Halifax Raiders (10-14-2) vs Vancouver Whalers (15-9-2) - Game 103
Score: Halifax 1 - Vancouver 4

Starting Line up
Halifax
Left Wing|| Center || Right Wing
Niklas Flower|| Jean-Luc Reflieux|| Reed Laing

Defense|| Defense
Blake Battle || Greta Iversen

Goaltenders
Georgette Pel

Vancouver
Left Wing || Center || Right Wing
Conklin Owen || Jon Ross || Ace Redding

Defense || Defense
Theodore Graham || Connor MacDonald

Goaltenders
Maximillian Wehner

HERE. WE. GO.

Tonight’s matchup is a first for this season. Oddly enough past the halfway mark for most this is the first time these cross conference rivals have met. The Whalers struggling to find some consistency in their game although they are on the winning side of the fence, and the raiders showing flashes of hope but struggling to string it together into some prolonged wins. Both teams are sporting some impressive rookies and return players and this game really feel like it could swing in either teams favour.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the rookies

Highly touted are 4 of the Raiders rookies in Volkova, Flowers, Iversen and Ryan. All taken in the top 13, at 4,6,9 and 13 Respectively. Much was hoped from these young promising players coming into this year but they just have not been able to adapt to the SMJHL pace yet. But with half a season to go, I wouldn’t lose all hope yet. They need to start producing soon to generate some wins for this team though.

6th Round, 43rd overall Reed Laing has been a pleasant surprise for this team. Leading all rookies in scoring, he is one of the bright spots from this last draft.

The Whalers club is more of a mixed bag, with some rookies excelling and other being a bit disappointing. The top rookies for this club are easily Ace Redding and Connor MacDonald. With Ace challenging consistently for top scorer on the team, and consistently topping prospects ranking at mid-term it’s hard not to notice the young winger and the work he’s putting in. Connor has the eyes of many scouts as well. Playing on a weaker team overall than most of the other consensus top 3 D men, he is still excelling with reduced playing time, and helping to quarterback an extremely effective power play. Honourable mention to Max Wehner as well, as he has had an up and down season so far, but continues to shows signs of being an effective goaltender moving forward.

Some of the immediate let downs from the draft so far are in the forward and Defensive group. Max Wilburn, and Olson Stuart, are just not generating enough offense and it is hurting the team from its lower end goal totals. With the 2nd overall pick the team selected Brynar tusk who shows promise still on paper, but his game so far has left much to be desired.

1st Period

Vancouver Whalers , OG Bobby 5 (Max Wilburn, Thor Pederson) at 17:18(PP)
Wilburn after receiving a zone clearing pass from Pederson, skated up the ice and slowed down as he entered the zone to provide some space to let a shot off on Pel, she managed to get a piece of it to kick out, but OG Bobby found himself open without time for her to react to put this one home.


2nd Period

Vancouver Whalers , Theodore Graham 1 (Ace Redding, Jon Ross) at 14:01 (PP)
After a clean face-off win after the penalty, Redding was the receiver of the pass where he fired the shot but missed the net, as the puck came whipping around the boards where Uncle Theo found himself open enough to float one in beating Pel cleanly. His first of the season!


Vancouver Whalers , Jon Ross 7 (Theodore Graham, Conklin Owen) at 19:22

After some good work on the boards Owen was able to squeeze the puck out to Graham where he found an already streaking Ross down the wing, Ross made quick work of the advantage and proceeded to beat Pel and put this one in.


3rd Period
Halifax Raiders , Niklas Flower 5 (Jean-Luc Reflieux, Reed Laing) at 12:30
A Raiders face off win proceeded to create utter chaos in the Whalers end, as Reed Laing fires the puck at Wehner on 3 separate occasions having the apparent aim of Dion Phaneuf on the power play and missing the net completely. With an additional block by Alfred, a save by Wehner, Flowers finds the puck to finally put the raiders on the board moving late into the 3rd.


Hunter Johnson beats up Frankie Latta at 15:08 of 3rd period



Maybe it was out of frustration, the need to make a statement, or maybe it was mabelline but it seemed Hunter Johnson near the tail end of the game, either saw something on Latta’s face or felt the need to rearrange it, but what we witnessed was a pummeling. It may not have generated anything for the Raiders but it was brutal none the less. One has to ask, where was Ieaun L during this incident?

Vancouver Whalers , Ace Redding 8 (Connor MacDonald, Conklin Owen) at 15:32 (PP)

Another scramble like play on the power play finds the back of the net, with after a shot block, a save and a few extra passes Redding finds the space to put on in on Pel, to pretty much seal the deal for this game.



Post game notes

Goalie Stats
Georgette Pel (HAL), 16 saves from 20 shots - (0.800), L, 3-4-1, 60:00 minutes
Maximilian Wehner (VAN), 22 saves from 23 shots - (0.957), W, 6-5-1, 60:00 minutes

Shots
VAN: 20
HAL: 23
A close game in shots, both teams had chances to put the puck away, the Whalers just seemed to cash in at the right time more than the Raiders were able to. Pel has another night where she can’t seem to decide whether she wants to carry the team, or struggle. She needs to find her game if she intends to take over as starter.

Power Play
Halifax Raiders - 0 on 5 Attempt(s) - 0.00%
Vancouver Whalers - 2 on 5 Attempt(s) - 40.00%
Dominant as usual the Whalers power play continues to capitalize when needed and is a big part of this team limited offense this year. A bright spot amongst some other concerning issues.

3 Stars
1 - Ace Redding (VAN) G:1|| A:1|| PTS:2|| MP 19:21
Effective as always Redding has put in yet another complete, well rounded game which helped lead his team to victory. Contributing to both ends of the ice he was able to help lock down defensively and drive the offensively as well.

2 - Jon Ross (VAN) G:1 ||A:1|| PTS:2|| MP 20:09
As he continues he’s high level of play for the Whalers, Ross seems to be pushing hard to be this teams MVP this season fighting tooth and nail with Redding. Although maybe slightly disappointed about being a send down, he is making the most of his time this year in the SMJHL and seems determined for his team to win every night.

3 - Maximilian Wehner (VAN) .957%|| W 6-5-1
The captain of the sea saw. Wehner comes through with a solid outing helping the Whalers to a win over the Raiders. Maybe this will be his turning point to string together some wins that the Whalers need badly in a tight divison, but as of right now, he looked great tonight.