first of four times they will face off with the Canucks (10-7-0-0) in a 12 game span. Olds will go to Calgary for meetings on November 26th and November 30th. The South Division foes will play in Olds on February 20th and in Calgary on March 14th to round out the six game season series.
The Grizzlys (4-12-0-1) six game homestand resumes on Saturday night when the Grande Prairie Storm (7-9-0-1) come to the Town of Olds. Puck drop at the Sportsplex is set for 7pm. The Ramada Olds Grizzlys U18 AA tournament continues throughout the weekend. Olds beat Saskatoon 3-1 in the U18 AA Grizzlys first game on Friday.
Listen to 96.5 The Ranch’s post-win audio with Corbin Sanderman.
The Ranch also spoke with Zee Jamal after the victory.
Prior to the game, we had this chat with Grizzlys defenceman Kylen Martens (2008) from Summerland, B.C.
The Ranch had this pre-game conversation with Riley Hearn, Assistant Coach for the Calgary Canucks.
