<div align="center">Vancouver Whalers @ <span style='color:#254117'>Kelowna Knights</span></div>
<div align="center">(Game #16)</div>
<div align="center"> 2-1 </div>
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<u><div align="center">Starting Lineups</div></u>

<div align="center"> Vancouver Whalers </div>

<b><div align="center">Conklin Owen - Jon Ross - Ace Redding
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<div align="center">Theodore Graham - Brynjar Tusk</div>
<div align="center">Maximilian Wehner</div></b>

<div align="center"> Kelowna Knights </div>

<b><div align="center">Anatoly Yanovich - Dieter Dominique - Geronimo Otto
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<div align="center">Ty Justice - Cara Hohenberg </div>
<div align="center">Jason Aittokallio</div></b>

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Brief Synopsis
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Two strong division contenders in the Vancouver Whalers and Kelowna Knights battle it out in a hard fought defensive showdown. With the goaltending showing off in spectacular fashion with rookies Jason Aittokallio and Maximilian Wehner. Goals in the first period were produced by Dom Monarch and Justs Sirmais. The next two periods and overtime suffered from a lack of goals but had exciting goaltending action. The game ended when the two earlier goal scorers had their shootout chances. Dom Monarch became a hero with his top shelf goal over Aittokallio and Sirmais wiffed the net wide left on his attempt. Vancouver wins 2-1 in this nailbiting thriller.

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Game Summary
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Defense and goaltending was the name of the game from this exciting Western Division matchup. Despite Kelowna coming into the game on a scoring streak and having a high flying offense setting the SMJHL on fire. The matchup with the defensive minded Vancouver Whalers turned into a slog and grind game. With both teams pressuring the goaltenders fairly evenly throughout all three periods; a goaltending battle erupted from this nailbiter.

Goaltenders Jason Aittokallio of Kelowna and Maximilian Wehner of the Whalers put on a show. Matching each other save by save through three periods. Each only letting one puck into the pot. All the scoring excitement happened throughout the first period. Both being scored and putting caps on the period. The Whalers Dom Monarch opened the scoring just 3 minutes into the game with a beautiful shot that slipped through Aittokalio following a pickpocket by Monarch. With a majority of the period passing by with save by save being matched by the two goaltenders; the Knights go their first goal on wonderful powerplay pressure. Justs Sirmais picked the corner against goaltender Max Wehner after overwhelming shot pressure from the Knights following a Beau Bent faceoff win.

The next two periods passed with not much as a sniff at a goal. Both goaltenders made outstand saves. Matching each other in highlight reel save after highlight reel save. As the third period buzzer sounded the teams prepared for extra time. The overtime period passed much as the prior two periods had. With Kelowna sustaining more pressure than Vancouver but failing to put the puck behind Wehner. The shootout would have to determine the winner of this match. Both teams sent out their best. Kelowna would pot their first attempt on Wehner and Vancouver hitting the back of the net with their second shot on Aittokalio. In the end the Whalers proved to be too much in this matchup as Dom Monarch came through again with a clutch Shootout goal, followed by a missed net by Kelowna's Justs Sirmais.

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Game Highlights In Photo
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<div align="center">1st Period</div>

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<div align="center">Vancouver's Dom Monarch celebrates after his 1st period goal</div>

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<div align="center">Justs Sirmais giddy after his game tying goal in the first period.</div>

<div align="center">2nd & 3rd Periods</div>

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<div align="center">Kelowna Goaltender Jason Aittokallio tracks the puck into his glove.</div>

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<div align="center">Maximilian Wehner looks great in his first SMJHL start.</div>

<div align="center">Shootout</div>

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<div align="center">Vancouver's Dom Monarch once against plays hero netting the difference making goal in this rivalry game.</div>

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Post-Game Interview with Kelowna's Trevor Wilson


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<div align="left"> How do you feel about close games like this one tonight?

Trevor Wilson: I love close games like this. A tight game usually doesn't help out the stat line, but they're most intense. You wanna be the guy that can be that go ahead goal and it really motivates me to play hard.

Do you feel like you played fairly well?

TW: It definitely wasn't my best game tonight, I could have played a lot better. I wish I could have those 3 shots that I had tonight back. But, I'm not gonna dwell on this game, and I'll be looking towards the next outing to keep proving I'm an elite player.

After your explosive start to the season, do you feel like you can continue your current pace?

TW: That strong start was a huge confidence boost for me. I feel a lot more comfortable coming into this league and proving to myself early that I can be an effective player. However, keeping up this pace would make this the best rookie season of all time by a long shot, so I wouldn't hold your breath on me keeping up this pace

How do you feel aboutthe two young goaltenders in this matchup?

TW: I was very impressed by both goalies in this game. If I were told that in 5 seasons Aitokallio and Wehner are the two best goalies in the SHL I wouldn't be surprised after seeing this game.</div>


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Three Stars



Maximilian Wehner (VAN)
25 saves from 26 shots - (0.962), W, 1-0-0, 65:00 minutes



Jason Aittokallio (KEL)
21 saves from 22 shots - (0.955), OTL, 3-1-1, 65:00 minutes</div>

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Dom Monarch (VAN)
1 Goal, Game Winning Shoot Out Goal, 3 Shots, 1 Hits, 17:18 minutes played</div>