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Tales from the Timebox for January 24, 2023
A week before Christmas, Hockey Alberta announced the host sites for the provincial finals. Elk Point Minor Hockey had applied and was successful in being named as the host site for the U13 tier 2 provincial finals on March 23 to the 26th. A great Christmas present for us. But, simultaneously, the U13 team was down in the dumps. They had been struggling and hadn’t won any kind of game in their last few weeks. But nothing could be better to build their confidence than a couple of big wins like they pulled off this past weekend. This past weekend they silenced all the doubters.
On Saturday, they defeated Provost 10 to 5. A smart move by U 13 coaching staff, moving ‘Wild Wyatt’ Fontaine from forward to defense and giving him the green light to carry the puck. Wild Wyatt going coast to coast, lit up the lamp four times in that game. And he still returned to his own end before the opposition when he did lose the puck. Picking the pocket of a number of the Blades players more than a couple of times, creating turnovers was Liam ‘Sledgehammer’ Swedgan. He added a couple of goals and three assists. Set-up man Remington ‘Steel’ Reynolds pulled the trigger, hitting the target with one goal and feeding his sidekicks for four others.
Tall, lanky D Man Jaxon ‘Smitty’ Smith with a goal and two helpers. William ‘Billy Bob’ Ballas saddled up his horse finding the twine with one. Jaxon ‘Magic’ Marcoux, who is really starting to show some speed in his stride, motored down the ice scoring a goal. Kestyn ‘Crocodile’ Quinney and Theo ‘Longhorn’ Loughran-Quinney each with an assist. Great for-checking by Jackson ‘J.R.’ Rawlake, ‘Major Tom’ Melnyk, and Brody ‘Thrasher’ Trach to create some turnovers. Back on the blue line getting no glory at all, just working in the trenches, Tristan ‘Bobcat’ Brousseau clearing the front of the cage, pushing and shoving guys out of the path of Owen ‘Ollie the Goalie’ Grykuliak. Ollie was solid between the pipes coming up with the W.
On Sunday, the U13 hosted Cold Lake, winning this one 6 to 2. Before Christmas, when these two teams met up in Cold Lake, the Ice gave our guys a spanking and sent them home with their tails between their legs. Not this Sunday. Shots on goal were about the same at both ends. But Ollie, the goalie, was the difference. He was in a zone of his own and one of the main reasons the Avalanche got the two points, coming up with some very timely spectacular saves.
Wild Wyatt back on defense again for this game, and still managed to score four. Two of them are on the power play. He also added an assist on another. A strong game for winger Theo ‘Longhorn’ Loughran -Quinney. He scored a goal and added three assists. Long legged veteran defenseman Smitty takes one end to end with a goal. He also had an assist. Riding shotgun on the wing Ryder ‘Rhino’ Malo with an assist.
U9 Avalanche
Saturday morning, the roads were a bit icy from the rain the night before. But, of course, that wouldn’t stop anyone from travelling to play hockey on Hockey Day in Canada. The U 9’s started off the morning at 10 am with a game against the Glendon Comets. First year player Christian ‘Bones 2.0’ Yaremkevich has got the desire to compete, and now that his skating has improved, he has become a force; Bones 2.0 scored a hat trick. Jace ‘the Jackal’ Malo has no problem scoring, and with his fancy, slick stickwork, he sniped about seven goals. Aspyn ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly fires bullets, hitting the back of the cage with four. Jumbo Jay’ Large buried one deep into the mesh. Cohen ‘Big Horn’ Brousseau with one goal and about six or seven assists.
Of course, it is natural that everyone likes to score goals. But, just as important is the unselfish guy who sets you up. In my books, anyway. Maybe I feel that way because I was never a very good goal scorer! Landon ‘Lights Out’ St. Arnault with a whole bunch of assists as well. Elisabeth ‘Lizzy’ Page, Charlie ‘Chickadee’ Davis, and Tytus ‘Titan’ Gadwa with all the assists in this game. Dax ‘My Boy’ Bowman is coming closer and closer every week to scoring, just missing banking one off the side of the net. Only a matter of time before him. Defensive minded Thomas ‘the Tank’ Morris was solid, helping out his buddy, goalie Benjamin ‘Benny Boy’ Saddleback, who came up with some sensational saves.
U11 Avalanche
Next up on Saturday morning, it was the U11 team vs. Bonnyville. Someone left the gate open again. Hudson ‘the Bull’ Brousseau escaped and went on a run-away. The Pontiacs tried to double team rope him, but the Bull could not be contained, adding another five goals and an assist to his record setting pace. Rough and ready, Ava ‘the Red Baron’ Rawlake swooped in for the kill with a hat trick. Winger Hunter ‘Hardrock’ Pankiw hammered home a goal and added three assists.
With his dark hockey hair standing straight out the back of his helmet, defenseman Lennox ‘All Out’ St. Arnault opened up the throttle streaking down the ice in overdrive. All Out finishing off his freight run with two goals and an assist. Victoria ‘Miss Vickie’ Page, Hudson ‘the Hammer’ Krankowski, and Tor ‘the Tornado’ Aarbo all helped the cause with assists. Not on the score sheet, but still getting noticed by doing a good job of for-checking were ‘General Lee’ Barstad, Kendall Morin, and Rylan ‘the Freight Train’ Kryzanowski. Behind the mask, Stetson ‘Shack’ Reynolds was outstanding, standing on his head to make some highlight reel saves.
U15 Avalanche
Friday night at home, the U15 shut down the Border City Blazers 2 to zip. The top two speedy Gonzales on the team, Braylee ‘Free Willy’ Lesyk and Evett ‘the Snoop Dog’ Smereka scored for the Avalanche. Brendon ‘Buzz Saw’ Kadutski, Raif ‘Rug Rat’ Evans Anderson and Sebastien ‘Basher’ Brousseau assisting. Goalie Thesson McRorie with shutting the door and throwing away the key on the Blazers with the shutout.
On Saturday, the U15 travelled to Vermilion, losing a respectable close one, 2 to 1. Madden ‘Mad Dog’ Flamand scoring, assisted by Quinton ‘Rampage’ Dumont-Quinney.
On Sunday, the U15 travelled to Vegreville, losing 5 to 1. Rampage with the goal. Mad Dog and Snoop Dog with the assists. Who let the dogs out?
U18 Avalanche
Sometimes a tie can be as good as a win. For the U18 team, who are missing players due to injuries and suspensions, it was a good feeling when they picked up a single point against one of the top teams, Dewberry/Marwayne, on Sunday evening here at home. The game ended in a three-all tie. ‘Top Gunner’ Crawford, ‘Mick Jagger’ Fontaine, and ‘Dean the Machine’ scoring. Two assists for Gavin ‘Green Light’ Kadutski. Sam ‘Spiderman’ Rogal and ‘Mick Jagger’ also with assists. A strong game for goalie Alex ‘Mr. Plywood’ Patterson facef 44 shots in this one.
Coming up….
This coming weekend the U7 will be hosting a festival on Saturday. Come on out and watch these future stars on ice.
