Canucks Chalk Talk: Nov. 19-Dec. 1, 2019

The Canucks started November by winning 4 of their first 6 games, which had them sitting third in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League standings. They looked to keep that momentum going as they started a tough stretch of games to end the month.

They started against their closest rivals, the Charleswood Hawks, at the St. James Civic Centre on Tuesday, November 19.

It was a tight checking game the Canucks would go on to win 2-1. Kurtis Luke and Craig Wiess scored the goals, with Adam Thurlbeck adding an assist. Nathan Cvar was stellar in net, stopping 40 of 41 shots to pick up the win.

The win upped the Canucks’ record to 10-6-0 on the season.

Next up the Canucks hit Highway 7 north to Stonewall for a date with the Jets on Friday, Nov 22. Unfortunately it wasn’t the Canucks night, as they fell 5-1 to the home team. Adam Thurlbeck scored the only goal for the Canucks, with his defence partner Mack Whitely getting the only assist.

After that the Canucks had a tall task, hosting the league-leading Pembina Valley Twisters, who came into the game with just one loss on the season that came against the Canucks earlier in the year.

The Canucks improved to 2-0 against the Twisters, as they rode a great performance in net by rookie Noah Gilbert and stout defensive effort to a 2-1 overtime win.

Brady Whitely scored the overtime winner and Adam Thurlbeck added a regulation marker. Gilbert was solid in net, stopping 24 of 25 shots to pick up his seventh win.

The Canucks then wrapped up this stretch of games in a Sunday evening matchup with the Ft. Garry/Ft. Rouge Twins on December 1.

Ethan Unruh and Cole Chicoine both scored a pair of goals and added assists. Brady Whitely had two assists with Kurtis Luke and Adam Thurlbeck adding assists as well. Nathan Cvar was solid in net, stopping 41 of 42 shots in the 4-1 win.

After this stretch, the Canucks have a 12-7-0 record, which is good enough for third place in the MMJHL standings.

Chalk Talk Three Stars:

3 – Cole Chicoine – Chicoine had two goals and an assist during this four game stretch and has 13 goals in 18 games this year.

2 – Brady Whitely – The rookie defender has a goal and two assist in his past four and is up to nine points in 19 games this season.

1- Adam Thurlbeck – The captain had two goals and two assists and is up to 8 points in 19 games.

What’s Next?

The Canucks head to St. Vital to face the Victorias on Thursday, Dec. 5 before hosting the River East Royal Knights the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 8.