Big Ben Aucoin beats Canucks goaltender Julian Molinaro for the second time in two shifts at the Civic Centre on Saturday as the ‘Cats host the Canucks. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos
Revenge is always sweeter when served with a shutout.
The Lloydminster Bobcats (23-21) were back on home ice last Saturday and gave Calgary a taste of their own medicine with a 3-0 win after the Canucks (22-20-1-1) beat the ‘Cats 3-0 at the Max Bell Centre on Jan. 7.
Bobcats forward Aidan LaRose takes Calgary’s Chris Kobelka into the boards during second-period action at the Civic Centre on Saturday night.
It may have been a scoreless first, but after 20, the ‘Cats returned to the ice ready to go to work.
With roughly 830 fans in the stands, ‘Cats sharpshooter Ben Aucoin challenged Canucks goaltender Julian Molinaro on a breakaway, getting the puck over Molinaro’s left pad at 7:46 in the second.
Big Ben, however, wasn’t finished, and got his second of the night, his 18th of the season, 51 seconds later, again on a breakaway.
With the energy on the ice, it was only a matter of time before the Bobcats once again found the back of Calgary’s net.
The boys were throwing every puck they had at Aucoin to help him attain the elusive “natty hatty,” but it was defenseman Brody Juck who put the nail in the coffin with an empty netter at 18:09 in the third.
For anyone about to pull out their phone, a natty hatty is when a player scores three consecutive goals in a game.
Saturday’s game-winner was Juck’s seventh goal of the season after 42 games with the Bobcats.
Juck is currently the 12th-ranked defenseman in the league with seven goals (six of which were on the power play, making him the third-ranked PPG scorer in the league) and 24 assists for 31 points. He’s also earned himself 17 power-play assists and 26 minutes in the sin bin.
Saturday was also a big night for ‘Cats rookie goaltender Jack Solomon, who earned his fourth shutout of the season after 28 starts.
‘Cats goaltender Jack Solomon stops one of 32 shots on Saturday night against the Canucks. Solomon recorded his fourth shutout of the season with the 3-0 win.
An import from St. Louis, MO, Solomon has recorded 14 wins and 14 losses this season, has played 1,623 minutes, allowed 89 goals and made 976 saves for a 0.909 save percentage. Solomon is also currently the 14th-ranked tendy in the AJHL with a 3.29 goals-against average.
The ‘Cats were scheduled to host the Brooks Bandits for a Sunday matinee, but that game was postponed until a later date.
Saturday’s win came after a busy three-game road trip that started in Okotoks on Jan. 5 where the ‘Cats lost 6-1 to the Oilers. The boys then headed to the mountains to face off against the Canmore Eagles on Jan. 6, winning 4-2 before losing 3-0 to the Canucks on Jan. 7.
The ‘Cats host the Fort McMurray Oil Barons at 7 p.m. this Friday and at 8 p.m. on Saturday before hosting the Spruce Grove Saints at 7 p.m. next Wednesday.
