Your Drumheller Dragons wrapped up their regular season at home on Friday night in front of one of their biggest crowds of the year, against the Calgary Canucks.
Going into the game, the Calgary Canucks, knowing that they would most likely end the season with top spot, decided to rest a number of their veteran players. That being said, the Canucks came ready to play. Calgary would open the scoring early in the first when Hayden Fechner scored his 26th of the year. The Dragons would have their chances but could not convert on the 7 shots in the period. The Canucks would lead 1-0 after the first period.
In the second, only 31 seconds into the period, Drumheller’s Brec Christenson would score his 4th of the year, from Nick McLennan, tying the game at 1-1. Calgary would retake the lead at 2:28 when Matthew Paszkiewicz scored, making it 2-1 Canucks. Drumheller would tie the game with 9:03 remaining in the period, with Allen Sherpa scoring his 14th of the season, from Lauchlan Kozicky. The game would be decided in the third period.
Early in the third stanza, the Canucks would take the lead 3-2, with a goal by David Byrne. The Dragons would tie the game once again when a shot by Kai Matthew would careen off Easton Daneault, for his 20th of the year, at 5:29. Drumheller would take their first lead of the game on Brec Christenson’s second goal of the game (5), assisted once again by Nick McLennan and Luca Dufor at 7:19. The Dragons would increase their lead only 43 seconds later as Easton Daneault scored his second of the game (21) assisted by Bradley Gallo. Calgary would pull netminder Cruz Chase with 2:28 left. With under five seconds remaining, Dragons forward Jase Johnstone would seal the deal with his 13th of the year, into the empty net, making it 6-3 Drumheller.
Shots on Goal
Drumheller – 37
Calgary – 29
Powerplays
Drumheller – 0/2
Calgary – 0/4
3 Stars
- Brec Christenson DRM (2 G)
- Easton Daneault DRM (2 G)
- Nick McLennan DRM (2 A)
With the victory, that would put Drumheller in a tie with the Camrose Kodiaks for third in the AJHL South Division. For the Dragons to attain third, they would need Camrose to lose in regulation on Saturday night in Whitecourt. The Kodiaks would lead the game 2-1 against the Wolverines going into the third period. Whitecourt would score three unanswered giving the Dragons third place with their 4-2 victory. The Calgary Canucks needed to win on Saturday night to attain first place and win did they ever, with a 12-2 victory over the Olds Grizzlys.
With the Dragons in third place, they now face the Canmore Eagles in round one of the AJHL Playoffs. The series starts on the road in Canmore, Friday and Saturday nights. Both games can be heard on “The Home of the Dragons” New Country 92.5 with Jason Blanke and Boedy Shields. Games three and four of the series will be back in Drumheller on Tuesday, March 25th and Wednesday, March 26th. Tickets for those games can be purchased online at tickets.drumhellerdragons.ca. Time to “Defend The Den”!!!!
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