SPORTSHOUND: Elk Point hosts U13 Tier II Provincials; U15 Avalanche bring home gold ending 28 year drought

Back in the early 80s, in the wintertime, we would go to Tofield to pick up loads of coal. They had a mine there and we used it in the oilpatch to thaw the ground when we had to dig pipelines. This past weekend our  U15 Avalanche hockey team went to Tofield and came back home with GOLD!!

It’s been 28 years since Elk Point Minor Hockey won a gold medal in provincial hockey. The only gold medal we have here in hockey is from the 1995 Bantam team. They won it right here at home. Some of our Elk Point players did win a gold medal playing with Dewberry in the early 2000s, and we also won a few silver medals the last few years with our hometown Avalanche.  But now we have another gold medal team to showcase in our lobby at the A.G. Ross Arena.

A.G. Ross arena caretaker Brian Poitras (right) accepting Provincial banner

The U15 Tier III Avalanche went undefeated in Tofield. The Avalanche won all three games in the round robin to send them to the semi-final Sunday morning at 8 am. Winning that one over Bow Valley 7 to 1. And then the big one, the Championship Game at 4 pm against High Level, winning that one 5 to 4.

Madden ‘Mad Dog’ Flamand got off his chain and ran away, scoring a hat trick in that game. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Dumont -Quinney was named the MVP. The Avalanche shut down the High Level big guns, who were also undefeated up to this game. Goalie Thesson McRorie was outstanding all weekend. Great job by head coach Jeff Morgan and his assistants, Jonny Kadutski, Dennell Anderson, Megan Tucker, and manager Jackie Penz.

2023 U15 Tier III Elk Point Avalanche

U13 Tier II Provincials a Success for hosts Elk Point

Back here at home, the Drayton Valley Stars went undefeated, winning the gold medal game over the LeCreate Lumberjacks. All the games on Sunday; the two semi-finals and the final were one goal games and super to watch. So many young talented skaters and unbelievable goaltending. Our U 13 Avalanche team lost the first two games, against Stettler and Drayton Valley, and then ended up tying the game against Edmonton in their third game. They didn’t make it into the semi finals but they improved as the weekend went on. Maybe they had a bit of the hometown jiggers and pressure of playing in front of a huge crowd. But at the same time, all the competition was very good. Remington ‘Steel’ Reynolds got the MVP for two of the Avalanche’s games and the Heart and Hustle for the other. Owen ‘Ollie the goalie’ Grykuliak won the MVP for one game and then the Heart and Hustle for one other game. ‘Wild Wyatt’ Fontaine with the Heart and Hustle in the final game.

Drayton Valley 2023 U13 Tier II Provincial Champions

Great job of hosting the tournament by the chairperson Brittany Brousseau. This was her first but something tells me not her last.  Thanks to her and the great committee she put together to help with the tasks. And to all the parents who spent countless hours getting things ready and putting on a great event. Everything from the opening ceremonies, the banquet, raffles, draws, and of course, all the hours and hours in the concession. Special thanks to the coaches; head coach Shane Smith and his assistants Chris Melnyk, Jonny Grykuliak, Todd Rawlake, and manager Telllia Loughran. A special thank you to the seniors, ATB staff etc, for handling the door and raffle table. To Big Ray on the Loonie stick bringing over three thousand dollars. To Brian Poitras, he kept the ice in tip-top shape and entertained us at the banquet as the M.C., and to my buddy Keith helping me in the timebox, and anyone else I may have missed. See you all next year!!