It was a big weekend for the NGC Tier 3 Raptors. The team headed to Camrose for their first tournament of the year.
    The Raptors returned home with a gold medal after a hard fought weekend.
    “We played against teams from central Alberta and some were from Saskatchewan. All of them were pretty close games and pretty good battles. We eventually got into the finals,” said Jason James, head coach of the team.
    The Raptors won over teams from Chestermere, Fort Saskatchewan, Kindersly, and Sherwood Park before heading to the final game against the hometown Camrose Drillers.
    It was a tense game for those watching.
    “It was a tough game. We were down 4-3 going into the third, but we came back and won 6-4,” said James. “It was up and down emotionally. For awhile there it didn’t look like we’d get ahead, but we kept slugging away.”
    The Raptors were at a little disadvantage compared to some teams. The team only has 11 players, which is just enough for two lines. The busy schedule for the tournament was punishing.
    “We don’t have a big team. We only have about two lines, so it was a lot of hockey over the weekend and they were tired by the end,” said James. “They didn’t have any rest until they got home Sunday night. It was a great weekend,with good hockey, and the kids worked hard.”
    Christmas is coming up soon, but the team will be doing league games for the next two weeks. So far in their league, the Raptors are the top team.
    “In the league we’re doing really well; we’ve basically only had one loss this year,” said James. “There’s good chemistry in the team and things are coming together.”

Pee Wee’s host first tournament of season

    The Hi-Way 9 Tier 5 Raptors will be having their first tournament of the year this weekend in Drumheller.
    Five teams, from Airdrie, High River, Okotoks, and two from Sherwood Park will descend upon Drumheller starting Saturday.
    The first game starts at 8:30 Saturday morning and the final game will be 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
    Proceeds raised from 50/50 sales and a raffle table will go towards the Raptors.
    “The money goes to the team so the kids can attend different things, like other tournaments,” said Jackie Watts, manager of the team.
    The Hi-Way 9 Raptors have had a good season so far and have a busy schedule between now and Christmas.
    “They’re doing really well, especially after we moved up to Tier 5,” said Watts. “We’ve got a jam packed schedule. We go right up to Christmas, then we get a little break.”

    There will some great hoops action coming up as the junior high boys and girls at St. Anthony’s will be hosting the second annual Saints Invitational Tournament.
    The tournament is slated for December 14 and 15 at the school and they are inviting some top-level competition.
    The St. Anthony’s Saints are back on the court for another season and both the boys squad, coached by Jay Mulgrew and the girls team, coached by Gavin Makse, have been busy practicing for the coming season and will be prepared for their home tourney.
    The Saints have invited teams from Three Hills, Stettler and Rundle Academy from Calgary for the Round Robin tournaments. Play kicks of at 1 p.m. on Friday afternoon as the girls take on Three Hills. The boys’ team will follow right up at 2:15. The Final game of the night will be at 7:15 p.m. with Three Hills and Stettler on the court. The Saints will be back on the court on Saturday morning with the Girls taking on Rundle Academy at 9 a.m. and the boys playing at 10:15 a.m.