Minor hockey players are back on the ice and it is looking like it could be a strong season.
    Already the teams are on the ice in practice in exhibition play. President of Drumheller Minor Hockey Lyle Cawiezel, says registration is still strong.
    “We have about the same as last year. We have a couple of teams in novice, atom has two teams, and midget, peewee and bantam all have one team,” said Cawiezel.
“We have good strength in the tykes program, there is a good number there so the bottom levels are still showing growth.”
    This year all novice players will be playing on half ice.
    “It has been mandated by Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada that all novice will participate in half-ice,” he said.
    Half ice is reported to give players more touches and help in development.
    Another change this year is there will no longer be playdowns for provincials in peewee bantam and midget. In previous years provincial playoffs were played outside of regular league play, allowing the team more games, and a glance at the competition in other areas.
    “Last year they did a pilot with the peewee group where the winner of the tiers moved on in provincials. In the past we had separate playoffs,” said Cawiezel. They have added that to bantam and midget.”
    ‘The provincials almost gave you a second chance to have extra games and another season,” he said.
    Tiering for the teams begins the weekend of October 12.

    The Senior Titans are 5-0 and have moved up to the number 4 spot in the province after a big win in Pincher Creek.
 The Titans travelled south on Saturday and pulled out a 43-20 win. While Coach Ken Fournier said there were a lot of areas where the team needs to improve, he was happy with the win.
    ‘Their defense came at us quickly. Offensively we had some issues with our snaps and the wind caused a lot of problems,” he said. “Most of our wounds in the game were self-inflicted.”
     What was working is the Titans’ ability to make big plays.
        “We had big-play capabilities and that is what carried us through the game,” he said. “We did flex our muscles a bit and that we do have offensive power and we can create turnovers ourselves.”
    Some of the big plays came from Connor Enns who had two kick return touchdowns, one for 108 yards. Gavin Armstrong had an interception and Sam Jung was able to connect on all his conversions and even ran one in himself.
    He says there are quite a few areas they need to clean up.
    “ We had four fumbles for turnovers, three from the same player, so we are not too happy about that, they were trying to do too much,” said Fournier
    This weekend the Titans are back on their home field and are facing Canmore. A win by the Titans would secure home field for the league final. The following Friday they are hosting Lindsay Thurber
     ‘We are 5-0 now and we are gaining steam, we are starting to put everything together. It has been a lot of homework for the guys,” he said.
    He says in the south the picture is shaping up down the stretch.
    “Tier four seems like a pretty good story,” said Fournier. “In the south right now, Claresholm is looking strong and Taber has some really good games behind them so it is going to come down to the final to see who is the best team.”