Sports | DrumhellerMail

Raptors looking strong at season start

    The Drumheller Minor Hockey Raptors hit the ice for the first time this season last weekend. The teams racked up quite a few wins in what, for some, were their first games of the year.
   The Canalta Novice Tier 6 team came out strong for their first two games of the season. On Saturday, the team dominated Strathmore by a score of 18-3. The next day, they hosted Brooks and came away with a 13-7 win in front of a home crowd.
   The McDonald’s Tier 3 team began their season two weekends ago. This past weekend they managed their first win, beating Fort MacLeod on the road. The day prior they had a close 9-7 defeat against Chestermere.
   “We lost to Chestermere, but the kids played really good. On Monday, we went down to Fort MacLeod and gave them a whupping,” said head coach Kit Clark. “The kids are excited and having fun.”
   At the Atom level, the Yavis Atom Tier 3 team took to the road on Sunday, coming away with a 10-7 win.
   The EnCana Atom Tier 6 team had two games this past weekend and emerged victorious in both. On Saturday they hosted Rockyford and decimated the visitors by a score of 18-2. The next day they paid Nanton the same welcome, winning 7-2.
   The NGC Pee Wee Tier 2 team did the same, winning both of their first two games. In Beiseker on Saturday, they bested the home team by a close 4-3. The next day they were in Olds and won again in a close game, 7-6.
   The Hi-Way 9 Tier 6 Raptors took Strathmore to task for their first game on Saturday, winning 13-3 at home. The next day they repeated against Okotoks Gold and won 8-4.

Kyle Bosch (right) carries the puck at the Hi-Way 9 Pee Wee Raptors home game against Strathmore on Saturday. The Raptors won by a decisive 13-3. The remaining seven minor hockey teams were in action as well and put together a strong weekend. For many of these teams, this was their opening weekend.
inSide photo by Michael James

   “We’ve got quite a crew this year, they’re working really good together. They’re loving it and happy to have their skates back on,” said Mark Coultes, head coach of the Hi-Way 9 Raptors.
   The Boston Pizza/Western Chev Bantam Raptors started their season on the road on Friday in Hanna. The Bantam team started the season off on the right foot to get another championship.
   In Hanna, they won 14-3. The next day at home, they were victorious against Fort MacLeod by a score of 6-4.
   The Bertram Drilling/Sports Room Midget team are hoping to continue their championship ways. They did so against Blackie on Saturday, shutting them down 8-0.
   In goal for the Midget Raptors was Chase Kostelecky, who saved all 27 shots fired his way.
   The next day, the team was in Redcliff, but couldn’t keep the momentum going and lost 11-4.
   “They did excellent for their first weekend. We won on Saturday and, unfortunately, lost Sunday’s game. They’ll come back once we get more practice together and learn to play together,” said assistant coach Nick Schinnour. “We’ve got a strong team as long as we’re in the right tier. If we’re not, we’ll have to step up and make the team stronger. We were down last year and we made it work by the end.”
   A key difference this year is how the teams were tiered. Coaches feel this year the teams are more evenly matched within their tiers and are hopeful it will translate into more wins.
   “We’ve got them tiered a little better than pervious years, so it’s going really good,” said Clark.
   Coultes was agreed, stating, “I think the tiers are better this year. I hope some of the kids who have had below a 50 per cent win average over the past few years will get some wins and start feeling better about hockey.”
   The Raptors season continues. For more information about when the teams are playing check out www.drumhellerminorhockey.com.

St. Anthony’s building soccer from junior high - up

    St. Anthony’s is continuing to build its sports programs and is laying the basis for future soccer growth.
   Last season the bulk of the St. Anthony’s Sabres’ senior high team graduated after success on the field. This year the program began rebuilding at the junior high level.
   “Five years ago we started this team with Grade 9 and 10’s,” said coach Gavin Makse. “Two years ago we won the bronze medal at zones … it is good to have a new group coming up to continue the girls soccer program in Drumheller.”
   “I am really proud of these girls, they worked really hard.”
   This year the team partook in practices and had a tournament planned, however they were not able to garner enough teams to come and play. Because of this they worked on lining up an exhibition game, however this too fell through when a team from John Paul II of Okotoks cancelled at the last minute.
   “To end the season we had a great game against our staff,” said Makse. “We lost 3-1 but it was great for everyone.”
   He said many of the girls on the team play with the Drumheller Soccer Association and will be playing indoor soccer this winter. The school’s soccer program allows play to continue through the fall.
   “It’s good to have a new group coming through. It is unfortunate to not have any at the high school level but when you graduate 16 girls in two years it is difficult to field a team. We’ll keep building it year by year,” said Makse.

Members of the St. Anthony’s Saints junior high girls soccer team are (back; l-r) head coach Gavin Makse, Kayla Finkbiner, Rielle Russell, Leila Russell, Kalena Lewandowski and Payton Zacharuk, with (front; l-r) Elizabeth Bomford, Danae Kimpinski, Carmanah Olbrich, Ocean Anthony-Bossert, Megan Boland, and Jenna Kimpinski. Missing is Brooklyn Davies.
mailphoto by Patrick Kolafa

Titans back home on Saturday

Titans back in win column

   The Senior Titans are back in the win column, but it was a bit more of a battle than they are used to.
   A depleted Titans squad, without key offensive players and three defensive starters missing, went up against Bow Valley School of Canmore in league play last Saturday. While the Titans walked away with a 29-22 victory, it was a tough win.
“It was way too tight for my liking,” said Coach Ken Fournier following the game. “They (Canmore) definitely improved this season.”
   Last week the Titans were up against Brooks and had five turnovers. It looked like the trend was continuing as they lost the ball three times in the first quarter; twice within 10 yards of the end zone. They found themselves down 21-1 at half time.
   “At half time it sunk in to the guys that sometimes the ball isn’t going to bounce our way, they are going to have to battle back. It was a breaking point in our season and they decided to just go out there to give it all they got.”
   The Titans protected the ball better and that led to successful marches down the field.
   “This was a good character win for the guys, to persevere through it and come back and win,” said Fournier. “They played really well, and it goes to show when you battle through that stuff, it is possible you just have to keep working hard.”
   On defense Janzen Ohlhauser and Alan Lister were standouts. Quarterback Steven Robertson was able to control the game well. Joey Samoleski also shined on offense.
   The Titans have been playing a heavy exhibition schedule and it has been wreaking havoc on their squad, resulting in an injury filled team. Saturday’s game brought one more player to the sidelines.
   “If there is something wrong that could happen this season it has,” said Fournier.
   This win proves the Titans are up for the challenge.
   “It has been a series of unfortunate circumstances from week-to-week. We are so banged up… It’s something we are not used to,” said Fournier.   “The guys are doing a good job. A lot of teams would give up and accept defeat, and our guys have stepped up.”
   The Titans host Olds in their final league game this Saturday at 3 p.m.

Bantam Titans to host Innisfail Saturday in semifinal

    The Bantam Titans wrap up the season as the top seed in Tier 4 heading into the post season.
   The Titans finished the regular season with a loss to a strong Hunting Hills team out of Red Deer.
   Coach Paul Redmond knew it would be a tough game and the final score of 39-0 bears that out. However Redmond says 11 turnovers by the Titans could have been prevented.
“We could have actually scored a couple of touchdown had we sustained the drives,” said Redmond, adding that these types of mistakes can be coached through.
   “We just have to get back to the basics,” he said.
   Overall in the league the Bantam Titans finished in 9th place. This means they will be in competition with Innisfail, Sylvan Lake and Springbank for the Tier 4 championship. Because they had the best record of these team they will be hosting playoffs and have home field advantage. This will continue into provincial playoffs.
   First up for the Titans is the league Tier 4 semifinal. It will be versus Innisfail this Saturday, If they keep winning, they keep playing. .
   “We still have to go out there and play,” said coach Redmond. If we keep winning we have three more games at home.”
   “We’ll be ready.”

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