Whalers Sit Third In Conference
BURNABY WINTER CLUB – The Grandview Steelers provided a rough-and-tumble welcome. But the Whalers weathered the storm with a bread-and-butter approach of scoring often and relying on a star goalie.
White Rock lit the lamp five straight times in a 5-2 victory on Dec. 13. The triumph meant that the Whalers have pushed their winning streak to seven – a franchise record. With an impressive total of 34 goals scored during that span, the Whalers have made opposition goalies shudder.
‘Big Goal’ strikes again
Against the Steelers, “Big Goal” Cole Svendson tied the game at 1-1 via a sublime deke to the backhand past Steeler goalie Ronin Geraghty.
In the second period, the Whalers kept up the pressure with goals from Jayson Beauregard and alternate captain Matt Burry.
‘Butch’ scores from centre
In a strange twist, Whaler's fourth-year defenceman “Butch” La Roue put the game out of reach when he bounced the puck in from centre ice past Steeler goalie Ronin Geraghty.
La Roue’s second-ever goal for the Pod pushed Geraghty to the bench.
“Feels great to be on a roll,” La Roue commented. “All of our hard work is paying off…just got to keep it going in preparation for the play-offs!”
Last home game: Whalers v. Port Moody Panthers, Dec. 11
CENTENNIAL ARENA – Late in the third. A 5-5 tie. Enter veteran Whaler Sam Dowell, who pulled off a display of true grit and dazzling skill that would have made Bobby Orr proud.
Dowell heroically fought past two Port Moody defencemen and in mid-air, he tipped home a Bryce Margetson shot before crashing into the net. It was Dowell’s second goal of the night. He was named the game's first star.
“Sam, every time he’s on the ice, he gives us energy,” said White Rock head coach Jason Rogers. “He plays on the edge and likes to compete.”
Dowell's game-winner quelled a valiant effort from the underdog Panthers, the worst team in the league. For 58 minutes on the score clock, Port Moody had put up a tremendous fight.
By the second period, the Panthers had roared out to a 4-1 lead. But Whaler Cole Svendson’s two goals, along with centreman Jacob Dorohoy’s powerplay marker, tied the game.
Margetson pulls a Batman, sets up game-winner
Before the end of the middle frame, the Whalers were down two defencemen. Captain Tyler Price served a minor for a check to the head and a 10-minute misconduct; Bryce Margetson was given a game misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct.
During the intermission, Margetson had gone to the dressing room and changed into his suit. After all, he thought he was kicked out. However, in the third period, his penalty was amended to a 10-minute misconduct.
A humourous off-ice moment occurred when the versatile Margetson hurriedly put his Whaler sweater and gear back on to rejoin his teammates on the bench mere seconds after his misconduct expired midway through the third period.
Then, Margetson put the puck in front of the Port Moody crease that Dowell converted for the game-winner with 1:07 left.
