Sports | DrumhellerMail

Titans fall to Willow Creek in South provincial final

Titans

   The Senior Drumheller Titans left it all on the field in the final game of the season, losing in the provincial semi final to Willow Creek.
   The Titans were in Claresholm to take on the Wolverines. Last season the Wolverines had made it to the finals, and were hungry to return.
   “It was a good football game,” said coach Ken Fournier. “The football doesn’t always bounce your way but you have to be able to respond, and it was still a battle until the last whistle.”
Coach Fourier said the Titans came out with a strong game plan, but it was thwarted when Aiden Enns, a key running back was injured in the fourth play of the game.
   “That rattled our guys, but we still executed our game plan pretty well,” he said.
   He said defensively they played well creating turnovers .The Wolverines had one touchdown in the first half, the rest were field goals.
   “Defensively we played really well. On offense, after Aiden went down, it took a while to catch a rhythm,” said Fournier. “We were down to one running back and guys filling in. But we battled back to within four points going into the fourth quarter.”
   This was after being down 14 points.
   The Titans turned it over late and the Wolverines were able to take it in, to go up 26-16.
   Coach Fournier was impressed with the progress the team has made.
   “Look at where we started, we suited 21 players in our first game to play in the south final. It was a long year and every single person on that team deserves the credit for putting the time and effort, and putting them in the position to get there,” said Fournier.
   “We were playing last year’s Tier IV finalists, so they got that taste last year and were hungry to get it back there again. My hope is that game leaves a bad taste in our guys’ mouth and we work harder to get past that game next year.”
   He estimates that the Titans will be strong again next season, with much of its offense intact. They do have a strong contingent in Grade 11 on the squad. They also have a group of Grade 9 Bantams who suit up down the stretch, who show promise and improvement.
   “Hopefully that translates to them being ready next fall,” said Fournier.

Morrin Mustangs Senior girls provincial bound

mustangs

   The Morrin Mustangs Senior girls volleyball team are provincial bound after winning their zone championship over the weekend.
   The Mustangs only have two grade 12 players but they stood tall against top competitors at the 1A South Central Zone Championships
   “I don’t know what our secret is, we just click well as a team,” said co-captain Katie Primrose.
   The Mustangs swept their way to the final, to face the Rosemary Rockets. The Rockets won the first 25-23, but the Mustangs came back to win the second 25-20. The third went to Morrin 15-13.
   “It was as close as a volleyball game can get,” said Primrose
   For their effort, the Mustangs are on their way to Fairview for the 1A provincial championship tournament. The team is looking forward to the competition.
   “I feel like it is going to be a really great experience for us, we hope to do well,” said Primrose. “We are going in there hoping to win some games, but I think we are excited just to be going there.”
   It has been some time since the Mustangs were at the tournament.
   “I think it has been 20 years since a Morrin team won provincials,” she said.
   The future looks good for the Mustangs as they will only see two players graduate, leaving a solid core for next season.
   The team leaves Wednesday for provincials. Tournament play begins Thursday.

Dragons searching for win

Dragonsic

   The Drumheller Dragons were in action Friday and Saturday with a home-and-homer against the Olds Grizzlys.
   Saturday night the Dragons hosted the Grizzlys. The game was part of a “pack the house for charity” event. The event was in support of 10 charitable organizations in Drumheller and area. There was also 12 goal sponsors who together contributed $1,150 for every goal the Dragons scored. A portion of ticket sales will also be donated from Saturday’s game.
   Scoring opened in the first period with a goal by the Olds Grizzlys on the powerplay. Keaton Holinaty scored short handed for the Dragons to tie the game up at 15:05 of the first period. There was no scoring in either the second or third period which forced an overtime period. On a 3 on 5 powerplay in overtime the Grizzly’s Chase Olsen scored winning the game.
   On Friday night, in Olds, the Grizzlys took control of the game with two goals in the first period. They scored a third in second period before Jacob Schofield from the Dragons put his team on the board. In the third period, former Dragons player Wyatt Noskey scored giving the Grizzlys a 4-1 lead. At 12:34 former Grizzly Ty Mappin gave the Dragons their second goal of the game before Matt Muzyka gave the Dragons their final goal, giving the Grizzlys a 4-3 win.
   Drumheller Dragons head coach and general manager Brian Curran said it was a disappointing loss and that to improve, the team needs to score goals.
   “You out chance a team 15 to 5, the puck has to go in the net. The thing is, we are getting chances. If anyone is watching the hockey game, they can absolutely see the chances we are getting, (but) out chancing it and not burring the puck, that is the story of the game tonight (Saturday).
   The Dragons next game is tonight (Wednesday) when they host the Brooks Bandits. Game time is 7 p.m. They will then host the Bonnyville Pontiacs Saturday night. Saturday game will be extra special for the Dragons as they recognize November as Diabetes Awareness month. One of the players on the team, Connor Boyd, has type 1 diabetes. In recognition of it being Diabetes Awareness Month, the Dragons will be we wearing special edition grey jerseys in their Saturday, November 28 game against the Pontiacs. The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game with proceeds going to the ten local Drumheller and area charitable organizations from the November 21 game. Game time November 28 is 7:30 p.m.

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