SPORTSHOUND: The full sixty

Tales from the Timebox for December 6, 2022

 

Experts will tell you that it takes a full 60 minutes to win a hockey game. Something some of our teams found out this past weekend. Friday night was a good example of what can happen if you take your foot off the gas.

U18 Avalanche

The U18 Avalanche hosted the Lloydminster Blazers, and it looked like they were going to win this one quite easily, taking a quick three-to-zip lead in the first period. ‘Kamikazie Kid’ Kade Fontaine with the first goal right off the opening faceoff, assisted by brother Mick Jagger and Gavin ‘Greenlight’ Kadutski. A few minutes later, Seth ‘ Motorman’ Morton would find the mesh, assisted by Mick and Dean ‘the Machine’ Ockerman.  Then rushing defenseman ‘Saint Nic’ Penner with one assisted by Kaleb ‘Formula One’ Flamand. The boys feel pretty cocky at this point in the game, heading into the dressing room.  But the lead diminished very quickly in the second period when the Blazers turned up the heat scoring six unanswered goals in the second frame, and the Avalanche lead melted into a puddle. Mick Jagger would add a goal in the third period, and the Blazers would, too, the final 7 to 4 for the Blazers. Goalie Alex ‘Mr. Plywood’ Patterson saw a ton of rubber in this one. The Avalanche were outshot 51 to 26.  Take away the second period, and the Avalanche would have won this game 4 to 1.  A good lesson for them to learn to play a full sixty minutes, not just forty.

On Sunday evening, the Kitscoty Pitbulls came to town and took a bite out of the Avalanche. The boys losing this one 6 to 1. Motorman scored the only goal on his own unassisted.

 

U7 Avalanche

On a cold, Saturday morning bright and early, the U7s travelled to Mallaig with only eight players to start the game. Then two of the eight were sick and shut down early.  But the six players left to play were more than happy to stay on the ice for several shifts in a row. They played hard and had fun. Head coach Devin Moneta told me his defense played the best he has seen them play all year. Second-year player Gavin ‘The Badger’ Brousseau playing against his cousins, had a number of goals.

Back here at home, the U9s took on the Vermilion Tigers. These little guys are improving week by week in skating and with their shots and passes. Benjamin ‘ Benny Boy’ Saddleback strapping on the big pads was really solid in this game. Jase’ the Jackal’ Malo with six goals and just as many assists. Followed by Cohen ‘Big Horn’ Brousseau, who scored four and assisted on a bunch. Landon ‘Lights Out’ St Arnault and ‘Jumbo Jay’ Large and scoring one goal each. Aspen ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly, Elisabeth Page, Charlie ‘Chickadee’ Davis, Christian ‘Bones’ Yaremkevich, Thomas ‘the Tank’ Morris, Tytus’ Titan’ Gadwa, Dax’ My Boy’ Bowman, and Teraleigh Gadwa all with assists.

 

U11 Avalanche

The U11 hosted Cold Lake on Saturday morning after the U9s. The game ended in a nine-all tie. The Avalanche, with a 8 to 3 lead at the end of the second period, started to power out in the third period. Sounds very familiar to the U18 game. The Ice stormed back to tie the game,  nine all was the final score. Hudson ‘ the Bull’ Brousseau with five goals, Ava’ the Red Baron’ Rawlake with four goals. Showing lots of improvement,  Kendal Morin with a couple of assists. In her very first year of hockey, Victoria Page got her name on the game sheet with an assist. Hudson ’ the Hammer’ Krankowski and Tor ‘the Tornado’ Aarbo each with a helper. Goalie Stetson ‘ Shack’ Reynolds was busy between the pipes, especially in the third period. Rylan ‘The Freight Train’ Kryzanowski and Derrace Kitchemokaman both show immense improvement in their skating and puck-handling abilities.

Sunday, the U11 hosted Consort in another barn burner, this one the Avalanche coming out on the short end of the hockey stick. The final 4 to 3 for the Comets. ‘The Bull’ with two goals and one assist. The Red Baron is on the board with one goal. The Hammer with an assist and some terrific back-checking when he was caught pinching. The Hammer made it all the way back just in time to save a shot on the net. ‘General Lee’ Barstad with the goaltending duties in this one.

 

 

U13 Avalanche

The U13 team hosted Bonnyville on Saturday, the game ending in an eight-all tie. The last time they played the Pontiacs, they lost by quite a few, so they came away feeling pretty good about the tie. ‘ Wild Wyatt’ Fontaine was on a tear, ripping up the ice and scoring six goals, three of them unassisted. Remington’ Steel’ Reynolds with a goal and an assist. William ‘ Billy Bob’ Ballas with a goal, Liam ‘Sledgehammer’ Swedgen with two apples. Long-legged and lanky solid veteran defenseman Jaxon ‘Smitty ‘ Smith also with an assist. Owen ‘Ollie the goalie’ Grykuliak with the goaltending duties.

On Sunday, the U13 team hosted Vegreville in a real nail-biter, losing a close one 8 to 7. ‘ Billy Bob’ Ballas opened the scoring, potting two goals in the first period, both of them assisted by Wild Wyatt. Billy Bob scored them only 20 seconds apart. Wyatt Wyatt added four goals. Sniper Remington Steel Reynolds scored the last two goals. One of them from the corner on the blue line from an angle you would swear couldn’t possibly go in. But it did. And like they say, “ shoot from anywhere; you just don’t know what may happen.” Defenseman Tristin ‘ Bob Cat’ Brousseau, has developed a darn good poke check, adding a couple of assists. Also, on the blue line Ryder ‘Rhino’ Malo was working hard in the trenches in this game as usual and getting no glory, just a bunch of bruises. Theo ‘Long Horn’ Loughran- Quinney with the goaltending duties.

 

U15 Avalanche

The U15 has had some struggles this year with sick players and injuries but had a fairly good weekend tying Vegreville three all on Saturday afternoon here at home. Braylee ‘Little Willy’ Lesyk with a goal and an assist, Kale ’the Hawk’ Ockerman and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Dumont – Quinney each with a goal. Two assists for Raif ‘Rug Rat’ Evans Anderson. Trayden ‘the Great’ Gadwa and  Marcus both with assists.

On Sunday, the U15 travelled to Lac La Biche, losing a close game 3 to 1. Rylanm Quinney-Wapass scoring, Evett ‘Snoop Dog’ Smereka and Kaysen ‘Dynamite’ DeMossiac assisting.