The current Alberta Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Week stayed hot and the Black & Gold rallied for a 5-4 overtime triumph in their first meeting of the season with a South Division rival.
Forward Ryder Riedel (2007) from Didsbury had the skate away play at 1:39 of O.T. to lift the Grizzlys to a thrilling victory over the Drumheller Dragons (8-9-1-2) in front of a great crowd on Westview Co-op Bike Night. Forward Jordan St. Louis (2009) from Airdrie and defenceman Brendan Thomas (2006) from Calgary had the assists on the first game winning goal in the league for Riedel. Riedel had two assists as well on the night for his first three point game in the AJHL and he has at least one point in all five regular season games he has played for Olds for a total of 8 points. It was his Dad’s birthday and so there were lots of friends and family in the stands and of the O.T. winning goal, Riedel says “I’m happy I got that one for him for his birthday.”
Olds jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 11:08 of the first period thanks to forward Hubert Larose (2007) from Levis, Quebec netting his second of the season from forwards Finn Bagley (2008) from Airdrie and Calder Hutt (2008) from Calgary. However, Drumheller would go up 2-1 before the first intermission.
St. Louis tied it at 2-all at 10:23 of the second period with Riedel providing the assist on his 8th goal of the campaign. After Drumheller went back up by one thanks a a power play goal, it would be forward David Hoy (2007) from Fort. St. James, B.C. who would score to make it 3-3. The primary assist on Hoy’s 5th AJHL tally came from the league’s reigning Player of the Week, Sam Giangualano (2006) from Calgary. While Giangualano wasn’t able to make it back-to-back-to-back hat trick performances, he does now have points in three straight. Forward Sean Richards (2006) from Vancouver, B.C. also assisted on Hoy’s goal to increase his point streak to 4 games with a goal and 7 helpers during that span.
Forward Rhett Miller (2005) from Olds tipped in the game tying goal at 6:30 of the third period from defenceman Brody Martin (2007) from Prince George, B.C. and Riedel. Miller has four goals on the season and he has upped his point streak to 7 with 3 goals and 6 assists during it.
Goaltender Corbin Sanderman (2007) from Three Hills secured his second victory in the AJHL by kicking out 44 of 48 as Drumheller outshot Olds 48-27. Sanderman’s spectacular second period included timely and impressive work as the Grizzlys were under siege and gave up 24 shots. He stopped 22 of them.
The Grizzlys (5-12-1-1) will head to Camrose on Sunday to clash with the Kodiaks (10-8-0-0) at 2pm. They will then face off with the Dragons two more times next weekend with a trip to Drumheller on Friday, November 21st and a home date with them at the Sportsplex on Saturday, November 21st at 7pm. Olds is tied for 5th in the South Division with the Drayton Valley Thunder (5-10-2-0) and both clubs are 7 points back of Drumheller and the Canmore Eagles (9-9-1-0) for the fourth and final playoff spot.
96.5 The Ranch caught up with Ryder Riedel following his first O.T. goal in the AJHL.
The Ranch also gathered up post-game audio from Sam Giangualano.
Prior to the game, The Ranch had this conversation with Tyson Soloski, Head Coach of the Olds Grizzlys.
Listen to our first conversation this season from before Saturday’s game with Kevin Hasselberg, Head Coach and General Manager of the Drumheller Dragons.
