Playing in the AJHL as a 16-year-old is special as is, but when you are producing at a rate like Coy Pighin currently is, NCAA teams begin to take notice.
On January 25th, Dragons rookie forward Coy Pighin announced his commitment to play Division I hockey at Colorado College.
Pighin, the native of Alix, stated that he has always been very interested in Colorado College as a potential landing spot. After going for a fly down to Colorado Springs to visit the school and campus, he said it was a perfect fit for his future.
“The facility and passion that comes from the college is outstanding. Playing in a competitive conference also played a big part in my decision,” he said.
Pighin has been one of the league’s top point-producing rookies in his first AJHL season, as he currently sits second among all 2006-born players in points per game average for qualified players. The forward has registered eight goals and 20 points in just 27 games this season. Aside from his offensive upside, Coy is also praised for his two-way ability and the defensive side of his game. He is a player that can be trusted in all situations, and he recognizes his time with the Drumheller Dragons as a large contributor to that.
“The coaching staff has enhanced my game and developed me in the right direction to play Division I hockey. The support that comes from the Dragons is unbelievable, and it has really helped grow me as an individual,” he said.
“To play Division I hockey has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help from my friends and family supporting me throughout my path.”
Prior to playing in the Dragons organization, Coy was a member of the Yale Hockey Academy where he also won Most Valuable Player of the 2021 Mac’s Midget Tournament. He joins elite company as prior tournament winners include notable NHLer’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mikael Backlund, and Zach Parise to name a few.

A team of three alpine skiers from the vicinity is heading to the Alberta Special Olympic Winter Games later this month and are pumped for the experience.
The 2023 Special Olympics Winter Games are on February 24-26 and is hosted by Strathcona County. Events include 5-pin bowling, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating.
Jay Dekeyser and Mitchell Pennington of Drumheller will be competing, as well as Brian Tabor from Olds. Martin McSween is coaching the team. They have been busy with dryland training, as well as taking the opportunity to train on snow at Nakiska, including on January 28.
“We had a cold, but productive day with good snow and great improvements from all the athletes,” said McSween.
Because the games are on a four-year cycle, COVID-19 had no effect on the Alberta Winter games cycle, as the last one was held in 2019 in Calgary. At the last games, extreme cold cancelled some of the events. Despite this, Pennington earned a fourth-place finish, just four-tenths of a second

behind the bronze medal winner. Dekeyser skied very well and won a gold medal in his three groupings.
The Alberta Special Olympics events help to determine the team for the Canada Special Winter Olympic Games, which will be held in Calgary in February 2024.
The team is grateful for sponsorship from Western Chevrolet. The Drumheller contingent was given a sponsored vehicle from Western GMC - Doug Lubinski and team, which is a huge support and enabled the team to get to the ski resort.