SPORTSHOUND: Hey Oilers, sign this guy up!

Tales from the Timebox: January 25th, 2022

U15 Avalanche

The U15 Avalanche have a lot of talented players and have been playing really well this year. They are competing for first place in the North East Tier 3 league with the eventual goal of winning the league and going on to the provincial final that will be held in Provost this year.

Friday night with two important points on the line they traveled up to Bonnyville to meet up with their old buddy, the former Avalanche goaltender ‘Goodyear Charlie’ Lesyk. The last time these two teams played at Elk Point the game ended in a tie. Not this time. The Avalanche winning this one 4 to 2. Madden ‘Mad Dog’ Flamand had a great night lighting the lamp with three goals against his old team mate. ‘Bo Diddley’ Fontaine flying down the wing with a goal, he also added an assist. Clayton ‘Cha Ching’ Toews, Evett ‘Snoop Dog’ Smereka and ‘Cyclone Cole’ Pierce all with helpers.

The Oilers should really take a look at signing this guy! The Vermilion Tigers goaltender. On Sunday the Vermilion Tigers rolled into town and took a bite out of the U15 Avalanche when they came up against a hot goalie, losing the game 2 to 1. It was a disappointing loss for the Avalanche who were looking to lock up first place in the league. The Avalanche outshot the Tigers 53 to 18, but just couldn’t get anything past the big guy who seemed to have horse shoes. They say you have to be good to be lucky and this guy was both good and lucky on this day. Bo Diddley with the only goal assisted by team captain Kaleb ‘Formula One’ Flamand.

U9 Avalanche

It’s been a long time since the parking lot was as full as it was this past weekend at the A.G. Ross Arena, when the U9 hosted a six team round robin tournament. Two teams from St. Paul, Mallaig, Lloydminster, Dewberry/Marwayne and the host Avalanche. The U9s play on half ice, so two games are going on at the same time. The buzzer sounds every minute and a half. Four on four action, the players changing on the fly. It’s like a barrel of monkeys when the buzzer goes and these guys barrel out of the players box and hit the ice running. Many of them falling down as soon as they touch the ice. Each team played three games and all the players received a medal after their final game. There was also a player of the game selected receiving the heart and hustle award after each game.

First time player Charlie ‘Chickadee’ Davis receiving the Heart and Hustle for her strong fore checking in the first game. Cohen ‘Big Horn’ Brousseau who was called up from the U7 to play on this day, he scored a couple of goals also receiving the Heart and Hustle in their second game. Greyson ‘Big Bang’ Koppang receiving the Heart and Hustle for his strong defensive play in the final game against Lloydminster.

Each team dresses a goalie. General Lee Barstad suiting up for the Avalanche helping his troops doing an awesome job in net. He was bombarded with the rubber in the final game against a strong Lloydminster team. Stopping most of them he would clear the puck into the corner with his stick. And, fair warning, you don’t want to come too close to the cage or you may feel a little push back from the General who is a little protective of his net. Tor ‘the Tornado’ Aarbo, Stetson ‘Shack’ Reynolds, Aspyn ‘Machine Gun’ Kelley all lighting it with more than a few goals each and making some really nice passing plays. Also called up from the U7 team the smooth skating little Landon ‘Lights Out’ St. Arnault was not out of place at all getting on the score sheet. Commander Thomas Morris on the doorstep came within inches of scoring one. Bentley ‘Bomber’ Hammel, ‘Jumbo Jay’ Large and Benjamin ‘Benny Boy’ Saddleback were terrific on the back check and helping their goalie the General clear the front of the net.

 

U13 Avalanche

The U13 team travelled up to Lac La Biche on Saturday taking on the Clippers. One week earlier when they hosted the Clippers the game ended in a six all tie. Not on this day, the Avalanche coming home smiling picking up the two points in a 4 to 3 win. ‘Without a Trace’ Morgan with the first goal assisted by Remington ‘Steel’ Reynolds and Jaxon ‘Smitty’ Smith. Tristan ‘Bobcat’ Brousseau with the second goal assisted by hard -nosed defenseman ‘Boe Dog’ St. George. The Clippers tying it up in the second period, two all the score. Early in the third Brendan ‘Buzz Saw’ Kadutski scoring all alone to take the lead once again. But, the Clippers wouldn’t go away and tied it up again. Then with a minute and a half left in the game, ‘Wild Wyatt’ Fontaine with the winner assisted by ‘Without a Trace’ and the ‘Boe Dog’.

Sunday the U13 hosted the Vermilion Tigers winning another barn burner 5to4 . Two goals in this one, including the winner, for the little grinder Tristin ‘Bobcat’ Brousseau. Wild Wyatt with a goal and two assists, Buzz Saw, and Liam ‘Sledgehammer’ Swedgen with one goal each. Two assists for the big strong D man Smitty, his defensive partners on the blue line, Boe Dog and Kale ‘the Hawk’ Ockerman each with a helper. And a big happy 12th birthday going out today to solid fore checking two way winger, Jackson ‘J. R.’ Rawlake. J. R came very close to scoring on Sunday fanning on the one timer just wide of the post.

U18 Avalanche

The short bench U18 team travelled to Provost on Saturday losing 5 to 1. The Avalanche down five players due to injuries and sickness put up a good effort, but as you all know it takes a full bench in U18 to be productive. Mick Jager Fontaine scoring, assisted by his brother the ‘Kamikaze Kid’ Kade and Sam ‘Spiderman’ Rogal.

Pond Hockey

The Oil Baron’s Pond Hockey group is based out of Elk Point. They have played six games so far this year winning half of them. On Sunday afternoon they played against St. Paul here at the A. G. Ross Arena. Missing a few players due to sickness and some other obligations they lost this one. They are coached by J R Rybchinsky , Colton McLean and Eros Cueva. Matthew ‘Red Rider’ Rybchinsky is the goalie for the Barons. The players range from 6 years old to 14 years old with a range of ages in between. The other teams in pond hockey are Smokey Lake, Two Hills and Vermilion who the Barons will be playing this coming weekend.