Sports | DrumhellerMail

Titans dominate Olds in 75-16 win

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It was another dominating performance by the Drumheller Senior Titans as they defeated Olds last Saturday, September 28.
   The Titans travelled to Olds to take on the Spartans. When the dust cleared, the Titans came off the field with a 75-16 win.
   Coach Ken Fournier is happy with the result and said while the Titans had a few lucky bounces go their way, at the same time they are fine-tuning their game.
   “Their situational awareness is improving,” said Fournier.
   He said it was a balanced attack with lots of players making meaningful contributions.
   “We had big-play capabilities for sure. We had some of our veterans score a couple of the big ones and had some big contributions from some of the new guys coming up. Ethan Brown is a rookie and he had two touchdowns,” said Fournier.
   For the last few weeks, the Titans have been ranked 5th among Tier 4 teams across the province. He said standings don’t mean too much.
   “They’re superficial. A team that you beat regularly won’t necessarily move you up, but we would have expected a bit of bump when you take down the defending champions,” said Fournier. “If people want to look at us as a number five team it’s going to come back and bite them.”
   This week the Titans are heading to Pincher Creek, a team they have not played this season.
   “They have had a lot of big changes. They have a bigger roster and the last few years they are throwing the ball a lot more,” said Fournier. “They are doing a lot of things differently, we expect to see a different team than we have seen in the last few years.”

Dragons pick captains

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The Drumheller Dragons have selected third-year forward Derrick Budz to lead the team this season as captain.
   Budz, from Yorkton Saskatchewan, is entering this third year and has spent his AJHL junior career wearing the orange and black of the Dragons. Last season he had 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points.
   “Derrick is a leader by example who is well respected by his peers. He comes to the rink well prepared and works extremely hard to do what’s best for the team,” said coach Kevin Hasselberg. “His infectious positive attitude creates a safe environment where development and camaraderie are achieved. He will be a tremendous captain for the Drumheller Dragons.”
   Assisting Budz this season as Alternate Captains defenseman Aiden Yakimchuk, forward Kaden Hanas, and forward Brady Risk.
   Yakimchuk of Edmonton is entering his second season for the Dragons. He was acquired from the Sherwood Park Crusaders at the beginning of last season. Yakimchuk will help with the development of the young defensemen on this year’s roster.
   Hanas is also entering his third season with the Dragons and the Strathmore product has shown throughout the preseason his ability to take charge and lead the room. Hanas split time between the Dragons and Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League during the 2018/19 season. His enthusiasm and energy have contributed 255 penalty minutes and 29 points in 82 AJHL games played.
   Risk is the most experienced player on the Dragons roster. With 176 career games played in the AJHL, the Medicine Hat product is expected to be one of the Dragons leaders offensively. In three seasons, Risk has scored 43 goals adding 58 assists for 101 points. Risk has earned a commitment from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, a Division 1 college team competing in the WCHA.

Titans shine under bright lights of McMahon Stadium

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The Bantam Titans chalked up their first win of the season and they did it on one of the biggest stages in Alberta, McMahon Stadium.
   The Titans squared up against Rocky Mountain House on Saturday, September 21 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. Coach Thomas Laffin said it was a great experience for the team.
   “It is always great to play in McMahon Stadium,” said Laffin. “It’s a great experience for the kids to play on the same turf as the Dinos and the Stampeders and all the CFL teams that play there. You could see their nervousness before the game is about to start and the excitement when they run out onto the field. It’s a totally different experience than playing in a schoolyard field.”
   The Titans were pumped and it showed in their play. They jumped out early and their offense was firing. The Titans were up 28-8 by half time and they extended their lead to go on to a 46-8 win.
   “It felt really good to have the team come together on this win,” said Laffin.
   He said Rocky Mountain House was a good team, however, the Titans were firing on all cylinders.
   “We were on point on every block and every tackle. The guys were pumped and ready to play. They came to win and we did that,” said Laffin.
   The difference in this game for the Titans was they were able to get into a rhythm.
   “In the other games we were very tight and well-matched, and we were getting bad penalties, every time we gained some momentum, it would get called back,” said Laffin. ”Everything kept going our way and we just kept going with it.”
   Next up for the Titans is Ponoka this coming weekend on the road.
   “We saw them at the spring jamboree and they were missing a few players there. So this will be a little bit different of a game,” said Laffin. “They did really well in the spring so it will be a good game.”

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