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Dragons battle through preseason

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   The Drumheller Dragons are mid-way through the exhibition season and have chalked up a win, and two losses.
   On August 31, the Dragons opened the preseason, versus the Calgary Mustangs, and went away with a 5-2 win.
   “In the first game we played, I thought our compete level was great. We had a few minutes throughout the game at different times where we sat back a little bit and we can’t,” said coach Brian Curran. “We are trying to define the identity of our team and that is one thing we are pushing hard right now. For most of that game, I thought we kept a good pace.”
   On Thursday, September 1, they fell 5-2 to the Calgary Canucks. Curran felt the first five minutes they pushed the pace well, but a power play took the wind out of the team.
“I didn’t like how we responded to that … we did not push back. It was a good learning experience for us,” said Curran.
   On Friday, September 2, they fell 4-0 versus Okotoks.
   “That game was a little bit different than what the score was. They got a couple powerplay goals, and we couldn’t capitalize, but again I don’t think we pushed the pace as good as we could have, especially in the first period,” said Curran. “I will say we ended on a high note in the third period where we really pushed the pace, moved our legs very well, fore checked and controlled a lot of the ice. We ended on a good note.”
   While grading the preseason can be ambiguous, and not easily counted in wins and losses, coach Curran likes what he is seeing so far.
   “Obviously, it is exhibition and everyone is playing whoever,” said Curran.
   “We are really trying to define the identity of our hockey club. I really like the players we have, even though they are young, I think they are going to continue to grow and grow and get better, and learn the game we want to play.”
   The Dragons are in Lloydminster on Thursday, September 8 where they play the Bobcats, and then are finally home to end the exhibition season on Friday, September 9, versus the Bobcats.

Titans fall to Rebels in home opener

   The Senior Titans are 1-1 after battling W.R. Myers of Taber at their home opener last Friday night.
   The Rebels were in Drumheller on September 2 to face the Titans, and the Rebels ran away jumping out to an early lead. By the end of the first quarter, they were up 15-0. Coach Ken Fournier was disappointed with the team’s mental game.
   “It was a lack of focus. We had 395 yards rushing, not including a 60-yard run that was called back and 115 yards in penalties. When defense only gives them 15 points, and you run 400 yards, you should win those games.”
“It was mental errors, on defense, offense and special teams. It seems like in both of our games, we came out of the gate and let the other team pound us for a bit and then we wake up. We have to be better at showing up ready to go, not playing catch-up in these games. When you run the ball so much like we do, you don’t want to be behind in the score.”
   When the Titans did buckle down, they managed to hold the Rebels to just one more touchdown the rest of the game and scored two. It was not enough as the Rebels went on to win 23-12.
   There were some bright spots.
   “We had some big games from guys who filled in spots. Michael Marshall and Michael Peters had great games. Offensively Noah Miles ran for 250 yards and two touchdowns,” said Fournier.
   Heading into the season, Fournier says they are looking to correct these mental mistakes.
   “As frustrating as a loss that this is, the film will tell us, it never lies. We had a team that came up here that played a very simple disciplined well-rounded football game. It’s too bad we lost, but we couldn’t have asked for a better situation for us developing as a team,” said Fournier.
   This Saturday the Titans continue their season with a home game versus the Camrose Trojans.
“We are looking for a bounce back weekend,” said Fournier.
   Game time is 4:30 p.m.

Dinosaur Trail hosts successful Alberta Net Amateur Championship

In all, 38 golfers from all over Alberta were at Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club to play in the Alberta Net Amateur (Stableford) Championship.

This was the second time in the last five years that the club has hosted the Alberta tournament and golfers were impressed with the landscape and the challenging course. In the end, Mike Ross of Riverbed in Red Deer was the men’s champion. The women’s champion was Betty Fisher of Stony Plain and the Marg Ward (higher handicap) champion was Sandy Tougas of Fort Saskatchewan.

Phil Berube CEO of Alberta Golf was happy with the outcome, which included five local golfers, including Carl Palomaki, Vince Low, Tony Johnston, Greg Morrow and Ian Southern, taking on the course. He says despite being a later addition to the schedule, it was a good turnout.

“It is a revision of format to try and get back into the domain of supporting the average golfer, moving away a bit from just focusing on competitive golfers,” said Berube.

“There is momentum here, and it is great to come to Drumheller.”

He adds they are looking at featuring destination courses to collaborate with organizations to drive golf and tourism.

“It is part of our long range plan to try and get into local small communities in Alberta, work with our provincial government on getting tourism and travel throughout the province, to bring people in from other provinces and using tournaments like this to draw them in,” he said.

This model could help build a relationship amongst competitors.

“The courses may be an hour and half from home, but once you are here and stay the night, you find there is lots to do in town. We are trying to focus on building camaraderie among the participants, and you can do that when everyone is staying over in the same place, as opposed to everyone taking off and going home,” said Berube.

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