After splitting their first two preseason games, the Canucks will go into the regular season on a streak after racking up three wins in a span of six days.
It started on Tuesday, Sept. 14, when the Canucks defeated the Charleswood Hawks 3-1.
Trent Halfdanson (1G 1A), and Brady Whitely (2A) led the way for the Canucks with multi-point games. Kale Price and Trent Thorsteinson added goals as well, and Matthew Mason-Vandal and Zach Greenwood recorded assists.
Noah Gilbert played the entire game for the Canucks and stopped 28 of 29 shots.
The Canucks followed that up with another tight win, this time by a score of 2-1 over the River East Royal Knights on Friday, Sept. 17.
Matthew Mason-Vandal and Cam Brakel scored for the Canucks. Newly-acquired defenceman Rory Neill wasted no time getting on the score sheet with an assist, while Ethan Unruh, Kale Price and Griffin Haight recorded assists as well.
Gilbert picked up the win and split the goaltending duties with Blake Trumbla.
To wrap up the preseason, the Canuck defeated their rivals from Charleswood again, this time 4-1 at Keith Bodley Arena.
Veterans Graeme Shingleton, Trent Halfdanson, and Brady Whitely all scored in the win, with the other marker coming from second-year defenceman Brennan Salamacha. Mason-Vandal, meanwhile showed off his playmaking ability with a three assist night.
In goal, Liam Johnson picked up the win, stopping 18 of 19 shots against his former club.
Three Stars
3 – Trent Halfdanson – The veteran forward had a pair of goals and an assist during this stretch.
2 – Noah Gilbert – As he is on many nights, Gilbert was fantastic, stopping 31 of 32 shots in two appearances.
1 – Matthew Mason-Vandal – The 20-year-old had a goal and four assists in three games.
What’s Next?
The Canucks open their regular season with a pair of home games this weekend. On Friday Sept. 24 they host the Raiders Junior Hockey Club, and on Sunday, Sept. 26 they will renew hostilities with their neighbours from the south, the Pembina Valley Twisters.