Welcome back Dragons!
Players from the Drumheller Dragons ten year history will be returning back to the Valley in December for the first ever Dragons alumni game on December 21.
Roughly forty players, from the Dragons first season to their ninth, will be back on the ice for one more night in the Drumheller arena.
“We have players that are returning from our very first season all the way to last year,” said Kari-Ann Faubion, executive assistant to hockey operations. “We’re very excited for everyone coming. Some we haven’t seen since they left.”
Some of those players include some of our hometown heroes, such as Talon Berlando.
“It’ll be great for everyone to come back. I still keep in touch with a lot of the guys I played with in Drumheller, but some of the guys I haven’t seen in years, so it’ll be nice to catch up,” said Berlando. “You kind of develop a family, because you are with them pretty well all day for most of the year.”
After leaving the Dragons in 2007, Berlando went to the University if Wisconsin on a hockey scholarship and studied business.
“I really liked it, but you really have to balance your time between hockey and school,” said Berlando. “You sacrifice a lot growing up playing competitive hockey. In the end, when it helps get you through school, it can really pay off.”
After graduating he returned to Alberta and now works with Encana. He still finds time to play in social league and senior AA hockey in Provost.
Another returning Drumheller lad is Trent Colberg who is currently attending university in Oregon.
Planning for the game began over the summer, however there had been a desire to host such a game for a few years.
“We’ve been trying for awhile, but, this being our tenth year, everything seems to have come together,” said Faubion.
For the current players, who won’t be playing, the game offers a chance to catch up with old friends and learn from those who came before.
“They’ll definitely have a chance to talk to the alumni players and talk about what happens after Junior A hockey,” said Faubion.
Berlando is looking forward to meeting them and has some advice.
“No matter what happens, set goals and strive to achieve them. There will be bumps along the road, but continue to work at it and success will come,” said Berlando.
Proceeds from the game will be donated to the Jeff Hendricks Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was created after Hendricks, a member of the Junior A Drumheller Falcons, passed away as a way to honour him and help future hockey players.
“It goes to a player who they select from the team each year who is going on to post secondary education. The player they choose is community minded, a great leader in the dressing room, on the ice, and in the community,” said Faubion.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Drumheller Memorial Arena. Prior to the game, at 5 p.m., there will be an informal social with a chance to catch up with the players.
Local boys Trent Colberg (left) and Talon Berlando are among the players returning for the Dragons Alumni Game.
