Sports | DrumhellerMail

Dragons battle through playoffs

The fate of the Dragons’ season was on the line last night, however, it was decided after press time.
What is known is it has been an exciting second round playoff series between the Drumheller Dragons and the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
The Dragons returned home from Blackfalds on Tuesday night, March 28 with a split for Game 3. Ty Daneault didn’t waste any time and scored 1:11 into the game. Kai Matthew added one more and the Dragons led 2-0 after one. The Bulldogs tied it up less than seven minutes into the second period before Daneault scored his second of the game. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs tied it up to end the second.
The Dragons had some great chances in the third period. At the midway point, the Bulldogs were dealt a too many men on the ice penalty, and Dylan Glinski scored the powerplay winner. Ty Whitford added an empty netter to win 5-3.
On Wednesday, March 29, the Dragons Den was rocking again. Caleb Willms opened the scoring and Daneault followed it up to lead 2-0 after the first period. Vann Yuhas scored early in the second, but Blackfalds made their way onto the scoreboard. Ryan Henderson scored his second of the playoffs to put the Dragons up 4-1 after two periods.
The Bulldogs scored two in the third period to make it interesting. Yuhas put it out of reach with less than a minute left on the empty net.
The Dragons led the series three games to one and had a chance to win it on Friday, March 31. The Bulldogs set the pace, scoring just 31 seconds in. Ty Whitford added one to end the first period tied. In the second, Blackfalds went on a tear and scored five unanswered goals to take a 6-1 lead after two. Easton Adrian scored in the third but the Bulldogs added two more goals to take the 8-2 win and force a Game 6.
The teams were back in Drumheller Sunday evening, April 2. Blackfalds got the jump early and went up by two goals. Sam Simard scored with less than two minutes left to end the first period trailing 2-1. Yuhas tied it up in the second, but Blackfalds came back in the third with two goals. Ty Whitford added one, but that was as much as the Dragons could muster and lost 4-3.
Game 7 was Tuesday, April 4. Results were not available at press time. The winner of this game goes on to play the Brooks Bandits in the South final who topped Okotoks in six games.

Dragons receive league awards

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As the season comes to an end AJHL players are being honoured for their efforts on and off the ice.
The league announced its 2022-2023 All-League teams and Ty Daneault was selected as forward for the South Viterra Divison All-League Team. Daneault has had a stellar season and racked up 65 points in the regular season with 37 goals and 28 assists. In the playoffs he has five goals and four assists so far. He also played for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge back in December, and etched his name on the game sheet in all but one outing in January that produced a hat trick and six multi-point affairs.
Last week the AJHL also announced the Inter Pipeline All Academic Team. Each year the16 players selected demonstrate the qualities of an exceptional student-athlete working to further their athletic and academic achievements.
The 2023 Inter Pipeline AJHL All-Academic Team recognizes players regarded as having commendable dedication to their studies at either the high school or post-secondary level, along with a grade score reflective of their academic success.
Easton Adrian is the selection for the Dragons and earned a $1,500 scholarship. This season Adrian committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York.

Dragons top Canmore in six games

The Dragons are getting set for round two of the AJHL Playoffs after defeating the Canmore Eagles in six games.
The Dragons were tied at one game apiece after last weekend, and on Tuesday night, March 14, they were at the Canmore Recreation Centre to take on the Eagles.
After a scoreless first period, the Eagles landed two straight goals. Ty Daneault scored at the 8:21 mark to end the second period trailing 2-1.
Will Christian scored less than four minutes into the third to tie the game. Cyle Clayton scored the winner on the powerplay.
The Dragons now led the series 2-1 but weren’t out of the woods, or Canmore, just yet. On Wednesday, March 15 they faced off again. It took until the third period before Canmore scored. Six minutes later Ryan Henderson tied it up to force overtime. The Dragons outshot the Eagles 11-8 in the first overtime but came up without a goal. Just 10 seconds into the second overtime Coy Pighin scored his first of the playoffs to win 2-1.

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The Dragons had a chance to clinch the series at home on Friday, March 17, in front of 1,422 fans, but the Eagles weren’t going to rest and opened the scoring 3:05 into the second period. Sam Simard and Wil Christian put the Dragons up 2-1, but the Eagles tied it with just two seconds left in the period. Canmore scored the winner 4:07 into the third.
This put the series back in Canmore on Sunday, March 19. The Dragons were the aggressors right out of the gate outshooting Canmore 16-7 in the first, but nary a goal. In the second, Pighin scored 42 seconds in, but Canmore evened it up at the midway point. After a scoreless third period, for the second time this series, it went to overtime. This time Captain Sam Simard scored his second of the playoffs and the series winner.
The Dragons move on to Round Two vs the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Game 1 in Blackfalds is on Friday, March 24.

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