Sports | DrumhellerMail

Raptors play in memory of friend in Charmont Memorial Tournament

    The stands were packed at the Drumheller and Morrin arenas when teams from all over the province came down to play in the Charmont Memorial Tournament this past weekend.
   Two teams from Drumheller, the Yavis and Encana atom Raptors, rose to the top of their respective pools in the tournament.
   The Encana Raptors, who played in the B pool ended the weekend as champions.
   “They won the B final 5-4 over Okotoks on Sunday. It was a back and forth tension filled game,” said Paul Richard, head coach of the Encana Raptors. “Both sides were really happy the teams were very competitive and it wasn’t a blow out either way. It came down to the last two minutes of the game. The kids tried really hard. The coaches are proud of their effort.”
   The Encana Raptors started off the tournament on the right foot, winning their first game. They ran into trouble and lost their next two, but managed to bounce back and earn a spot in the finals.
   The Yavis Raptors made it to the A finals, but were bested by a tough squad from Wetaskawin.
   “It went very well. We made it to the A finals, but lost a close game,” said Tony Pliva, head coach of the Yavis Raptors. “They are in a different association than we are. It’s sometimes difficult to get teams of the same caliber and they were a little better.”
   The Yavis Raptors opened the tournament with a big win, but lost their second game. They then battled back to make it to the finals.
   For the Yavis Raptors the weekend was a chance to bond.
   “It was a really good team bonding weekend. The kids played five games under 36 hours and spent a lot of time together. They really came together. It was the best thing that could happen,” said Pliva.
   The tournament was created in memory of Chris and his son John Charmont who were killed in an explosion at a resort hotel in Mexico in November 2010. Chris helped coach and manage minor hockey teams and John was an atom player when he passed away.
   Many of those who participated in the tournament knew Chris and John.
   “My son for one was in John’s class when the accident happened. We played hockey with him, I worked with Chris as an assistant coach when he was a manager,” said Pliva. “A lot of the kids were the same age as John.”
   Richard remembers coaching with the two.
   “I knew John and Chris quite well. I coached with Chris for a number of years and I coached John in hockey and lacrosse. This tournament touches me in a different way than maybe other people. I knew the kind of kid John was and why he played, so I wanted the kids to put in the effort John would. He was always smiling, but every shift he would give it his all,” said Richard. “I want the kids to have the same attitude when they go to the rink.”

Connor Wright (left) celebrates after scoring at goal for the Yavis atom Raptors at the Charmont Memorial Tournament this past weekend. The team earned a spot in the A pool finals, but were defeated by a team from Wetaskawin. The Encana atom team won 5-4 over Okotoks in the B finals. The tournament was created in memory of Chris Charmont and his son, John, who passed away in an explosion at a resort hotel in Mexico in November 2010.

Hoop season begins at DVSS

    Off the gridiron and into the cage, the valley is on the cusp of hoops season and DVSS is ready for another competitive season.
   Last year the senior boys Dynos earned silver at provincials and are looking forward to another competitive season.
   They have been practicing for about three weeks and have a strong contingent back in the fold.
   “We have eight returning players and four rookies this year, and all 12 players have shown a lot of enthusiasm and a strong will to learn and improve,” said head coach Jeff Messom. “Even though we have eight returning players, we are an inexperienced team this year, as we graduated all of our starters and some key bench players in last year's run to provincials.”
   The team has a busy schedule this season, playing in the Golden Hill League and in six tournaments including their own two home contests. They are also heading out of province to play at a tournament in Middle Lake, Saskatchewan.
   Messom is looking forward to a season of progression.
   “This is always an exciting time for me, because I get a chance to begin to mood the team into my vision,” he says. “However, the only thing I am sure of is what we look like at the beginning of the season will be different by the end of the season.”
   The junior high boys Dynos are already practicing for the upcoming season. They had an incredible turnout with 35 players participating in tryouts for the squad. Al Molzan is back coaching the Grade 8/9 team. The school is still looking for a fulltime coach for the Grade 7/8 squad. Until then, Messom and Molzan will be pitching in.
   The girls are also getting into the action. Messom says the senior high school girls are
in tryouts on November 19 and 20, and the junior high girls tryouts are November 20 and 21.

Junior boys Saints volleyball team ends season at regionals

    The junior boys volleyball team at St. Anthony’s ended their season following the regional playoffs this season.
   The young but scrappy team was able to place at regionals, and were set to go to zones. However the tournament at PCA was postponed due to weather and the Sabres were not able to make the playoffs.
   Despite this, the team had a successful year including a big tournament win in Bassano where they were able to go through the whole tourney without a loss.
   On Monday, November 4, the team played in its championship night and placed second behind a strong Morrin team.
   The team will be in good shape next season to make some waves. This year virtually their whole squad was in Grade 7. This means they could have a strong returning roster.
   “They got some big wins and have some good stuff to build on next year and year after that,” said Coach Greg Lemieux.

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