SPORTSHOUND: Gold Medal for Elk Point U15 Avalanche

Tales from the Timebox for January 31, 2023

 

This is what a little confidence can do for you. A team that barely got off the ground in October and November is now rolling down the highway. The U15 team had a great weekend playing in a tournament in Tofield, going all the way and winning the gold medal final. Winning 10 to 0 over Edmonton, then 3 to 2 over Olds, and then 4 to 3 over Provost in the round robin, sending them to the gold medal final.  In the final game, they won 5 to 4 to bring home the hardware.

 

U7 Avalanche

What a terrific job the U 7 coaches Devin Moneta, Daniel Brousseau, Aaron Aarbo, and Matt Kelly have done with these little guys. And let’s not forget to mention the manager, Brandi Krankowski, who does all the work behind the scenes. Two months ago, some of these players could barely stand on the ice, let alone skate. But look at them; go now! The U 7s Avalanche team hosted a four-team tournament all day this past Saturday. Each team played three 50-minute games. To say that the little flyweights were a little tired at the end of it all would be an understatement. And how about the parents who worked the concession, time clock, and raffle table? They were burnt out, too, at the end of the day. Hats off to all of them for a fantastic tournament. The heart and hustle of the game awards going to ‘Hard Knox’ Mudryk, who was sensational when it was his turn in the net, stopping everything that came his way, ‘Awesome Lawson’ Moneta, who scored a handful of goals, and Gavin ‘the Badger’ Brousseau, one of the most unselfish players I have seen, he’s always trying to set someone up to score. Lots of great plays by the rest of them, passing, shooting, and stopping the puck whenever the little mighty mites had their turn in the net. William ‘Tell All’ Farrell, Jaxtyn ‘Jackhammer’ Krankowski, Ryker ‘Mini Moose’ Ockerman, Rosaleight ‘Rosie’ Napoose-Gadwa, Aksel ‘Lightning’ Aarbo, Jacob ‘Jake the Snake’ Bostein, ‘Bye Bye Birdie‘ Bowman, Gunnar ‘the Roadrunner’ Kelly all doing a great job. Also on the team but missing from the tournament was Taber Gadwa.

 

 

 

U9 Avalanche

The U 9 team travelled to Glendon on Saturday with a short bench. Four of their regular players were missing. On holidays somewhere warm, I was told. But they still came back home with the W. Goalie Benjamin ‘Benny Boy’ Saddleback having another stellar game between the pipes. Goals by Cohen ‘Big Horn’ Brousseau, Jase ‘the Jackal’ Malo, Aspen ‘Machine Gun Kelly’ Teraleigh Nepoose-Gadwa. Landon ‘Lights out’ St. Arnault scoring a few goals and ringing some of the posts. Everyone else on the team with assists.

 

U11 Avalanche

The U11 Avalanche team was on the road this past weekend, winning two very one-sided games. They buried Bonnyville deep under 18 to 1 on Saturday and did the same thing to Lac La Biche, winning 14 to zip on Sunday.  Hudson ‘the Bull’ Brousseau, Ava ‘the Red Baron’ Rawlake, and Hunter ’Hardrock’ Pankiw with the most goals and assists. Lennox ‘All Out’ St. Arnualt, Greyson ‘Big Bang’ Koppang, Hudson’ the Hammer’ Krankowski, and Tor ‘ Tornado ‘ Aarbo with few goals and assists each. General Lee Barstad and Stetson ‘Shack’ Reynolds share the goaltending duties.

The U13 team was scheduled to play in Bonnyville on Saturday night, but this game was postponed due to an incident at the C2.

U13 Avalanche

On Sunday, the U13 travelled over to see the big Easter egg and to play the Vegreville Rangers. This game turned into a real nail bitter. The Avalanche came out on top in the end, 5 to 4. Going coast to coast ‘Wild Wyatt ‘ Fontaine with two goals early in the game. Rugged winger Brody ‘ Thrasher’ Trach added a goal in the second period, assisted by his sidekick William ‘ Billy Bob’ Ballas. With the drama building, the Avalanche still trailing by one goal, and the team killing off a penalty at the time,  the sniper Remington ‘Steel’ Reynolds was set up by Liam ‘Sledgehammer’ Swedgen and tied the game at four all late in the third scoring short-handed. Then with only a minute forty left in the game, Steelman put another nail in the coffin for the winner, ‘Sledgehammer’ doing some great pickpocket along the boards, setting up the Steel man once again. The U13 Avalanche are now on a roll, winning three in a row!