Well, only a few of our Avalanche teams were back in action this past weekend, working off some of that Christmas turkey.

The U15 Avalanche were at home on Saturday, hosting the visiting Vegreville Rangers, with the Rangers coming out on top by a 5–3 score.

Cade “Eagle Eye” Elliott buried one into the twine and added an assist. William “Billy Bob” Ballas also found the target, scoring one and adding an assist. Reid Dechaine chipped in with a goal as well.

Jesse James Penner, Lennox “All Out” St Arnault and Jaxon “Magic” Marcoux all picked up apples. Between the pipes, Reid Sayers was busy, facing 44 shots in the loss.

Right after the game Saturday afternoon, the U15s boarded the bus with only nine skaters and headed north to Fort McMurray for supper and a sleepover at the Fort.

Early Sunday morning, they hit the ice against the Oil Barons and came away with a hard-fought 5–4 win.

Eagle Eye Elliott and Billy Bob Ballas scored two goals each, with both adding three assists. Down by one late, Billy Bob’s second goal tied the game at four in the third period. Then, with a minute and a half left, the big power forward Jaxon “Magic” Marcoux scored the game-winner. Magic also added a couple of assists in the win.

In goal, Theo “Long Horn” Loughran-Quinney was outstanding between the pipes.

Not going to let a little snow stop us. Not even the half foot that came down Saturday night — no way.

Sunday morning, after managing to get out of their driveways, the U7 and U9 teams split the ice at home.
The U7s hosted Vermilion, while the U9s welcomed Bonnyville.

Later Sunday morning, the U11 Avalanche took on Bonnyville and skated away with an 8–4 victory.

Goalie Tydis Whiskeyjack Cardinal was peppered with 46 shots but stood his ground, turning in an awesome performance.

Maximus “To the Max” Laliberte scored twice and added an assist. Mason “Mini-Wheels” Weir netted his first two goals of the season and picked up an assist. Long-legged defenceman Damian “Fog Horn” Ockerman went coast-to-coast twice for a pair of goals.

Up from the U9 farm team, “Hard Knox” Mudryk found the twine twice. Also moving up from U9, Jaxtyn “Jack Hammer” Krankowski held the blue line and took no prisoners, standing up much bigger Pontiac forwards.

Rugged defenceman Landon “Lights Out” St Arnault added four assists, while “Sir Winston” Ung and Jasper “Grizzly” Hymanyk chipped in with helpers.

This coming weekend, all of our minor hockey teams will be back in action — so expect a very busy rink.