In the first of three head-to-head battles over an 11-day stretch, the Lloydminster Bobcats defeated the visiting Devon Xtreme 2-1 in Alberta Junior Hockey League action Wednesday night (Oct. 8) at the Cenovus Energy Hub.
Read more: Bobcats beat MOB 4-2 in Hub home-opener
Jack Ferguson’s power-play goal early in the second period proved to be winner, as he had put the Bobcats ahead 2-0.
Devon’s Corbyn Demchuk replied less than a minute later, with his first AJHL career goal.
Jadon Iyogun, with his second goal in as many AJHL games, had given Lloydminster a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Matthew Kondro made 36 saves to post his third victory in four games as a Bobcat. Preston Lewis recorded 30 stops for the Xtreme.
It was the second straight home victory for Lloydminster, which improved its record to 4-3. Devon dropped to 2-3-1.
The rare mid-week game at the Hub attracted a season-low crowd of 707 fans.
The Bobcats and Xtreme face each other again this Saturday (Oct. 11) at Devon, and again the following Saturday (Oct. 18) in Lloydminster.
In Wednesday’s game, the Bobcats welcomed back captain Kade Fendelet, who sat out the previous two games because of health reasons.
For the second consecutive week, Lloydminster has added to its goaltending depth.
Benjamin Polhill, a 19-year-old from Calgary, dressed as Kondro’s backup Wednesday. The six-foot-three Polhill has junior A experience with the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins and, most recently, the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings.
Kondro, a St. Albert, Alta., native who turns 18 in December, joined Lloydminster after spending the early part of this season with the major junior Red Deer Rebels.
This weekend, after visiting Devon on Saturday, the Bobcats continue their road trip with a Sunday afternoon (Oct. 19) game against the league-leading Whitecourt Wolverines (6-1).
At home Wednesday night, Whitecourt blanked the Bonnyville Pontiacs 7-0 in the AJHL’s other mid-week game.
Elliott Pratt made 30 saves to register the shutout, while Nathan Salisbury blocked 35 shots for Bonnyville (2-6).
Brendan Ruskowski scored three goals and an assist to power Whitecourt, which connected three times on power plays.
Jalen Bianchet, with two, Tyler Pretty and Wyatt Ball scored the other goals in front of 603 fans at JDA Place.
Whitecourt hosts the Camrose Kodiaks (3-2) on Saturday night, before hosting Lloydminster on Sunday.
Bonnyville is back on the road for a Saturday night game against the Drayton Valley Thunder (2-4).
Read more: Fendelet becomes face of Lloydminster Bobcats
