Sports | DrumhellerMail

Former Dragon returns as coach

kenton

The Dragons family sticks together, and this year a former Drumheller Dragons defenseman is coming back to the team as an assistant coach.
Kenton Levesque played defense for the Dragons from 2009-2012 and racked up a number of honours including the Jeff Hendricks Memorial Scholarship and was the two-time Hardest Working Dragon. In his final season, he was captain of the team.
   “I have always wanted to go back to (the Dragons). It is going to be a good time,” said Levesque.
   He played for a short spell at SAIT, before he got into coaching. Based in Cochrane, he has been coaching for the last five years, most recently as head coach for the AC Avalanche in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. He is also a skills development coach for P3 Sports, a hockey development company.
   “I have been a skills coach for the last five years working with guys in the AHL, the Western League and AJHL, all the way down to five and six-year-olds, so it has been a large variety of hockey but it is what I do every day, so it is awesome to come back to Drumheller and continue the passion.”
   Dragons head coach Kevin Hasselberg likes the fit.
   “Kenton is a natural fit within the Dragons’ Organization. He has earned the community’s trust providing fans with inspirational play on the ice, and dedication to the community off the ice. Kenton is extremely passionate about developing players and is excited to contribute to the success of the Dragons Hockey Team,” said Hasselberg.
   Over the years Levesque says his connection to the community and team have remained strong. He billeted with Arlene Turner, and he still sees his old teammates.
   “We still have Drumheller Dragons reunions in Calgary with guys I played with from 2009-2012. So the Dragons still runs in our blood and always will, we made some lifelong friends there and to be able to go back and see people I haven’t seen in a few years is going to be a great experience,” said Levesque.
   He is slated to start on August 1, however, he was able to get a good look at the team at the Dragons development camp in Cochrane last weekend.

U9 soccer captures gold at Carbon tourney

Under 9 Carbon Gold Medalists

The Under 9 Drumheller White Blizzards soccer team captured gold at the Annual Carbon Sports Day Soccer Tournament on Saturday, June 9.
   There were 8 teams split into two pools of four teams with each playing a round-robin schedule to start the tournament.
   The Drumheller squad opened the tourney with a 3-1 win over Irricana B in Pool B play. In the Blizzards’ second game, they played Carstairs B to a 1-1 tie. The Blizzards completed round-robin play with a 2-0 win over Didsbury. This put the Blizzards in first place in Pool B where they met Irricana A in the gold medal match as they had finished first in Pool A.
   The Blizzards went down 2-0 at halftime but did not quit and completed the ultimate comeback by scoring 3 goals in the second half to win 3-2.
   Coaches Gavin Makse and Andrea Nyrerod were very proud of the teamwork and effort put forth by all team members.

Triathlon brings out tough competition

    The weather cooperated beautifully as 23 athletes took on the grueling Drumheller Dinosaur Trail Triathlon.
   The seventh annual triathlon went ahead on Saturday morning, June 2 at the Drumheller Aquaplex. While the numbers were down compared to last season, organizer Morgan Syvertsen said it was one of the best triathlons yet.
   “It was perfect weather and there was such a good feeling, I think it was the best one yet, just because everything felt so good, and the great people,” he said.
   Part of the reason he feels the event was so successful was the competitive nature of the event.
   “It was the most competitive race we had yet,” said Syvertsen. “The finish times reflected that.”
   In the Olympic distance, local athlete Cam Morrison won with a time 2:38.05, followed by Ben Borkovic at 2:45.02 and Syvertsen at 2:50.55.
   In the sprint distance, James Frede took first place with a time of 1:20,30, followed by Heather Frede at 1:24.25. Both competitors are from Airdrie. Barb Slemko of Hussar took third place with a 1:29.25.
   Syvertsen said the competition brought out the best in the racers.
   “When you got out there on the run, you would pass people going the other direction all the time. People were glad-handing each other, it was great,” said Syvertsen.
   He is grateful for the staff at the Drumheller Aquaplex who facilitated the event. Drumheller Associated Physicians also continued as a sponsor and with an onsite medical presence.

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