Sports | DrumhellerMail

Let there be light

    Light shone down on the Titans.
   After about a year, the DVSS football field has a glow that will only benefit the Drumheller Titans as four standards tower above the gridiron, each holding nine 1,500-watt lights. The lights illuminated the field during their late afternoon practice.
   The project was a long time coming and according to Mike Ostergard of the Drumheller Titans, it began with closing of Race City Speedway in Calgary. The Titans learned the track had lights that were to be disposed of. While originally they planned to purchase the lights, the ownership of Race City Speedway decided they would rather donate the standards and lights.
The generous donation of about $22,000 in lights was just the beginning. They need to get the lights to Drumheller, set up and ultimately functional. Ostergard said Scott McKay Contracting generously took over the project, from transport to flicking the switch.
   The project was helped with financial support from the community. Along with many other donors, last spring Suncor and Tech, owners of the Wintering Hills Wind installation donated a total of $15,000 to the project.
   While they are simply light poles, they bring opportunity and versatility for Drumheller Football.
   Again this year the Senior Titans were playing deep into the post season, and the lights allowed the team to extend their practice time, It also made it safer.
   The lights will add versatility to their schedule, making it possible for the long-standing football tradition of Friday Night Lights, adding evening games to their schedule in the future.

Sabres steal win over PCA

    The Senior Boys St. Anthony’s Sabres are already in the win column in league play after a close finish versus Prairie Christian Academy.
   The Sabres travelled to Three Hills to take on Prairie in their first league game. It was a tight affair but in the end, the Sabres came away with the win.
   St. Anthony’s came out strong and dominated the first half and held on to a secure lead. This was until the third quarter when Three Hills’ press made the Sabres cough up the ball. Three Hills took the lead. St. Anthony’s regrouped down the stretch and was able to pull out a 48-47 win.
     Tanner Borowicz led the way with a strong double-double with 24 points and 22 rebounds. Jakub St. Jean had nine points and Nathan Comstock had eight points and 19 boards.
Coach Dan Patterson was happy to take away the win, however there are a few areas they would still like to improve upon. As a team the Sabres committed 36 turnovers, and left 14 points at the free throw line, shooting only 36 per cent.
   Patterson said this week they would be working on implementing their own press as well as clean up their press break.
   The Sabres are in Acme this weekend for Acme’s home tournament.

Tier 2 Pee Wee Raptors win gold in Camrose

    It was a big weekend for the NGC Tier 3 Raptors. The team headed to Camrose for their first tournament of the year.
   The Raptors returned home with a gold medal after a hard fought weekend.
   “We played against teams from central Alberta and some were from Saskatchewan. All of them were pretty close games and pretty good battles. We eventually got into the finals,” said Jason James, head coach of the team.
   The Raptors won over teams from Chestermere, Fort Saskatchewan, Kindersly, and Sherwood Park before heading to the final game against the hometown Camrose Drillers.
   It was a tense game for those watching.
   “It was a tough game. We were down 4-3 going into the third, but we came back and won 6-4,” said James. “It was up and down emotionally. For awhile there it didn’t look like we’d get ahead, but we kept slugging away.”
   The Raptors were at a little disadvantage compared to some teams. The team only has 11 players, which is just enough for two lines. The busy schedule for the tournament was punishing.
   “We don’t have a big team. We only have about two lines, so it was a lot of hockey over the weekend and they were tired by the end,” said James. “They didn’t have any rest until they got home Sunday night. It was a great weekend,with good hockey, and the kids worked hard.”
   Christmas is coming up soon, but the team will be doing league games for the next two weeks. So far in their league, the Raptors are the top team.
   “In the league we’re doing really well; we’ve basically only had one loss this year,” said James. “There’s good chemistry in the team and things are coming together.”

Pee Wee’s host first tournament of season

    The Hi-Way 9 Tier 5 Raptors will be having their first tournament of the year this weekend in Drumheller.
   Five teams, from Airdrie, High River, Okotoks, and two from Sherwood Park will descend upon Drumheller starting Saturday.
   The first game starts at 8:30 Saturday morning and the final game will be 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
   Proceeds raised from 50/50 sales and a raffle table will go towards the Raptors.
   “The money goes to the team so the kids can attend different things, like other tournaments,” said Jackie Watts, manager of the team.
   The Hi-Way 9 Raptors have had a good season so far and have a busy schedule between now and Christmas.
   “They’re doing really well, especially after we moved up to Tier 5,” said Watts. “We’ve got a jam packed schedule. We go right up to Christmas, then we get a little break.”

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