Sports | DrumhellerMail

Local softballer makes Team Alberta’s final cut

A Drumheller softball player will be representing Team Alberta in the Western Canada Summer Games this August.

Charli Calon will play outfield and shortstop for the Under 16 Team Alberta in Swift Current from August 8 to 13. She made it through tryouts which began with over 130 players down to 14.

“When I first got the call I was pretty excited to have made such a high level team that 130-plus girls tried out for. I’m really excited to receive my Team Alberta gear and I’m nervous to play, just because this is a pretty big deal to me,” she said. “I want to do well.”

Calon, who lives in Drumheller but plays for a team in Calgary where she is primarily a pitcher, said the last tryout was delayed due to poor weather but a scrimmage was held in near-freezing conditions against an U19 team in Edmonton.

Her family is proud to have her represent the province, her mother Kelsey says.

“She didn’t have anyone else she knew trying out so it was a nerve wracking experience for her, but she persevered and rose to the occasion when it mattered most.”

The Western Canada Summer Games will be held August 8 to 13 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

High school bull rider wins international championship

A young bull rider took on his first international competition and brought home a buckle.

Matt Howard entered the Silver State International Rodeo. This is the final High School competition and he, along with his travel buddy Dixon Tattrie from Canada, went down to Winnimucca Nevada for the event June 29 to July 6.

Matt was in a field of 13 bull riders. He scored 70 on each of his two clean rides to win the competition.

“There were some pretty good riders,” he tells the Mail.

While he was one of the only Canadian riders, and he won the premier event, Howard said the competition was friendly.

“It was pretty cool. All the Americans were pretty friendly,” he said.

For his efforts, he won a buckle and a saddle. He is sponsored by Bass Pro Shop and Total Control Security. He is also grateful to his father for getting him to the competition.

Next week he is heading to Millarville, and he is heading to the Canadian Finals for high school rodeo at the end of the month in Merritt B.C.

Two Dragons selected for Russia tournament

risk RocTruman 1

Two Drumheller Dragons have been selected to join Team AJHL for the 2019 Junior Club World Cup in Sochi Russia.

The international tournament is in Russia from August 23 to 31, and 22 players from the AJHL were selected to the team. Dragons forwards Roc Truman and Brady Risk have been selected to represent the Dragons.

“International competition and travel will afford experiences and benefits to our athletes that are impossible to duplicate. We are thrilled to offer our athletes this opportunity and know the influence it can have on their futures,” said AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk.

Brady Risk has played three seasons with the Dragons. Originally from Medicine Hat, the 19-year-old has 43 career goals and 58 assists with the Dragons. In April he committed to play with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks for the 2020-2021 season.

Roc Truman is also Division 1 NCAA College-bound, after committing to the University of Massachusetts Lowell in December. This was his first season with the Dragons, the 18-year-old had 27 goals and 18 assists for 45 points and was a finalist for AJHL Rookie of the year.

The 2019 Junior Club World Cup has been played for nine years and features teams from Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United States.

This is the first time there have been two North American teams. In 2013 the Sudbury Wolves won the tournament, the only time a Canadian Team was victorious.

Prior to the tournament, the team will be travelling to Russia for a Camp from August 16-22.

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