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Drumheller Dragons take big win into start of postseason

The Dragons wrapped up the 2022 regular season with a big win over the top team in the country and are on to play the Calgary Canucks in the first round of the playoffs.
The Dragons secured second place in the AJHL Viterra standings behind the Brooks Bandits, in which they played a home and away series to finish the regular season.
The Bandits were in the Dragons’ Den on Friday, February 25, and fans were treated to a high-scoring, fast-paced exciting game. Carter Belitski opened the scoring for the Dragons midway through the first period on the powerplay. While the Bandits tied it up five minutes later, it took less than a minute for Kiano Robinson to put the Dragons back on top. Again the Bandits tied it, but just nine seconds later Ty Whitford put the Dragons up 3-2 to end the first period.
A penalty at the end of the first put the Dragons on the powerplay to start the second and Ty Daneault put the Dragons up 4-2. The Bandits clawed one back, but Beltiski scored his second of the game 4:27 into the period to go up 5-3. The Bandits got hot and rattled off three goals to take the lead, but Hayden Prosofsky scored a powerplay with less than two minutes in the second period left to tie the game at 6.
It took the Bandits 2:49 to get the winner in the third period as the Bandits won 7-6.
The next night the Dragons were in Brooks to close out the regular season. This time Brooks scored first and led 1-0 after one period. Daneault tied it up midway through the second, and then Kody Willick put the Dragons up 2-1, five minutes into the third. The Bandits tied it up, but Luke Fennig scored the winner with 10:41 left in the game for the Dragons’ final victory of the regular season.
The Dragons finished in second place in the south with a 34-18-8 record and fifth-best in the league. This put them on to face the Calgary Canucks in the first round of the playoffs.
Their post-season begins on Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5 at home. Games start at 7 p.m.

Dragons head down home stretch of season

The Dragons extended their winning streak to four games before losing a couple of close ones on the road.
The Dragons were at home on Tuesday, February 8, to take on the Olds Grizzlys. Vann Yuhas opened the scoring for the Dragons, and just nine seconds later, Ty Whitford put the Dragons up by two. The Grizzlys added a shorthanded goal to end the period 2-1 for the Dragons.
The Dragons had 11 powerplay opportunities and connected on two. Kiano Robinson scored midway through the second period, and Carter Belitski scored with less than seven minutes left in the period.
The Dragons held on through a scoreless third period to win 4-1.
The Dragons boarded the bus on Friday, February 11, to head to Spruce Grove to face the Saints. The Saints were big and fast, and neither team scored until midway through the second period, when Spruce Grove took the lead. A game misconduct and a 5-minute penalty for Tanner Willick for a blow to the head, put the Saints on the powerplay, where they added one more in the third and went on to a 2-0 win. Willick will miss two games.
On Saturday, February 12, the Dragons were back on the ice. This time in Calgary to take on the Canucks.
The Dragons struck first as defenseman True Crowe scored his first goal as a Dragons, 6:40 into the game, and the Dagons led after one.
In the second the Canucks outshot the Dragons 14-10 and connected twice. After a scoreless third period, the Canucks eked out a 2-1 win.
There are just five games left for the Dragons in the regular season. This Tuesday, February 15, they hosted the Camrose Kodiaks, results not available at press time. On Thursday, February 17 they are in Canmore to take on the Eagles and back home Saturday, February 19, to play the Blackfalds Bulldogs.

Smashing success at Premier Volleyball tourney

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The Drumheller Club Volleyball (DCV) Smash U18 team were in Calgary competing in a Premier Volleyball Alberta event on February 5 and 6.
The tournament included 12 club teams from the South Region including Calgary, Medicine Hat, Airdrie, Rocky Mountain House, Fernie, Strathmore, Cranbrook, and Consort.
Coach Heather Hamilton said the Smash had a great weekend. They started out the tournament a little rough and finished in third place in their pool. When it was time for their crossover game, they were ready to go! They won that match, and then the next match, convincingly, to get to the Gold medal match.
The ladies fought hard and ended up losing 25-27 and 22-25, winning silver. Coaches Hamilton and Erica Crocker said they are very proud of their team and can’t wait for the rest of their club season.

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