Three goal third sparks 6-5 OT win for Bobcats

The Bobcats took all nine lives on Tuesday to beat the visiting Whitecourt Wolverines in dramatic fashion, winning 6-5 in overtime.


Coming into Tuesday night’s game the Bobcats had an opportunity to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since late September. Visiting Lloydminster were their North Division rivals, the Whitecourt Wolverines, who were 5 points ahead of the ‘Cats in the standings and tied for most goals for in the league with 66, but allowing the second most goals with 55.


The ‘Cats got off to a rough start, allowing a power-play goal to Wolverines’ Colten Mayor, then not a full minute later, Evan Warmington would give the visiting team a 2-0 lead. The Bobcats would however end up salvaging the period with a power-play goal of their own – Nolan Yaremchuk with his 6th of the season from Mitchell Brennan and Grant Baker.


It would be a second period to forget for the ‘Cats despite scoring a goal, the Wolverines would score 3. Wolverines’ Brandon Switzer got the scoring started – Bobcats would answer with a goal from Bryce Woodward from Tanner Dunkle and Braden Crone. But, the goals would keep on coming in Whitecourts favour – Colten Mayor & Joel Kocur adding a goal a piece.


However hockey is a 60 minute game.  Despite being down 5-2 the Bobcats would not be denied tonight. Austin McDonald got the Bobcats on the comeback trail with a shorthanded goal, minutes later Tanner Dunkle would rocket one top corner to get the ‘Cats within one. Power-play turnovers would prove to be costly for Whitecourt tonight as the game-tying goal came shorthanded by none other than Austin McDonald with his 2nd shorthanded goal of the night, to send this one to the extra period.


It took only 50 seconds for the comeback to be complete, with Tanner Dunkle putting it 5-hole from a nice feed from Nolan Yaremchuk. Dunkle’s game winning goal capped off what was an up and down night that ended up getting the Bobcats 2 points in the win.


Although there are improvements to be made in all areas, there were flashes of what could be, “We need to have that work ethic going all the time, we’re starting to believe in ourselves and putting it all together. We’ve determined that the only team that is going to beat us is the one in our dressing room,” GM/Coach Garry VanHereweghe says.


Devin Green would come in relief after the 5th Wolverines goal and would shut the door the rest of the way to earn himself the win. Tanner Dunkle would have himself a nice 4 point night with 2 goals and 2 assists, while Austin McDonald, Mitchell Brennan, Nolan Yaremchuk, Bryce Woodward would all have 2 point nights.


Bobcats next home game is this Friday, October 18, at 7:30 PM against the Okotoks Oilers, and again on Saturday, October 19, against the Drayton Valley Thunder.