Drumheller, AB
March 7th, 2022
The Drumheller Dragons started their playoff run on the weekend against the Calgary Canucks.
Drumheller was the second seed and are facing the seventh seed in the Canucks. The seeding didn’t seem to matter to Calgary on Friday.
The Canucks came ready to play Friday night. Drumheller struggled to get any momentum to go their way. Calgary would open the scoring with a penalty shot goal by Daxton Budd at 3:29 of the first period. That took some wind out of the sails of the Dragons.
In the second, a miscommunication in front of the Dragons goal lead to Calgary scoring their second of the game, a goal by Matt Corbett at 10:44. Calgary would add another late in the third period, an unassisted marker by Justin Barker, to make it 3-0 Canucks. Drumheller would pull goaltender Eric Ward and Calgary’s Aiden Moore would find the empty net to make the final 4-0.
Saturday’s game started similar to Friday’s. Calgary did a great job at getting in both the passing and shooting lanes of the Dragons. The game would remain tied 0-0 after the first period. In the second, Calgary would take the lead on a power play marker by Caden Steinke at 2:26. Drumheller would get their first of the series in the period at 15:38, when Ty Whitford scored from Sam Simard and Adam Raesler.
That first goal would open things up for the Dragons and early in the third, 1:36, Drumheller would take their first lead of the series when Kody Willick scored from Kiano Robinson and Sam Lozinski. The energy and momentum shifted in the Dragons favour and at 16:24, Vann Yuhas scored from Ty Whitford to give Drumheller the 3-1 lead. Calgary would pull goaltender Connor Martin to get the extra attacker with just over two minutes left but Dragons goalie Eric Ward would shut the door. Drumheller won 3-1 and tied the seven game series at one game a piece.
Saturday’s 3 Stars
Ty Whitford DRM (1 goal, 1 assist)
Eric Ward DRM (29 saves on 30 shots)
Connor Martin CGY (27 saves on 30 shots)
The series now shifts to Calgary for games three and four. Both games will be able to be heard on Real Country 910 with Jason Blanke and Dustin Edwards from the Ken Bracko Arena. The ProPlan Financial Pregame Show will kick things off at 6:45 PM. Game 5 of the series will be back here at the Memorial Arena Saturday night at 7 PM. Tickets are available for Saturday’s game at http://tickets.drumhellerdragons.ca
– Jason Blanke