Sports | DrumhellerMail

U18 Raptors win home tourney

The U18 Drumheller React/ DT Fire Raptors were perfect at their home tournament through the round-robin and came out on top in the final.
The Raptors hosted their home tournament from January 20 to 22. They invited teams from Bashaw, Okotoks, Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, and Brooks.
On Friday night, the Raptors opened the tournament versus Red Deer and walked away with a 5-3 win.
They kept up their solid play, taking on Brooks on Saturday morning. Again, they stood strong winning 7-0. This put them up against Okotoks, where they won 7-1 and qualified for the Gold Medal game on Sunday.
The Raptors had even more hop in their step as they faced Red Deer again. This time they were able to shut them out, winning 5-0 and the trophy. Gavin Olsen was the player of the game.
“We played pretty well the first night against Red Deer on Friday, and came out awesome in the second game,” said coach Stephen Fournier. “We came out a little slower in our third game but kind of picked it up and played awesome the rest of the game.”
The goal differential told the story of the tournament, as the Raptors scored 24 goals and only allowed four the entire tournament.
“We’ve been really working on our defensive zone end. It was a struggle at the start, but we have really come together, and our goalies hold us in every game. It is good to see the kids win and see the emotion on their faces.”
The Raptors have been having a strong season and have a 3–2 record.
“We’ve been kind of up and down, but kind of found our rhythm after the new year,” said Fournier. “We are undefeated in the new year, so we hope to keep it going in the regular season.”

Three wins on Dragons' road trip

Dragons name only 1

The Dragons notched three wins and scored 22 goals as they wrap up a northern road trip.
After a tough 3-2 overtime loss in Blackfalds on Tuesday, January 17, they boarded the bus to Drayton Valley to take on the Thunder on Friday, January 20.
Noah Danielson opened the scoring at the midway point of the first period, but the Thunder tied it up after one. Adam Raesler scored 1:08 into the second and Caleb Willms scored his first as a Dragon on the powerplay. The Thunder added one, but Wyatt Yule scored his first of the season with less than three minutes left in the period, to put the Dragons up 4-2.
The Thunder scored first in the third, but Dylan Glinski scored on the powerplay, and about six minutes later Danielson added his second of the game. Drayton Valley added one in the last minute, but it was not enough as the Dragons went on to a 6-4 win.
On Saturday, January 21 the Dragons were in Grande Prairie to take on the Storm. The Dragons outshot the Storm 15-4 in the first, but it was Keegan Beagle who scored at the 8:32 mark and put the Dragons up by one after one.
The shots started to go in during the second as Danielson, Wil Christian and Connor Poffenroth all scored before the midway point. The Storm scoed at 9:35, but the Dragons were firmly in control and wrapped up the second period with goals from Ty Whitford and Willms, to go up 6-1. Glinski added one in the third and Danielson completed his hat trick with two unassisted goals; one was shorthanded. Dragons win 9-1.
The Dragons were on to their third game in three days Sunday as they took on the Whitecourt Woverines. The Wolverines opened the scoring, but Poffenroth tied it up with 48 seconds left in the period on the powerplay.
The Wolverines struck again less than a minute into the second, but Jacob Goudreau evened it up. Whitecourt answered back with two straight goals, but Ty Daneault kept the Dragons close with a goal, Wolverines up 4-3. The Dragons let loose in the third as Daneault, Easton Adrian, Beagle and Whitford all scored. The Wolverines scored with 1:38 left, but the damage had been done. Dragons win 7-5.
The Dragons were at home on Tuesday, January 24 to take on the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in a special matinee event. Results were not available at press time. This Friday, January 27, they host Blackfalds, and then Saturday, host the Canmore Eagles.

Heritage Classic plays out at Midland Rink

The Drumheller FunTeam hosted its 18th annual Heritage Classic at the Midland Rink on Saturday, January 24. They hosted 12 teams with 125 players from Rosemary, Stettler, Didsbury and Kneehill County. The tradition began in honour of Dr. Randy Gregg, founder of FunTeam Alberta, who played in the very first NHL Heritage Classic as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. It was a day filled with family fun, including great hockey action, hot dogs and hot chocolate. There was also a pick toss at each game. The funds raised will support the Drumheller FunTeam as they head to the Provincial and All-Star Rec Hockey Games at the Red Deer Centrum in February.

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