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Raptors battle through season

Drumheller Minor Hockey is having a great season with some competitive teams in the mix, with lots of learning and successes on the ice.
There is Raptor hockey in the valley from Junior Tykes all the way up to U18. There are 10 teams on the ice representing the valley and improving their skills.
The U11 Wiart Dirtworks Raptors had a strong tiering schedule and landed in Tier 1(B). So far in their regular season, they are sporting a 2-4-1 record with wins over Medicine Hat and Airdrie. Westyn Jensen is leading the way with 11 points off five goals and six assists, Jared Nagy has six goals and Blake Wiart has five.
The U11 T5G Ramada Raptors are also playing solid hockey, having earned a win over Foothills and tied High Country, and have a competitive schedule ahead. Gavin Conley and Kyler Green both have 13 goals and three assists for 16 points, while Liam Keller has a balanced game of six goals and six assists.
The U13 T2Y Home-Town Realty Raptors are playing .500 hockey with a strong 4-4 record, balanced with wins on the road and at home. They notched important wins versus Stettler, Hanna and 3Cs (Castor, Coronation, Consort). Levi Merrill leads the teams with 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points. Sam Boyko and Aiden Sharpe each have 13 goals.
The U13 T5G Canalta Raptors are in a competitive league and have a 2-7 record with wins over 3Cs and Redcliff. Finn Mills has racked up 14 points, Lewis Leavitt has 11, and Parker McLellan has 10.
The U15 T3S Raptors are also seeing some tough teams and have a 2-5 record. They have a balanced attack, with Spencer Holman racking up five goals and five assists for 10 points. Ryder Hems has nine points on five goals and four assists, and Nikolas Hewitt and Abram Sharpe, with seven points.
At the top level, the U18 T3G React/ DT Fire Raptors are sporting a winning 5-3 record and are undefeated on home ice. They have topped Kneehill, RMAA (Rocky Mountain Athletic Association, Carstairs), Red Deer and Airdrie. Kegan Regis is leading the team with 18 points from six goals and 10 assists, and Owen Phoenix has six goals and 10 assists. Kerrick Chambers leads the scoring with 11 goals.
The Raptors will be back on the ice this coming week to finish out their season.

Saints win home opener

The St. Anthony’s Saints Junior Varsity Basketball team hosted its home opener last week versus the Youngstown Falcons, and by all indications, it looks like it will be a competitive season.
The Saints hosted Youngstown on Tuesday, December 5. The teams appeared well matched and it was only a four-point game at half. During the second half, the Saints broke it open and played, strong winning 56-36. Luke Pascut had 41 points.
“We started to play the way we were capable of and played a lot better defence,” said coach Gavin Makse.
He adds the team was not moving on defence, but once they got into the swing of it, they were able to defend better.
“It was good to play our first game. We still have a lot to work on,” said coach Makse.
The Saints are a young team and are coming off a strong previous season. They lost three starters, but are still playing well. Interest in the sport is strong. They were able to put together two junior high teams this season.
The Team has a full schedule ahead, including tournament play, with about 20 games. St. Anthony’s will be hosting the 2J Junior High Boys Zone on March 1 and 2.

Dragons pick up two points at home

The Dragons managed to pull one win out of three tries last week on the road and on home ice.
The Dragons were in Brooks on Tuesday, December 5 to take on the Bandits. The Bandits are having another fairytale season and midway through the season, have only three losses. This dominance continued last Tuesday, as the Bandits shut out the Dragons on their way to a 7-0 win.
The Dragons regrouped and on Saturday, December 9 hosted the Canmore Eagles. This was the annual Teddy Bear Toss benefitting The Salvation Army and the Drumheller Health Centre, and it didn’t take much time at all for the stuffed animals to rain down on the rink. Just 5:19 into the first period Connor Poffenroth scored his 12th of the season. The onslaught didn’t stop as Keegan Beagle scored his first of the season less than a minute later. Aiden LaRose and Easton Adrian also found the net in the first going up 4-0 after one.
Luke McPhee scored 2:24 into the second, and Canmore added one to get on the scoreboard. After a scoreless third period, the Dragons walked out victorious with a 5-1 win.
The next day, the Dragons headed up to Lloydminster to take on the Bobcats in a matinee. The Bobcats led by one after the first period. In the second, LaRose put the Dragons on the scoreboard, and three minutes later, Jordan Luk put the Dragons up by one. The Bobcats tied it up by the end of the period.
Lloydminster went up by a goal early in the third period, but Jacob Goudreau tied it back up. It was shortlived, however, as the Bobcats went ahead 4-3, and he added an empty netter for insurance.
This Friday, December 15 the Dragons are in Canmore, but back on home ice on Saturday, for a rematch with the Eagles.