The Whitecourt Wolverines beat Blackfalds 9-4 tonight.
What a performance by Jordan Panasiuk between the pipes. An incredible game. Panny came up huge, and no save was bigger than the one to start the 3rd period. Dave Jantzie broke in alone with less than 15 seconds into the frame, and Panny closed the legs to keep it a 4-2 game.
Only moments later, Ryan Whelen deflected a Tyler Kunz shot to make it 5-2. Then another one. Then another. Then another. And then, another. 4 goals in 1:49, and that was all she wrote. It was 8-2 in a matter of seconds, when it could have easily been 4-3. And no looking back. The boys let up a little bit after that, but managed to get the game back under control. Ryan Whelen scored for the first time in 20 games. Kai Ohs popped one home for the first time in 24 games. I got the gears after the game from Ohs who didn't like that one very much. But, I don't come up with those numbers. They are available on the stats sheet.....both of those guys have contributed in many other ways. Whelen mentioned that in the post game. Your prototypical role player on the team, and just does his job with a smile. Even after he scored. He touched gloves, picked up his work boots and punched the clock (went to the bench and put it behind him).
So, in saying that, a few scenarios can play out tomorrow. Basically, the Wolverines need to win or tie Cold Lake in order to make the semis.
If the Wolverines beat Cold Lake.......
Then the Ice are totally eliminated from the tournament. They will have a record of 0-2-1. That would put Whitecourt in 1st place in pool B with a 2-0-1 record. Leduc plays Blackfalds right after. Basically, whoever wins that one will head to the semis as the 2nd seed, if of course, the Wolverines win.
If the Wolverines tie Cold Lake......
Then they will finish with a record of 1-0-2 with 4 points and would need Leduc and Blackfalds to tie to be guaranteed the top seed. If either team wins, then it comes down to the tie breaker. The first, is wins. So if Blackfalds wins, then they would finish in the top spot of pool B with 2 victories. If Leduc wins, then it would need to go to a 3rd tie breaker. The first is wins. Both would have 1. The second is head to head, which they tied. The third is a format of total goals for divided by goals for plus goals against. The team with the highest percentage advances.
Now, if the Wolverines LOSE to Cold Lake........
Then they will end with a 1-1-1 record, and that's where things get interesting....especially if Leduc and Blackfalds tie. Then all 4 teams would finish with 3 points, and Leduc would be ousted because of the zero victory factor. It would then go to a head to head, which would solve nothing. Then you would go to the goals for/against format. But, if Leduc or Blackfalds wins, then either one of those teams would finish in the top seed with 4 points, and the Wolverines would get bumped by Cold Lake due to the head to head tie breaker.
Confused?
I will post this one and work on the other pool. Chat in a bit!
