For Evan Tschumi and Troy Van Tetering, tonight's goals were a long time coming as they found the back of the net for the first time this season in the Bobcats 5-0 victory over the Canmore Eagles.
Tschumi and Van Tetering combined for 56 points as 17 year-olds with the Bobcats last season, including 25 goals. Both had been held goalless through 13 games this season, but that all changed in the third period tonight. After failing to convert on several quality scoring chances earlier in the night, Tschumi got a break on a Bobcats powerplay 11:57 into the third period as he sped through the neutral zone and closed in on goaltender Ryan Bortorin before beating him with a wrist shot. The Colgate commit's first goal, putting the Bobcats up 3-0, was followed by teammates Cole Josefchak and Van Tetering, who also scored their first goals of the new season.
Alex Leclerc advanced his record to 7-0 as the Bobcats starting goaltender, kicking aside 17 Eagles shots for his second shutout of the season. Making it more impressive is that three Eagles forwards – Matt Forchuk, Logan Ferguson, and Lane Olson – came into tonight's match up in the top ten in AJHL scoring.
For the Eagles, it was the seocnd loss in as many nights after a 5-4 defeat in Bonnyville on Friday. It was also the end of several individual streaks, as Olson had points in 10 straight games, Forchuk in seven straight, and Ferguson in six in a row.
The Bobcats got on the board in a sloppy first period on a bounce off the end wall on a shot from Austin Yaremchuk, with the puck finding it's way behind Bontorin and into the net. The goal was Yaremchuk's second of the year, and put the 'Cats ahead 1-0 after 20 minutes.
In the second, Lloydminster put the pedal down, outshooting the Eagles 16-6. However, they were only able to convert on one goal which was a point shot by Christian Lloyd. It was first credited to Taylor Mulder, back in the lineup after missing three games to injury, but was later corrected and given to Lloyd. Instead of being Mulder's first of the season, Lloyd was credited with his second goal and fourth point as a Bobcat. Despite the heavy territorial advantage, the Bobcats were only able to convert once in the period, and it wasn't until Tschumi broke the game open in the third that their lead grew further.
The Bobcats were an impressive 3/4 on the powerplay (Lloyd, Tschumi, and Van Tetering), while the Eagles were unable to convert on two powerplay opportunities.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Bobcats homestand continues with a 2:30 p.m. matinee against the Calgary Mustangs.