FRIDAY - JAFFRAY HEADS TO AHL FINALS, INDIANS IN FOR BUSY WEEKEND & AJHL NEWS AND NOTES

OLDS' JAFFRAY SET TO COMPETE FOR CALDER

Jason Jaffray and the Manitoba Moose will host the Hershey Bears for game 1 of the American Hockey League Finals on May 30th.

The 27 year old product of Olds is 2nd on the team after the first 3 round of the playoffs with 14 points in 16 games.

Jaffray talks about why this Moose team differs from years past.

Jaffray talks about why he's been able to contribute on the score-sheet night in and night out.

and finally Jaffray talks about the thrill of playing in the league finals.

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INDIANS REBOUND - IMPROVE TO 2 AND 1

The Innisfail Indians rebounded from a 14-4 loss to Red Deer and picked up their 2nd win of the young Parkland Baseball League season last week by downing the Expos 10 to 3 in Eckville.

On May 29th PBL action swings into Innisfail as the Indians play host to the Rocky Red Dogs.

Then on May 31st Innisfail travels to Beiseker for a double header versus last year's league champs, the Canadians, who have started the season in style with a 4 and oh record.

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NEW GM AND COACH IN DRAGONS DEN

The Alberta Junior Hockey League's Drumheller Dragons have hired a new head coach and general manager.

Dan Price will replace head coach Rob Hegberg & general manager Doug Hergenheim.

That tandem was let go in March following the Dragons first round playoff exit at the hands of the Olds Grizzlys.

Price has spent the past few seasons as an assistant & associate coach with the Western Hockey League's Chilliwack Bruins.

WEDNESDAY - A BUSY WEEK IN CENTRAL ALBERTA SPORTS

GRIZZ CONTINUE TO GROOM TALENT FOR NEXT LEVEL

The Olds Grizzlys have announced that goaltender Marc Boulanger has committed to the University of Massachusetts Lowell in the Hockey East Conference for the 2010-2011 season.

Last year the 19 year old finished 3rd in the A-J with nearly 2800 minutes played, and was tied for 2nd in wins with 26.

Boulanger also finished in the top ten in both save percentage and goals against average.

Boulanger's commitment brings the number of 2008-2009 Grizzlys to commit to the next stage of their hockey career's to 6.

COMMITTED PLAYERS

Curtis DeBruyn - University of Alabama (Huntsville), 2009-2010

Brance Orban - Bemidji State University, 2009-2010

Shadoe Stoodley - SAIT, 2009-2010

Wade Bergman - University of Minnesota - Duluth, 2009-2010

Matt Tanoridi - R.P.I., 2009-2010

Marc Boulanger - University of Massachusetts - Lowell, 2010-2011



BEHIND THE BENCH

Grizzlys Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg talks about Boulanger, the Western Hockey League, and Team Pacific.

Hasselberg on Boulanger. . .

Hasselberg was asked about the threat of loosing any talent to the likes of the WHL . . .

and finally Hasselberg talks about Team Pacific, their recent camp and the up and coming talent here in Alberta . . .
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TEAM ALBERTA CHALLENGE

The Central Lightning won the 2nd Annual Team Alberta Challenge over the weekend.

The Lightning finished 5 oh and 1 beating the Edmonton Avalanche 4-2 in the final.

The event saw 120 female players born in 1994-95 compete against different zones from across the province.

West Central Alberta was very well represented on the Championship Lightning with both Krista Wilson and Rikki Leonard from Olds suiting up along with Innisfail's Emily Lougheed and Sundre's Hannah Mousek.
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INDIANS AT HOME

The Innisfail Indians are at home for this first time this season in Parkland Baseball League action Wednesday.

The Indians are expected to have Ace Matt Macleod on the mound when they play host to the Red Deer Razorbacks.

Innisfail is 1 and oh on the season after a convincing 6-2 win over the Blindman Valley Brewers last week while the Razorbacks opened the season with a 15-10 loss to the Eckville Expos on Friday.

WEDNESDAY - PBL ACTION

INNISFAIL WINS OPENER

The Innisfail Indians opened their 2009 Parkland Baseball League season on a very cold - but none the less, winning note on Tuesday night.

The Indians relied on two newcomers to the mound in Noel Wyman and Darcy Nielsen in a 6-2 win over the Blindman Valley Brewers.

Wyman allowed 2 runs over 4 innings while Darcy Nielsen pitched a gem, striking out 6 over 3 scoreless innings.

Desmond Booteiller went 2 for 2, driving in a pair while Ryan Carr had 2 R-B-Is pacing the offense for Innisfail.

The Indians will have Ace Matt Macleod on the mound next Wednesday (May 20th) when they open their season at home against the Red Deer Razor Backs.

Click here for a full Indians Schedule and Roster.

MONDAY - THIS WEEK IN CENTRAL ALBERTA SPORTS

FRONT OFFICE CHANGES FOR GRIZZLYS

With last month's departure of General Manager Darryl Einarson it's clear changes are inevitable but there's more to it than just the hiring of a new GM.

According to team President Jim Ross, the Grizzlys organization will be completely dissolving the title of General Manager and will instead be looking to hire a Business Operations Manager.

Both the Business Operations Manager and Kevin Hasselberg, Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, will answer directly to the Board of Governors.

Ross says the Board will be responsible for the long term viability and decision making of the team.

More light will be shed on the position and any potential candidates at the Grizzlys upcoming Board of Governors meeting.
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STOODLEY OFF TO SAIT

Shadoe Stoodley will join a couple of Grizzlys alumni on the roster of the SAIT Trojans this fall.

The 20 year old forward will be part of a Trojans squad that will be gunning for a 3rd straight Alberta College Athletics Conference title.

Other former Grizzlys playing for SAIT include forward Kyle Dorowicz and defenseman Kirk Deeg.

Stoodley spent 4 seasons with Olds' AJHL club - during that time the rugged winger register 47 goals, 86 points, and 548 penalty minutes in 143 games.

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FIVE FOR VIPERS

The team that rolled through the competition in the B-C-H-L and swept through the best the A-J-H-L had to offered in the Doyle Cup - added another notch to their belts yesterday.

The Vernon Vipers beat the defending champion Humboldt Broncos 2-0 - to win the 2009 RBC Royal Bank Cup.

With the win the Vipers are the first team to claim the National Junior 'A' Championship a total of five times.

More impressive than the Championship it self was the road Vernon took in getting there - while in playing a total of 27 post-season games, the Vipers lost only 5.

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GREAT NEWS FOR CJHL

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING AGREEMENT. . .

TUESDAY - THE WEEK THAT WAS

GRADUATING GRIZZLYS CLEAN-UP AT ANNUAL AWARDS

Curtis DeBruyn and Brance Orban were the big winners at the Olds Grizzlys Annual Banquet.

DeBruyn nabbed 3 pieces of hardware while Orban was a double winner.

Here's the list of the recipients:

Top Defenceman - Curtis deBruyn

Most Improved Player - Ben Wilson

Kiwanis Club Most Sportsmanlike Player - Chad Berglund

Rookie Of The Year - Mitchell Maxwell

Community Player Of the Year - Corbin Karl

Most Dedicated Player - Curtis deBruyn

Top Defensive Forward - Corey Campbell

Presidents Award - Curtis deBruyn

Regular Season MVP - Brance Orban

Scholastic Award - Brendan Algeo

Leading Scorer - Brance Orban

Playoff MVP - Jordan Kwas

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CENTRAL ALBERTANS DRAFTED TO DUB

As expected Trochu's Mike Winther followed up a huge 2008/2009 season by going in the top 10 during the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

The 15 year old forward, who led the Airdrie Xtreme to the Western Canadian Bantam Championship & an Alberta Major Bantam League title went 6th overall to the Prince Albert Raiders.

Winther talks about the draft and his future home in the WHL.

Olds' Zane Jones was went in the 5th round of the Draft & 91st overall.

Jones, who also competed in the Alberta Cup as a member of the Central Thrashers, was drafte by the Chilliwack Bruins.

Jones and being selected 91st overall.

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OLDS PRODUCT CONTINUES TO SHINE IN AHL

Olds' Jason Jaffray and the Manitoba Moose are a game away from the American Hockey League's Conference Finals.

Jaffray had his name on all of Manitoba's goals - picking up a pair of helpers and scoring an empty marker in the 3-1 road win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday night - boosting their series lead to 3 games to none.

In nine playoff games, Jaffray has nine points so far and is 4th in the AHL's playoff scoring race.
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FINALLY . . .

Its time to tee it up in Olds.

The Olds Central Highlands Golf Course is now taking tee times.

Head Golf Pro Wade Bearchell says the greens are in incredible shape.

To book a tee time contact the course at 556- 8008.