Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by John Tonin

TURNING TO THE NET – Rivermen forward Zack Sequin (9) shields the puck from the North Central Zone Bobcats defenceman during the first of back-to-back games played Friday and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.

Yukon Rivermen split games against Bobcats

The Yukon Rivermen, competing in the BC zone program, had their first home games of their season when the North Central Zone Bobcats from Prince George paid a visit for two contests last Friday and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.

By John Tonin on November 22, 2019

The Yukon Rivermen, competing in the BC zone program, had their first home games of their season when the North Central Zone Bobcats from Prince George paid a visit for two contests last Friday and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.

In two close games, the Rivermen and Bobcats won a game apiece. The Rivermen got the first game, played on the ATCO ice, 4-1.

The first period was fast paced and there weren’t many whistles to be heard. Both the Rivermen and Bobcats had sustained pressure in the offensive zone but the defences held steady and the goalies weren’t too busy.

The ice began to tilt ever so slightly in the Bobcats favour midway through the opening frame as they began to find the shooting lanes but Rivermen goalie Gavin Graig was up to the task.

The Rivermen regained some momentum late and had some quality chances but Bobcat keeper Navann Lamarre shut the door.

The second period belonged to the Rivermen. They got an early power play and although they didn’t score they were strong on the puck and had all the momentum.

Shortly after the power play ended the Rivermen got on the scoreboard. Gavin Mckenna stole the puck in the offensive zone. He deked through the defenders before going forehand, backhand up and over the goalie’s shoulder.

Mckenna put the Rivermen up by two shortly after. He received an outlet pass from linemate Luke Cozens and only had the goalie to beat. Mckenna buried it into the top corner.

The Rivermen’s third goal was by, you guessed it, Mckenna. Cozens got the puck behind the goal and sent a nifty backhand pass to Mckenna who was at the side of the net with a wide-open cage in front of him. The second assist went to Bretton Horte.

The Bobcats got a late power-play goal from Keenan Holland to make it 3-1 heading into the third.

In the third, the Rivermen clamped down on defence and did not allow the pressing Bobcats to get any quality chances. The Bobcats pulled the goalie late for the extra attacker but Mckenna potted his fourth into the empty net to seal the win.

The Bobcats won the second game of the back-to-back 7-5. Cozens opened the scoring for the Rivermen thirty seconds into the game off a feed from Mckenna.

That early momentum didn’t last as the Bobcats scored four answered goals in the first and tacked on another one in at the 11:14 mark of the second.

Zack Sequin cut the deficit to 5-2 off a feed from Carson Impett but the Bobcats potted two more goals. Mckenna scored late to take a 7-3 into the third.

The Rivermen pushed to get equal with the Bobcats put their two third period goals came late in the frame.

Cozens scored at the 4:07 mark with assists going to Mckenna and Horte. With 1:16 remaining Mckenna scored on the power play with assists going to Ethan Bowerman and Cozens.

The Rivermen are made up of players from both the Yukon and the N.W.T. Home games will be played both in Whitehorse and in Yellowknife.

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