Central Alberta Sports Report

WEDNESDAY - KOROLUK MAKES IT EIGHT, JAFFRAY AND MOOSE STILL ALIVE & AJHL ALUMNI CLASH IN NATION'S CAPITAL AND SO MUCH MORE . . .

2009-06-10T07:07:00.001-07:00

THE GREAT EIGHT

The Olds Grizzlys have announced that 20 year old forward Carey Koroluk has committed to Mount Royal College.

Koroluk will join the Cougars in the Alberta College Athletics Conference this fall.

The Calgary product had 2 goals and 7 points in 46 regular season games with the Grizzlys - and, despite battling through injuries, he increased his production dramatically in the playoffs by notching 5 points in 8 games.

Koroluk becomes the 8th member of last year's team to find a home at the next level.

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MOOSE MAKE IT 6

Olds' Jason Jaffray and his Manitoba Moose have fought to see another playoff game this season.

The Moose staved off elimination with a 3-2 win over the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League's Calder Cup final on Tuesday night.

Jaffray picked up an assist in the game 5 win for Manitoba.

The Bears sill lead the series 3 games to 2.
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HEATLEY VS. CLOUSTON

It was reported on Tuesday that former Alberta Junior Hockey League and now NHL Super-Star Dany Heatley wants out of Ottawa and some reports suggest it may have to do with another former AJHLer.

According to the Ottawa Sun, Heatley want the Senators to trade him away because he wasn't happy with his new and diminished role under former AJHL Bench Boss and now current Sens Coach Cory Clouston.

Heatley's sentiments aren't unsuspected.

Under Clouston Heatley was moved to the second power play unit, played in the neighbourhood of 12 to 14 minutes per game and is coming off a season which saw him register 39 goals and 33 assists - his lowest offensive contribution in a Sens' Uniform.

The Sun states that according to league sources the differences between to two AJHL Alumni are irreconcilable.

Heatley, who scored 70 goals in his rookie campaign with the Calgary Canucks, won't be an easy trade - having 5 years remaining in a 6 year 46 milion dollar deal.

Clouston meantime, a former AJHL coach of the year for his work with the Grande Prairie Storm, replaced Craig Harstberg near the end of last season and had his iterim tag removed after coaching the Sens to a 19 - 11 - and - 4 record.
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SUTTER STEPS DOWN

Will Brent Sutter come back to his Red Deer Rebels?

Will he work under brother Darryl and Coach the Calgary Flames?

Only time will tell.

One thing is for sure however, he will not be coaching the New Jersey Devils next season.

During a conference call from his ranch near Sylvan Lake, Sutter made it offical and resigned as head coach of the Devils.

Sutter cited personal and family reasons for the decision adding that the Devils' crushing loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in first-round of this year's playoffs had nothing to do with it.
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INNISFAIL LOOKS TO SHAKE THE RUST OFF

After a 10 day lay off the Innisfail Indians get back into the swing of things in Parkland Baseball League action tonight.

Innisfail welcomes the Blindman Valley Brewers - having beaten them 6-2 in their season opening meeting nearly a month ago.

The Indians wrapped up the month of May with a 3 and 3 record and sit 3rd in the East Division.
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LOCAL WATER SKIIERS MAKING INTERNATIONAL WAVES

The world water skiing championships will be held in Calgary this year.

And, over the weekend, a couple of local competitors continued to tune up for the event.

(Llewellyn)

Jaret Llewellyn of Innisfail earned a silver medal in Zachary, Louisiana at the L-A Night Jam.

The nine time world champion flew 66.75 meters in the men's jump event.

Ryan Dodd of Olds finished 4th.

(Dodd)

WEDNESDAY - JAFFRAY'S TRICK, INDIANS .500 AFTER MAY, DAINES ENTERS THE HALL, AJHL NEWS AND NOTES

2009-06-03T09:01:00.001-07:00

OLDS PRODUCT PLAYS BIG ROLE IN SERIES TIE-UP

Olds' Jason Jaffray and his Manitoba Moose have made the Calder Cup Final a Best of Five.

Jaffray scored all three goals for his Moose in a 3 - 1 win over the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League on Tuesday night, tieing the Cup Final at a game a piece.

According to Manitoba's assistant captain it may have been the biggest game of his career and he credits his coaches for putting him in the situation to contribute.

"The Coaches stuck with me - it's been a while since I've potted a couple of goals but he put me into a great situation tonight," Jaffray said, "he put me into a shooting spot on the power play and just showed confidence in me."

"I mean I think it's been seven or eight games since I've scored" he noted.

Jaffray's last goal for the Moose came in Game 3 of the 2nd Round but that doesn't mean he hasn't been effective - having registered 17 points in 18 playoff games this season.

The Series now shifts to Hershey on Saturday.

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Hershey's Roster includes a very familiar name to Central Albertans.

Beagle . . . no not former Grizzlys Captain Kent, but former Calgary Royals star Jay.

In 122 AJHL Games Jay Beagle scored 38 goals for the Royals and 107 points.
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A BUSY WEEKEND FOR INDIANS

The Innisfail Indians are 3 and 3 on month into the the Parkland Baseball League Season.

The Indians closed out the month of May with 3 games in 3 days - suffering a set back on May 29th at home to Rocky and their Ace Kris Johnson.

Johnson pitched the Red Dogs to a 4-0 win after a 2 hit shut-out performance .

On May 31st Innisfail went one and one in a double header in Beiseker against the defending champion Canadians.

Innisfail won game one 3-2 thanks to Matt Macleod's closing performance - while it was the Canadians winning game two in a wild 15-14 slug-fest.

The Indians are now in the midst of a 10 day layoff and are back in action on June 10th when they welcome Blindman Valley.
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DAINES ENTERS ALBERTA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Innisfail's Jack Daines was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame as a rodeo builder on May 29th.

Daines says being honoured by the province is very special to him.

Jack Daines and his son Duane are now both members of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame & the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

Daines says it must be good family genes.

Now that his induction to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame has taken place, Jack will once again be turning his attention to the Innisfail Pro Rodeo...its coming up from June 11 to the 14th at the Danies Ranch.
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AJHL NEWS AND NOTES

Reducing the number of games from 62 down to 60 is one of the minor changes being made by the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

That decision was made on Saturday by the AJHL's Board of Governors at their annual general meeting in Red Deer.

The full league schedule will be annouced in July.

The 2010 AJHL All-Star Weekend is being hosted by the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, while a location has yet to be announced for this year's Showcase Weekend.

The annual general meeting for the Olds Grizzlys is coming up on June 10th at the Olds Curling Club.

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

2009-05-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

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 t alks about why he's been able to contribut e 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

2009-05-20T08:24:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

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.

WEDNESDAY - LET ME GET YOU UP TO SPEED

2009-04-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I'm in the midst of a move and as a first time "home-buyer" who has rented property for the better part of 6 years I did not expect the time, paper-work, appointments, ya da, ya da, ya da.

It's been a crazy few weeks and will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

Until things calm down Central Alberta Sports Report will feature, at the very least, a weekly edition as opposed to daily updates.

So with all of that said. Let me get you up to speed.

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DeBRUYN FINDS HIS NEXT HOCKEY HOME

The Olds Grizzlys are pleased to announce that 20-year-old defenseman Curtis deBruyn has committed to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Curtis will join the Chargers (College Hockey America) for the 2009 season.

Curtis joined the Olds Grizzlys in the 2005/06 season as a 17 year old. During his four year campaign with the Olds Grizzlys Curtis has proven to everyone that perseverance, dedication, and will turned his dream into reality.

While suffering broken jaws, numerous roles and the pressure of leading a young team to the Final Four during his final year of Junior hockey, Curtis never stopped believing that hard work would pay off. Capping his junior career off as the leading scoring defenseman in the AJHL Playoffs with 18 points in 15 games was proof he was deserving of a Division 1 Scholarship.

Olds Coach Kevin Hassel berg on deBruyn's past with the Grizzlys and future with the Chargers.

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CENTRAL ALBERTA REPRESENTED IN AHL PLAYOFFS

A couple of Olds products are head to head in the American Hockey League's post-season.

Jason Jaffray's Manitoba Moose beat Jay Rosehill's Toronto Marlies 5-1 on Tuesday - tieing the series at 2 games a piece.

Jaffray scored a goal and added an assist for Manitoba, adding to his now 4 point post-season total.

Rosehill meantime was held pointless.

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CARTER AND COMPANY IN BIG HOLE AT DOYLE CUP

Former Olds Grizzlys Netminder Chad Carter and the rest of the Grande Prairie Storm are in big trouble.

The AJHL versus BCHL Championship series shifted back to Alberta on Tuesday but despite having home ice advantage the Storm lost 2-1, falling into a 3 games to none deficit to the Vernon Vipers.

Game 4 goes Wednesday, with the winner of the best of seven affair punching a ticket to the RBC Cup.
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SEXSMITH PICKS UP 30th WHL POSTSEASON WIN

Former Olds Grizzly Tyson Sexsmith picked up his 30th W-H-L post-season win in helping his Vancouver Giants regain home ice advantage in their WHL Western Conference Final on Tuesday night.

Lance Bouma scored the game winning goal and Sexsmith made 33 saves as the Giants beat the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 - taking a 2 games to 1 series lead in the process.

In the East, the Calgary Hitmen have yet to loose a post-season game.

The Hitmen, who swept their opposition in the first two rounds, beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-3 in Overtime and in doing so took a dominating 3 games to none series lead.

MONDAY - BACK TO THE BLOG

2009-04-13T10:11:00.001-07:00

DOYLE CUP

The Grande Prairie Storm know who they'll be up against in the Doyle Cup.

The Vernon Vipers captured BCHL's Fred Page Cup with a 2-1 win over the Powell River Kings on home ice last night - winning the series 4 games to two.

The Storm and the Vipers will now clash to see who will represent the Pacific Region at the RBC Cup.

The Doyle Cup will kick off in Vernon this Friday.
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WHL STUFF

And then there were 3.

Three teams have advanced to the next round of the Western Hockey League Playoffs.

The Kelowna Rockets joined the ranks of Semi-Finalist after eliminating the Tri-City Americans last night with a 6-2 win, capturing the series 4 games to 2.

Calgary Flames prospect Mikael Backlund scored twice and added a helper in the win for Kelowna.

Elsewhere former Grizzly Tyson Sexsmith made 29 saves for the Vancouver Giants in a 3-2 double overtime win over the Spoke Chiefs.

The win sends the series to a 7th game in Vancouver.

Here in the East - both the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Calgary Hitmen have already advanced.
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GIVE IT UP FOR A FELLOW DRUMHELLION

A pair of AJHLers have been invited to attend the NHL's upcoming Scouting Combine.

Corbin Knight of the Okotoks Oilers and Dylan Olsen of the Camrose Kodiaks will join more than 100 of the best draft eligible players from around the world for a series of physical, medical and psychological tests prior to the NHL's Draft.

A couple of Red Deer Rebels have also been invited to attend including Landon Ferraro and Cassidy Mappin of Drumheller.

The combine goes June 26th and 27th from Montreal.
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ALLAN CUP

The 2009 edition of the Allan Cup kicks off today in Steinbach, Manitoba.

The puck drops on the Nation's Senior Mens Hockey Championship Tournament when Manitoba's South East Prairie Thunder play Saskatchewan's Lloydminster Border Kings this afternoon.

While the Chinook Hockey League and Pacific Region champion Bentley Generals open the Tournament tomorrow against the likes of Former Calgary Theoren Fleury and the host Steinbach Northstars.

The Generals were runners up last year after loosing to the host Brantford Blast in Championship game.

TUESDAY - ACAL ACTION

2009-04-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

THE UPSET

The Olds College Lady Broncos were on the wrong side of an upset after this weekend's Alberta Colleges Athletic League's Basketball Championships were in the books.

The Number 1 ranked Lady Broncs fell to the Number 3 ranked Keyano Huskies of Fort McMurray 53-45 in the Gold Medal Game on Sunday.

As a result of a first round bye the only other game Olds played over the weekend was a convincing 76 to 57 win over the Number 4 Seed Rocky Mountain College Rams.

Meantime O.C.'s Mens Basketball team also fell victim to an upset when the 4th Ranked Ambrose University College Lions downed the 3rd Ranked Broncos 58-53 in the Bronze Medal Game.

Earlier in the Tourney the Broncs beat 6th Ranked 78-62 in the Quarter Finals but fell in the Semis to 2nd Ranked Keyano 85-79.

MONDAY - G.P. GRABS THE BROOMS & A WHOLE LOT MORE . . .

2009-04-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

SAINTS SWEPT BY STORM

The Grande Prairie Storm have pulled off the upset - and have done so in dominating fashion.

The Storm completed a 4 game sweep over the Spruce Grove Saints last night.

Morgan MacLean scored his 2nd goal of the contest in double over time, in turn giving his team a 4-3 win and the title of 2008-2009 AJHL Champions.

Former Grizzly Netminder Chad Carder stopped 35 of 38 shots in the win for Grande Prairie while Vincenzo Marrozi made 45 saves in the loss for Canada's Number 1 Ranked Spruce Grove.

The Storm's AJHL Championship comes just 5 years apart from their last when in 2003-2004 G.P hoisted the then Rogers Wireless Cup.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Grande Prairie Storm at 6:10 (PP) - Adam Young (unassisted)

Spruce Grove Saints at 11:30 - Scott Allen from Josh Keizer and Brendan Lines

PERIOD 2

Grande Prairie Storm at 7:45 (PP) - Morgan MacLean from Tanner Fritz and Dennis Rix

Grande Prairie Storm at 14:59 (SH) - Blake Clement from Zahn Raubenheimer

PERIOD 3

Spruce Grove Saints at 14:48 (PP) - Nate Fleming (unassisted)

Spruce Grove Saints at 19:39 - Curt Morrison from Brett Cameron

OVERTIME PERIOD 2

Grande Prairie Storm at 11:50 - Morgan MacLean from Blake Clement

ROWNEY NAMED MVP

Though he was held of the scoring sheet last night, Grande Prairie Carter Rowney was named the 2008-2009 Playoff MVP.

The 19 year-old Rowney from Sexsmith, Alberta scored 3 game winning goals, 7 power play goals adding to his 18 points in 19 post-season games.

While despite playing in only 15 games, Grizzlys forward Jordan Kwas finished in a tie for 3rd in post-season scoring with 20 points - good for a 1.3 points per game average.

THE LIST

With their Championship the Grande Prarie Storm join an exclusive club of teams to reach AJHL Glory.

AJHL Champions
2008-09 __ Grande Prairie Storm
2007-08 __ Camrose Kodiaks
2006-07 __ Camrose Kodiaks
2005-06 __ Fort McMurray Oil Barons
2004-05 __ Camrose Kodiaks

2003-04 __ Grande Prairie Storm
2002-03 __ Camrose Kodiaks
2001-02 __ Drayton Valley
2000-01 __ Camrose Kodiaks
1999-00 __ Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1998-99 __ Calgary Canucks
1997-98 __ St. Albert Saints
1996-97 __ Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1995-96 __ St. Albert Saints
1994-95 __ Calgary Canucks
1993-94 __ Olds Grizzlys
1992-93 __ Olds Grizzlys
1991-92 __ Olds Grizzlys
1999-91 __ Calgary Royals
1989-90 __ Calgary Canucks
1988-89 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1987-88 __ Calgary Canucks
1986-87 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1985-86 __ Calgary Canucks
1984-85 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1983-84 __ Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1982-83 __ Calgary Canucks
1981-82 __ St. Albert Saints
1980-81 __ St. Albert Saints
1979-80 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1978-79 __ Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1977-78 __ Calgary Canucks
1976-77 __ Calgary Canucks
1975-76 __ Spruce Grove Mets
1974-75 __ Spruce Grove Mets
1973-74 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1972-73 __ Calgary Canucks
1971-72 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1970-71 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1969-70 __ Red Deer Rustlers
1968-69 __ Lethbridge Sugar Kings
1967-68 __ Edmonton Western Movers
1966-67 __ Edmonton Western Movers
1965-66 __ Calgary Buffaloes
1964-65 __ Calgary Buffaloes

WHAT'S NEXT

The Grande Prairie Storm will now face off against the BCHL League Champion in the 2009 Edition of the Doyle Cup.

The Storm will face the winner of the Vernon Vipers - Powell River Kings BCHL Championship Series.

The Doyle Cup kicks off on April 17th in British Columbia with the winner qualifying for the 2009 RBC Cup National Junior 'A' Championships in Victoria.

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HASSELBERG OFF TO TIMMONS

Grizzly's Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg has been named an Assistant Coach for Team Pacific at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Hasselberg will work under Head Coach Micheal Dyck of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the upcoming tournament which is made up of 10 teams from the Atlantic Region, the Ontario Region, the Pacific Region, the Quebec Region and the West Region along with International teams from Germany, Russia, Finland, Slovakia, and the United States.

Hasselberg, who's been the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Olds Grizzlys for the past 4 years, says he looking forward to the opportunity.

"It's a possition I've been applying for for the past couple of season's now and I guess they felt I was ready," Hasselberg explained. "I'm very honored and proud to be apart of that program".

The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which bring together the worlds best players born in or later than 1993, will take place in Timmons, Ontario from December 28 to January 4th.

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GRIZZ SPRING CAMP WRAPS UP

The Olds Grizzlys wrapped up their annual spring camp on Sunday.

The team focused on skill development on Friday but for the rest of the weekend played a tournament style competition.

In the 'A' Final yesterday Team Grey coached by Grizzly Net-Minder Marc Boulanger and Defenseman Brendon Algeo blew out Team Black, coached by Grizzly Forwards Sean Neumier and Nic Bourgeois 8-0.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
Brendan Santini was a stand-out. The 6 foot 1 Winger scored two goals for Team Grey. Santini has actually already seen AJHL action, playing 1 game for the Grizzlys against the Calgary Royals last season where he notched an assist. The 15 year old was drafted in the 5th round by the Calgary Hitmen after an outstanding 2008 Campaign with the Calgary Northstar Sabers where he scored 20 goals and 38 points in 33 games played. This past season, with the Calgary 'AAA' Midget Northstars, Santini score 17 goals and 30 point in 33 games played.
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WHL RESULTS

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINALS

Lethbridge Hurricanes 1 @ Calgary Hitmen 2
(Hitmen lead best-of-seven series 2 Games to none)
*Sundre's Austin Fyten was held pointless in Game 2

Medicine Hat Tigers 6 @ Brandon Wheat Kings 8
(Wheat Kings lead best of seven series 2 Games to none)
*Didsbury's Bretton Camerson scored a goal for the Tiger in Game 2
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BENTLEY PUNCHES TICKET TO STEINBACH

The Bentley Generals are off to the Allan Cup.

The Generals downed the Fort Saint John Flyers 3-2 last night at the Red Deer Arena to win the Best-of-Five Alberta/B.C. 'AAA' Mens Final 3 games to 1.

The 2009 Allan Cup will be played in Steinbach, Manitoba April 13th to the 18th while as the Pacific Representation the Generals will kick off the tournament against the Host Steinbach Northstars on April 14th.

RUMOR MILL
Earlier this year, it was rumored that Former Calgary Flames Great Theoren Fleury would suit up for the Northstars. Apparently Fleury, who's name is on the Roster, will wear number 74 during the Tournament.

SUNDAY - GRIZZ CAMP, ENERFLEX CUP, WHL RESULTS, MacKENZIE CUP & JUNIOR 'B' PROVINCIALS

2009-04-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

GRIZZ BACK IN THE CAVE

The Olds Grizzlys' Spring Camp continues today.

On Friday the Grizzlys and prospects alike focused on skill development while also playing in a tournament style play-down.

The 'A' Final of said play-down goes from the Sportscomplex today at 2:00 PM.

Galen Hartviksen (Play by Play Voice of the Grizzlys) took in yesterday's action and informed me that a team coached by Grizzlys Grinder Sean Neumier upset Jordan Kwas' and Frank Carbonaro's team.

All in all it sounds like the kids are having fun at the Camp and we'll have a full break down tomorrow.
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ONE WIN AWAY. . .

The Grande Prairie Storm are a single win away from pulling off a shocking upset over the Spruce Grove Saints.

Brett Cameron and Jordan Draper scored for the Saints in the first period but three third period goals scored by Matt Williams, Dennis Rix and Blake Clement for the Storm would give Grande Prairie a 3-2 win on home ice and a 3 games to none series lead over the Saints in the AJHL's final.

Former Grizzly Goalie Chad Carder made 24 saves in the win while after sitting in Game 2 of the series Travis Rolheiser made 35 saves in the loss.

Game 4 goes tonight.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Spruce Grove Saints at 17:54 (PP) - Brett Cameron from Brett Switzer

Spruce Grove Saints at 19:06 - Jordan Draper from Joshua Lazowski and Nate Fleming

PERIOD 2

No Scoring

PERIOD 3

Grande Prairie Storm at 2:53 (PP) - Matt Williams from Zahn Raubenheimer and Bobby Tyson

Grande Prairie Storm at 15:05 - Dennis Rix from Doug Reid and Zahn Raubenheimer

Grande Prairie Storm at 16:43 - Blake Clement from Carter Rowney

____________________________
WHL RESULTS

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINALS

Medicine Hat Tigers 3 @ Brandon Wheat Kings 6
-Didsbury's Bretton Cameron was held pointless for the Tigers
(Brandon leads best of Seven Series 1 Game to None)

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINALS

Spokane Chiefs 1 @ Vancouver Giants 4
-Former Grizzly Netminder Tyson Sexsmith made 18 Saves in the Win for Vancouver
-Former Grizzly Forward Steve Kuhn was held Pointless for the Chiefs
(Vancouver leads best of Seven Series 2 Games to None)

Kelowna Rockets 2 @ Tri City Americans 3
(Americans lead best of Seven Series 2 Games to None)
______________________________
BENTLEY BACK ON TOP

The Bentley Generals are once again on top of the MacKenzie Cup Series.

Curtis Austring scored 2 goals helping the Generals to a 3 to 1 win over the Fort Saint John Flyers.

With the win Bentley takes a 2 games to 1 lead in the best of 5 Alberta/B.C. 'AAA' Mens Hockey
Final.

Game 4 goes tonight from the Red Deer Arena.
______________________________
COCHRANE OUSTED FROM PROVINCIALS

The Cochrane Generals were eliminated from the Junior 'B' Provincials yesterday.

Cochrane fell 5-1 to the Lloydminster Bandits in the tournament's Semi Finals.

The Generals were the last team remaining from the Heritage Junior Hockey League in the Tournament.

The Finals go today and will feature the Whitecourt Wolverines up against the Bandits.

SATURDAY - GRIZZ SPRING CAMP, ENERFLEX CUP, WHL RESULTS, MacKENZIE CUP, JUNIOR 'B' PROVINCIALS

2009-04-04T16:21:00.001-07:00

GRIZZLYS SPRING CAMP UNDER WAY

The Olds Grizzlys Spring Camp kicked off on Friday.

The team is in the midst of a tournament style play-down at the Sportscomplex.

I'll be in attendance for the 'A' Final tomorrow afternoon and will have a camp break down for Monday.
_______________________________

STORM LOOK FOR STRANGLE HOLD ON SAINTS

The Grande Prairie Storm can take the next step toward a very big upset tonight.

The Storm lead the Best-of-Seven Enerflex Cup Championship Series 2 games to none and will look to take a 3 game lead in Grande Prairie.

G-P beat the Saints in both games played in Spruce Grove earlier this week thanks in large part to former Grizzly Goalie Chad Carder.

Carder has allowed only 1 goal in the two games of the Championship tilt thus far, earning a .983 Save Percentage.
_____________________________

FLYERS EARN A MEASURE OF REVENGE

The Fort Saint John Flyers have tied the Best-of-Five MacKenzie Cup Series.

Six different Flyers scored goals en route to a 6-3 win over the Bentley Generals last night.

Over 1800 fans took in Game 2 of the Alberta/B.C. 'AAA' Mens Final at the Red Deer Arena.

Game 3 goes tonight.
________________________________

WHL RESULTS

Calgary Hitmen 7 Lethbridge Hurricanes 1
(Himen lead best of Seven Series 1 Game to none)
*Sundre's Austin Fyten was held pointless for the Hurricanes

Vancouver Giants 3 Spokane Chiefs 1
(Giants lead best of Seven Series 1 Game to none)
*Former Grizzly Tyson Sexsmith made 18 Saves in the Giants net

Tri City Americans 4 Kelowna Rockets 3
(Americans lead best of Seven Series 1 Game to none)
________________________________________

JUNIOR 'B' PROVINCIALS

The Cochrane Generals are through to the Semis at Hockey Alberta's Junior 'B' Provincial Tournament in Cold Lake.

The Generals finished the Round Robin with a 2 and 1 record and will now face the Lloydminster Bandits tomorrow for a chance at the finals.

The Stettler Lightning were eliminated from the tournament, finishing with a 1 and 2 record.

Both the Lightning and Generals advanced from the Heritage Junior Hockey League.

FRIDAY - ENERFLEX CUP, MacKENZIE CUP, WHL, U-18 HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS, JUNIOR 'B' PROVINCIALS

2009-04-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

NO HOME ICE ADVANTAGE FOR SAINTS

Home ice wasn't much of an advantage for the Spruce Grove Saints.

The Grande Prairie Storm beat the Saints 2-1 last night in Spruce Grove and took a huge 2 games-to-none lead in the Best-of-Seven AJHL Championship Series in the process.

Former Olds Grizzly Chad Carder made 33 saves while Tanner Fritz and Matt Williams provided the offense for the Storm.

Spruce Grove now has a long road ahead of them - both literally and figuratively.

The Saints will make the 5 hour drive to G-P for Game 3 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

Grande Prairie Storm at 6:11 (PP) - Matt Williams from Dennis Rix and Zahn Raubenheimer

Spruce Grove Saints at 13:37 - Connor Hardowa from Colton Yaremovich and Shane Lehman

Grande Prairie Storm at 16:49 (PP) - Tanner Fritz from Morgan MacLean

PERIOD 3

No Scoring

INTERESTING TO NOTE
The Saints Power Play continue to struggle. Going 0 for 4 last night. They're 2 for 32 in their last 6 games. That's a 6.25% conversion rate and that won't work for anybody in the playoffs.

________________________________________

WHL'S ROUND 2

The Western Hockey League's Second Round of Post-Season action gets underway tonight. Here's a list of the match-ups along with who to keep an eye on in Round 2:

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINALS

Calgary Hitmen (1) Vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes (7)

Hitmen: Chase Schaber & Paul Postma both out of Red Deer

Hurricanes: Sundre's Austin Fyten & Former Olds Grizzly Max Ross

Brandon Wheat Kings (3) Vs. Medicine Hat Tigers (5)

Tigers: Didsbury's Bretton Cameron

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI FINALS

Vancouver Giants (1) Vs. Spokane Chiefs (4)

Giants: Former Olds Grizzly Tyson Sexsmith & Lance Bouma out of Provost

Chiefs: Former Olds Grizzly Steve Kuhn from Oyen & Cochrane's Trevor Glass and Justin McCrae

Tri-City Americans (2) Vs. Kelowna Rockets (3)

Americans: Justin Feser out of Red Deer

Rockets: Hanna's Ryley Grantham
________________________________________
BENTLEY UP TO THEIR USUAL TRICKS

The Bentley Generals kicked off their attempt at a 3rd straight MacKenzie Cup with a big win last night.

Former Hartford Whaler Kevin Smyth scored twice for the Generals - helping them beat the Fort Saint John Flyers 5-2 at the Red Deer Arena.

With the win the Generals take a one game to none series lead - Game 2 goes tonight.

The winner of the best-of-5 Series is off to Steinbach, Manitoba for a crack at the Allen Cup.
_______________________________________
AJHL REPRESENTED ON U-18 ROSTER

Camrose Kodiaks Blue-Liner Dylan Olsen was named to Hockey Canada's and the Canadian Hockey League's roster for the upcoming IIHF World Under 18 Hockey Championships.

Olsen, who has 54 career points in 104 games with the Kodiaks, joins a list of 21 other players born in or before 1991 from Hockey Leagues from all over the country - including the likes of the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.

Red Deer Rebels stand out Landon Farraro also cracked the line-up.

The Championships will be played in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorehead, Minnesota from April 9th to the 19th.
_______________________________________
STETTLER AND COCHRANE AT PROVINCIALS

Alberta's Junior 'B' Provincials continue today.

Both the Stettler Lightning and the Cochrane Generals are in Cold Lake representing the Heritage Junior League.

Cochrane downed the Sheerwood Park Knights 6-4 last night and will face the host Cold Lake Ice in Game 2 of Round Robin action.

The Lightning meantime lost 4-2 to the Fort Saskatchewan Hawks while today Stettler is back faces the Lloydminster Bandits.

The Semis goes tomorrow while the finals will go Sunday.

THURSDAY - GAME 1 GOES TO G.P., WHL'S CANES, 'AAA' IN RED DEER, AND ACAL B-BALL

2009-04-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

CARDER AND STORM STEAL GAME 1

Former Olds Grizzly Chad Carder made 28 saves in helping the Grande Prairie Storm steal home ice advantage from the Spruce Grove Saints.

Offense proved to be just as vital for the Storm as Tanner Fritz, Carter Rowney and Dennis Rix each scored in the 3-0 Game 1 Enerflex Cup Championship Series win.

The Saints will try to rebound, once again on home ice, tonight for Game 2.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

Grande Prairie Storm at 3:52 - Tanner Fritz from Brooks Robinson

Grande Prairie Storm at 17:22 (PP) - Carter Rowney from Tanner Fritz and Adam Young

PERIOD 3

Grande Prairie Storm at 7:41 (PP) - Dennis Rix from Matt Williams

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Once the leagues most feared team on the Power Play, the Saints' offensive production with the man advantage has been non existent. Despite maintaining a 30% conversion rate on the PP during the regular season and into the first round of the playoffs - Spruce Grove's Power Play is clicking at just 7%, going 2 for 28 in their last 5 games.
_________________________________
CANES PULL UPSET

The Lethbridge Hurricanes entered the Western Hockey League's post-season as the 7th seed, but that didn't stop them from ousting the number 2 seed Saskatoon Blades.

The Canes downed the Blades 4-3 in Game 7 last night, winning the Eastern Conference Quarter Final Series 4 Games to 3.

Lethbridge doesn't have much time to focus on Round 1's upset as they have an even bigger challenge waiting in Round 2.

The Hurricanes kick off their Eastern Conference Semi Final Series on Friday in Calgary against the Hitmen.

LOCAL CONTENT
Sundre's Austin Fyten finished the series with 1 goal, 2 points and a minus one rating in 7 games, while former Grizzly Blue-Liner Max Ross finished with 2 assists and a minus one rating.
__________________________________
BENTLEY GOES FOR THREE-PEAT.

Winners of the last two MacKenzie Cup series - the Bentley Generals look to make it three-in-a-row starting tonight in Red Deer.

The Generals will once again face off with the Fort St. John Flyers in a 'AAA' Senior Men's Hockey battle - pitting the best from Alberta and British Columbia against each other in a best of 5 series, the winner of which will head to Steinbach, Manitoba as the Pacific representative at this year's Allan Cup tournament.

It won't be the first time these two teams have met up as Bentley beat the Flyers in both 2007 and 2008.

All games in the series will be played at the Red Deer Arena as in 2008 it was B.C.'s honor to host the Tourney.
___________________________________
OLDS COLLEGE HEADS TO A.C.A.L. ACTION

Though the Olds College Broncos and the Lady Broncos finished the regular season with much different results - both head into this weekend's Alberta College Athletic League's Basketball Championships with the same goal - Gold.

The Lady Broncos finished the regular season tops in the league and by doing so have earned a first round bye when play begins tomorrow in Calgary.

Lady Broncs' Coach Greg Lendvoy says being the top seed will be key this weekend.

"There's three very competitive teams at the top that we've been juggling back and forth with all year." said Lendvoy. "The bye will allow us to let those two battle it out in the semi finals while we're quite confident going in with the fourth place team will be facing."

"We've beat them handily all year and were quite confident moving forward."

According to Lendvoy, Olds College will likely face either St. Mary's out of Calgary or Fort McMurray's Keyano in the Gold Medal game.

OC's men's team however, won't have such an easy road the Gold.

The Broncos finished the regular season in third spot and will have to play all of their games - and well - to make it to the Championship Contest.

Coach Bob Murray says despite the finish - they still want Gold.

"We wanted to make sure that we improved on the bronze medal that we won last year and I think that we have a group that can do it," explained Murray. "We have moments of brilliance to show what we can do as a group and I think if we can capture a few of those moments this weekend - we could have a shot at making that final and winning the A.C.A.L. championship."

The Broncos are up against Saskatchewan's Bethany College to tip of the Tourney in Calgary tomorrow morning.

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Olds College has yet to earn a Gold Medal in this Season's A.C.A.L action but that's not to say that haven't found success. Last month Olds' Womens Futsal team finished 3rd after beating St. Mary's 2-1 in the Bronze Medal Game, the Men finished 4th, falling to Taylor 6-3 in the Bronze bout. While earlier this Season OC's Womens Volleyball finished 2nd after falling to Number 1 ranked Augustana, the Men earned Bronze - beating Portage 3 sets to 2.

MONDAY - THE ENERFLEX CUP, WHL, UNIVERSITY HOCKEY ACTION

2009-03-30T12:05:00.001-07:00

RACE TO THE CUP

Two combatants have entered the final leg in the race to the Enerflex Cup.

The Spruce Grove Saints will host on the Grande Prairie Storm on Wednesday for Game 1 of the best of 7 affair.

STATS CENTRAL

Head-to-Head Regular Season Records

Grande Prairie Storm @ Spruce Grove Saints 2 - 3 OT
Grande Prairie Storm @ Spruce Grove Saints 2 - 3
Spruce Grove Saints @ Grande Prairie Storm 4 - 2
Spruce Grove Saints @ Grande Prairie Storm 1 - 2
Spruce Grove Saints @ Grande Prairie Storm 5 - 1
Grande Prairie Storm @ Spruce Grove Saints 2 - 3

SO FAR ON THE JOURNEY
SAINTS
The Spruce Grove Saints entered the 2009 edition of the post-season later than most in the league - receiving the coveted 1st round North Division bye. In Round 2 the Saints made short work of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons - downing the last year's Enerflex Cup runners up in 5 games. With the series win the Saints also gained a measure of revenge over the MOB, who had downed Spruce Grove in last year's edition of the Semi-Finals. The Saints would then sweep the Olds Girzzlys out of their way into the finals - downing Olds in 4 straight games. In total Spruce Grove played only 9 games en route to the Alberta Junior Hockey League Finals.

STORM
The Grande Prairie Storm advanced to the 2009 League Final by eliminating the Lloydminster Bobcats, winning the first round best of five series 3 games 1. The Sherwood Park Crusaders would also put up a fight - forcing the Storm to 6 games while eliminating the Brooks Bandits in 5 games in the Semis. In total the Storm have played 15 games to get to the Finals.

THE BEST OF THE BEST
The Enerflex Cup Finals will feature two of the best teams in the Alberta Junior Hockey League this season. The Grande Prairie Storm won 42 games this year, loosing in regulation 15 times while picking up a single point in a combine 5 ties and overtime defeats. The only team better - was the Spruce Grove Saints - with a 46-7-4-5 record.

GRIZZLY CONTENT
Konrad Becker started 2008-2009 with the Olds Grizzlys but was traded to the Spruce Grove Saints for 18 year old defenseman Frank Carbonaro mid-season. While former Grizzlys' Net-Minder Chad Carder was traded this past off-season for future considerations.

IN THE EYES OF THE CAPTAIN
After being eliminated by the Spruce Grove Saints, Olds Grizzlys Captain Curtis deBruyn didn't waste time describing the Saints team.

"They're a great team - big, fast, tough - you name, it they have it," he said, "Were looking forward to them going all the way."

________________________________________
CENTRAL ALBERTA REPRESENTED IN CAVENDISH CUP FINAL

Ponoka's Kyle Bailey helped his University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds to a national championship over the weekend.

Baily picked up to assists for UNB in a 4-2 win over Western in Sunday's CIS Men's Hockey Championship Game.

The win marks the second time in 3 years that the Varsity Reds have hoisted the Cavendish Cup.

The heavily favored U of A Golden Bears posted a disappointing 1 and 1 record during this weekend's tournament.
_____________________________________
BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS LAND A SPOT IN FROZEN FOUR

The future home of Grizzlys' Sniper Brance Orban is making a big name for itself south of the boarder.

The Beavers upset Cornell 4-1 to earn a spot in the Frozen Four of the NCAA men's Hockey Tournament.

Bemidji State not only pulled the upset over Cornell but were the lowest ranked team to enter the original field of 16.

Meantime Minnesota-Duluth, the future home of Grizzlys' Blue-Liner Wade Bergman, fell to Miami of Ohio 2-1.

Both Bergman and Orban will join their respective clubs next season.
________________________________________

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Didsbury's Bretton Cameron and his Medicine Hat Tigers will see another WHL post-season game in 2009.

The Tigers blanked the Swift Current Broncos 3-0 on Sunday - forcing a 7th and deciding game in their first round tilt.

So far, Cameron has 3 goals in 6 games in the post-season for the Tigers.

Meantime Sundre's Austin Fyten and the Lethbridge Hurricanes will try to books a date with the Calgary Hitmen in tonight's action.

The Canes are up 3 games to 2 on the Saskatoon Blades and have a chance to pull the upset on home ice.

Lethbridge was the 7th seed heading to post season while the Blades were 2nd and with a win the Canes would draw the Nation's Top Ranked Team in the Hitmen for Round 2.

SUNDAY - THE AJHL'S NORTH & WHL STUFF

2009-03-29T09:18:00.001-07:00

GRANDE PRAIRIE ADVANCES TO FINAL

It'll be an all North Final. The Grande Prairie Storm put the finishing touches on the Brooks Bandits last night on home ice, winning 3-2 and taking the semi-final series 4 games to 1 in the process. Former Olds Grizzly Goalie Chad Carter made 17 saves in the win, while his offense was story in Game 5 - launching 37 shots on Robb Gunderson in the Bandits net. The Storm will now advance to the Enerflex Cup Final to play the Spruce Grove Saints.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Brooks Bandits at 4:13 - John Stimson from Chris Markiewicz and Jarret Granberg

Grande Prairie Storm at 14:34 - Zahn Raubenheimer from Dennis Rix

PERIOD 2

Grande Prairie Storm at 8:22 (PP) - Carter Rowney from Adam Young

Brooks Bandits at 18:24 (PP) - Jarret Granberg from Cam Creighton and Chris Markiewicz

PERIOD 3

Grande Prairie Storm at 16:30 - Brenden Turnbull from Morgan MacLean

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Brooks did not win a single playoff game away from home ice this year. The Bandits were a great home team in the regular season and in the playoffs but for some reason couldn't transfer their home ice success to the road.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
This is why the AJHL's cross over shouldn't take place until the Finals. To me it makes so much more sense to have an actual Southern and Northern Champion and then to have them square off against each other. I'm not saying the results would have been any different, lets be honest Spruce Grove and Grande Prairie are both great teams, but it would at least offer some sense of closure for teams like the Brooks Bandits and Olds Grizzlys. To hold the cross-over off until the final would also, for the most part be more cost efficient for teams. Gas, Food, the number of nights spent in a Hotel - it all adds up, and for some teams in this league, every little bit matters. And finally it would be more of a rallying cry for fans from each division. To be honest, I've lost a lot of interest in the Finals. Keeping an eye on a team in finals that met up with the Grizzlys six times in the regular season and most likely a series in the playoffs just seems more appealing.
_____________________________________
THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

There's only a pair of First Round Tilts left to go in the WHL's post-season - both of which have Central Alberta representation.

Sundre's Austin Fyten and the Lethbridge Hurricanes have a 3 games to 2 series lead over the Saskatoon Blades. The Hurricanes were the 7th seeded team in the East entering the playoffs while the Blades were the 2nd. Game 6 goes from Lethbridge on Monday.

Meantime Didsbury's Bretton Cameron and the Medicine Hat Tigers will try to avoid elimination tonight when they play host to the Swift Current Broncos in Game 6. The Broncos have a 3 games to 2 lead. Swift Current was the 4th seed in the East while the Tigers were the 5th.

CENTRAL ALBERTANS MOVING ON
Calgary Hitmen - The Hitmen swept the Oil Kings out of the playoffs in Round 1. Keep an eye on Chase Schaber and Paul Postma both out of Red Deer.

Vancouver Giants - The Giants downed the Prince George Cougars in 4 straight games to advance to Round 2. Keep an eye on former Olds Grizzly Tyson Sexsmith from Priddis and Lance Bouma out of Provost.

Tri-City Americans - The Americans are off to Round 2 after downing the Everit Silvertips 3 games to 1. Keep an eye on Justin Feser out of Red Deer.

Kelowna Rockets - The Rockets swept the Kamloops Blazers out of the playoff pictures. Keep an eye on Hanna's Ryley Grantham.

Spokane Chiefs - The Chiefs ousted the Seattle Thunderbirds in 5 Games. Keep an eye on former Olds Grizzly Steve Kuhn from Oyen along with Cochrane's Trevor Glass and Justin McCrae.

FRIDAY - WHAT A SEASON!

2009-03-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

A HELL OF A RUN!

On Tuesday night the Olds Grizzlys' improbable and unpredicted run into the AJHL's Frozen Four came to grinding halt.

By now I'm sure you've read the stats and stories and have a pretty good handle of the game and the series - so I'll spare the details.

However, I will say this, the Grizzlys' poured their hearts and souls on to the ice in Game 4 of the Semi-Finals against the League's and the Nation's Top Ranked Spruce Grove Saints - and it was one of the best efforts I've seen from any team in a very long time.

I'll also give a genuine and heartfelt good luck to the Saints in their quest for the Enerflex, Doyle, and RBC cups.

There's no doubt in my mind they'll be in Victoria come may.

With all of that said, it's important to mention that the Olds Grizzlys weren't supposed to reach this Semi-Finals, in fact some thought they weren't supposed to reach the second round early on in the season.

But a team built on integrity, team chemistry and heart proved to be amongst the best in the league in the 2008-2009 season.

NOTEWORTHY
After Game 4 Grizzlys Coach Kevin Hasselberg talked glowingly about his team and in particular the leadership of Captain Curtis deBruyn.

"We were blessed with an extraordinary person in Curtis deBruyn. . . I'm going to miss that kid," said Hasselberg, "He was a hell of a captain and somebody you want your son to grow up to be like."

Hasselberg was equally impressed with the 08-09 Olds Grizzlys.

"They taught me as much as we could have taught them and they gave everything they had," he said, "Coach John Wooden defined success as your personal best and achieving what you could do and tonight and this season - this team was successful"

MOVING ON
For some the run to semi-finals was just a taste of what could potentially lie ahead for them in their Junior Hockey future - while for others it was a great way to cap off their AJHL careers.

Curtis deBruyn - A four year member of the Olds Grizzlys organization. A two year team Captain. In 2008-2009 deBruyn set career highs in goals (10), assists (38) , points (48) and Penalty Minutes (186). He was ranked 3rd in scoring amongst AJHL defensemen and was the highest scoring blue-liner the Grizzlys had seen in four seasons. His playoff numbers didn't fade down the stretch either, scoring 18 points, registering an average of 1.2 per game in the playoffs. deBruyn's leadership and motivational skills are beyond compare - he lead the team as if he was the oldest of 23 brothers, focusing on fun and leading by example both on and off the ice. (How this kid hasn't been committed to a school south of boarder yet, I'll never know)

Brance Orban - After joining the Grizzlys in 2006-2007 Orban is coming off his most memorable season in the AJHL. Scoring 37 goals (2nd in league) and 78 points (5th in league), Orban was a legitimate scoring threat night in and night out. One of three Alternate Captain's this season, he put up more points than any other Grizzly since way back in 2001-02 when Ryan Huddy scored 84. As if his regular season numbers weren't impressive enough - in his three post-season appearances with the Black and Gold, Orban was a point per game player in the playoffs. (Orban heads to Bemidji State University - a school rich in Grizzly success, every former member of the Black and Gold to head to Bemidji has put up 40 or more goals)

Shadoe Stoodley - Stoodley transformed his game in 2008-2009. Last season Stoodley put up 26 points in 47 games and was more an enforcer notching 216 PIM. This season he put up 21 goals and 25 helpers, earning more than a point per game. One can only imagine his offensive output should he have not missed a handful of games due to injury. Stoodley scored 8 goals and 12 points in the playoffs in '09 and as another Alternate Captain, his quiet leadership on and off the ice will be missed. (Though nothing has been confirmed, there's rumors Stoodley may head to Mount Royal next year.)

Wade Bergman - Bergman's size has never stymied the offensive defenseman. The 5'7'', 150 lbs Bergman was the 2007-2008 Rookie of the Year in the AJHL and averaged .7 points per game in his brief stint with the Black and Gold. His intensity and ability to breeze through the Neutral Zone will be missed next year. (Bergman heads to Minnesota-Duluth next season to join the Bulldogs - yes the same UMD that former NHLer Brett Hull and current Vancouver Canucks' standout Mason Raymond call their Alma Mater)

Matt Tanordi - An injury plagued season really hampered Tanordi in showing Olds what he could offer. That is, until the post-season. Not known for his offensive numbers, Tanordi's aggressive nature along the boards and behind the oppositions net was critical to the success of the Grizzlys in the playoffs. Tanordi finished the regular season with 5 goals and 5 points in 26 games. (Tanordi will attend RPI next season - so you know he's one smart kid. Joe Juneau went to RPI and not only did he go on to enjoy a great NHL career but he's also a rocket scientist.)

Carey Koroluk - Koroluk brought heart and intensity to every shift. After two seasons with the Calgary Royals, Koroluk joined the Olds Grizzlys in 2008-2009 and in my opinion really furthered the development of future grinders Cale Wright and Tanner Dion by leading the way on the ice. He could kill Penalties single handedly, using his speed to dance around the ice every so often would creating short-handed scoring chances because of it. (No word on what Koroluk has planned for next year.)

Ryan Cornforth - Cornforth joined the Grizzlys in December and really provided size on the blue-line. The 6'1'' 210 lbs defenseman also showed his flair for offense in the post-season, most notably in the Semi-Finals against Spruce Grove. (Cornforth started the season with the Augustana Vikings in the ACAC, no word if he plans to head back to school next year.)

ON A PERSONAL NOTE
During the broadcast sign off after Game 4 I said, "If I'm sad it's over, I can't imagine what the players feel like."

After the playoff run - I took a few days away from the blog - it was nice. I managed to eat a meal or two with my family for the first time since February and catch a few WHL and Calgary Flames games (since when do they suck?).

But all 2 of my regular readers will be thrilled to hear I'm now back at the Grind, after all, Spring Camp starts next week.

A LONG SEASON DESERVES A FEW THANK YOUS

First and foremost thank-you to the 2008-2009 Grizzlys who proved to me and the rest of the league that a teamed built on the values of hard work, team unity and having fun (you only need to catch their pre-game work out to see that those kids were having fun) can really do damage in the AJHL.
Thank You to Coach Kevin, Coach Bailer and Coach Olsen who never once treated Galen and I like "the media". I always felt welcome on the bus, during the pre and post game meals, and around the team in general. I can tell you from experience, that's not how all teams work and it made covering the team a real treat.
Thanks to Robb Hunter of the Robb Hunter.com - who when asked if he'd mind if I stole his blog idea replied by saying, "I don't mind at all, so long as you don't call it the Robb Hunter.com"
Thanks to Galen and 96.5 CKfm for allowing me to jump in mid-season.
Thanks to the parents of the players who read this blog. It's weird that they do but weirder still that they tell me they enjoy it.
And a big thanks to my wife and kids. They understand that following a team has always been my passion and come playoff time deal with a zombie who gets 4 hours of sleep a day. I think I saw them three times during the month of March and missed my son say "Hockey" for the first time.

TUESDAY - CUE THE COMEBACK, GRIZZLYS ALUMNI FINDING SUCCESS AND HOCKEY ALBERTA RESULTS

2009-03-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

BAD LUCK, BAD BOUNCES & BAD BREAKS

The first three games of the AJHL's Semi-Final Series between the Olds Grizzlys and the Nation's Top Ranked Spruce Grove Saints will look reletively simple on the stats sheets.

Sure, it's easy to take a look at the scoring summary and see what some had already predicted - a Saints team up three games to none, a Saints team that has outscored their opposition 10-3 in those three games and a Saints team that's on the verge of eliminating the Olds Grizzlys in a sweep.

But those who have actually seen those three games will tell you - it's not that simple.

Game 3 is the perfect example.

Game 3 saw several quality scoring chance for the Grizzlys go by the way side thanks to nothing more than bad luck, bad bounces and bad breaks.

It was like something out of a comic book - not only is Spruce Grove a great hockey team but it's as if the Saints may truly be blessed; almost as if they have a Super Power that some how makes them immune the laws of gravity, physics and probability.

A wide open Grizzlys shooting lane would be thwarted by a bizarre block, the deflection of which would somehow always find the stick of Saint in the neutral zone - sending the play the other way.

A rebound, earmarked for a wide open Grizzly with nothing but cage to shoot at - would somehow jump over the stick.

And a dump-in destined for the corner, would see the puck catch an edge or bounce awkwardly of the boards and once again, go right to a Saint.

Now, before any Saints fans start ripping their hair out because they feel I'm not giving a good team it's due.

It's true. I'm not.

Whats that old saying, "You have to be good to be lucky."

Despite the bad bounces and luck for the Olds Grizzlys, you really do have to credit the Saints.

Their so positionally sound in their own end that maybe it's not all that freakish that the puck just seems to find them. They know where to be and when to be there on both sides of the ice and as someone once told me, "Sometimes you have to create your own luck."

Something the Olds Grizzlys will try desperately to do tonight, with the AJHL's season and for some, careers on the line.

GAME 3 SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Spruce Grove Saints at 1:42 - Curt Morrison (unassisted)

PERIOD 2

Spruce Grove Saints at 1:16 - Brett Switzer from Jordan Draper and Joshua Lazowski

Spruce Grove Saints at 5:50 - Nate Fleming (unassisted)

PERIOD 3

Spruce Grove Saints at 1:23 - Jordan Draper from Joshua Lazowski and Brett Switzer

Olds Grizzlys at 5:54 (PP) - Ryan Cornforth from Jordan Kwas and Curtis deBruyn

INTERESTING TO NOTE

CUE THE COMEBACK
Having to face elimination night in and night out while your team tries to cue the comeback is a daunting task. In fact some would say it's an impossible feat, but, it every so often it does happen.

In Round 1 of 2005-2006 the Canmore Eagles lost the first two games in a best of five series to the Drumheller Dragons. Facing elimination the Eagles would storm back winning the next three to advance to Round 2.
In the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals the Toronto Maple Leafs would over come a 3 game deficit - beating the Detroit Red Wings in 4 straight in win the series and the cup.
In the 2004 MLB Semi-Finals the Boston Red Sox would also do the impossible. In arguably the fiercest rivalry in sports - the Bo-Sox came back from 3 games down to beat the New York Yankees in four straight, winning the semis and eventually winning the World Series in the next round.
To me the most impressive comeback came in 1975 when the very young and inexperienced New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 7 of the Quarter Finals after trailing 3 games to none. The most impressive stat, and much like the Olds Grizzlys, is that the Islanders never lead on the scoreboard in any of the first three games, not even for a second. In fact of the 180 minutes (3 games) the Penguins held a lead for 153 minutes and 19 seconds - or about 83% of the time - the remain 17%, the game was tied.

PARTING SHOTS
The Olds Grizzlys will try to cue the comeback tonight from the Olds Sportscomplex. Listen to live coverage of tonight's game on 96.5 CKfm, starting at 7:30.
____________________________________________
GRIZZLYS FINDING SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF THE CAVE

A pair of Olds Grizzlys Alumni were on the SAIT Trojans Men's Hockey Team that captured the 2009 ACAC Championship on Sunday night in Calgary.

Former Grizzlys defenseman Kirk Deeg and forward Kyle Dorowicz were among 13 former AJHLer's on the roster.

The Trojans beat the Mount Royal Cougars 1-0 in game 5 of the best of 5 series.

Meantime another two players who used to throw on the Black and Gold will be in action tonight in the WHL's post-season.

Former Olds Blue-Liner Max Ross and the Lethbridge Hurricanes are up against the Saskatoon Blades in Game 3 of their best of 7 first round tilt.

Ross picked up an assist in Game 2 - helping the Hurricanes to a 5-2 win to tie the series at a game a piece.

While former Grizzly Net-Minder Tyson Sexsmith will most likely get the call between for the Vancouver Giants as they try to extend their series lead to 3 games to none of the Prince George Cougars.

Sexsmith has allowed three goals in 2 games, while the Giants offense has been the difference so far scoring 17 goals so far.

__________________________________
OLDS WELL REPRESENTED AT PROVINCIALS

Teams from Olds fared well during Week Three of Hockey Alberta's Provincial Action.

The Olds Thunder once again found themselves in the medals - earning a silver at the Female Pee-Wee B Championships in Viking.

The Thunder downed Strathmore 4-3 in the semis before falling 4-1 in the Lloydminster Blazers in the finals.

Olds' Pee-Wee Girls won Gold last year.

Elsewhere the Olds Renegades lost 2-0 to Vauxhall in the Semi Finals at the Midget 'B' Female Championships in Edson.

MONDAY - GAMES 1,2 & NOW 3

2009-03-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

Let's be honest, the Olds Grizzlys' Coaching Staff probably wouldn't call Games 1 and 2 of their AJHL Semi-Final Series in Spruce Grove a complete success.

Yesterday the Grizzlys boarded the bus heading back to Olds down two games to none and having been outscored 6 to 2 in total so far in the best of 7 series.

That's the big picture.

But when you really break it down and a take good long look at the Games 1 and 2 - there really isn't much to be disappointed about.

In Game 1 the Grizzly's lost 4-1. Sure, that doesn't sound flattering, but factor this, one of the Saints' goals came after a weak shot from the blueline, which initially was sailing well wide, took a bizarre deflection off one of Grizzlys' sticks and in to the net while the fourth goal was an empty net marker.

Don't me wrong - a Saints' win is still a Grizzlys loss - but by no means was the score an accurate reflection of the intensity and competitiveness of the game.

Both teams fired 30 - plus shots on net and both teams had their fair share of chances, though I will says the Saints had more of each.

In Game 2 the score would prove to be a very accurate reflection of how this series could go.

The Saints pulled off a 2-1 win in a contest that saw great goalkeeping from either side, great defense, and a true back and forth affair that saw the Saints control the first half-hour of play - matched with an equally impressive second half controlled for the most part by the Grizzlys.

When all was said and done there were several aspects the Grizzlys could look back on and take pride in during two very well played road games:

Penalty Kill - The Olds Grizzlys have held the Saints to only 1 Power Play Goal one their 9 Chances - that's 11% efficiency, where prior to this series Spruce Grove was clicking at 29% in the regular season and 30% in the post-season.

Goaltending - Marc Boulanger continues to prove he deserved everything he didn't get during the regular season, most obviouse, an invitation to the AJHL's All-Star Game. For those who didn't see Period 2 of Game 2, I feel sorry for you. Boulanger has allowed only 4 goals on 62 shots earning a .935 Save Percentage while keeping the Saint to an average of just over 2 goals per game, when they entered this series scoring an average of 4.

Physical Play - The clear M-O right out of the gate for the Grizzlys was to hit. Though it was much better in Game 2 than it was the night before - you have to applaud the Grizzlys for hitting at all. Average Height for the Saints - 6'2'' (including a pair of players at 6'5"). Average Height for the Grizzlys - 5'11".

Looking back the Grizzlys skated, hit and competed with the Nation's top CJHL team. So mission accomplished? No. But it certainly wasn't and isn't going to be the "Mission: Impossible" some had dubbed this series for the Grizzlys.

SCORING SUMMARY
GAME 1

PERIOD 1

Spruce Grove Saints at 4:00 - Brett Switzer from Shane Lehman and David Glen

PERIOD 2

Spruce Grove Saints at 9:14 - Konrad Becker (unassisted)

Spruce Grove Saints at 14:26 - Curt Morrison from Tyler Barr

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 3:42 (PP) - Wade Bergman from Shadoe Stoodley

Spruce Grove Saints at 18:53 (SH) (EN) - Scott Allen (unassisted)

GAME 2

PERIOD 1

Spruce Grove Saints at 3:41 - David Glen from Shane Lehman

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 14:14 - Jordan Kwas from Nicholas Bourgeois and Matt Tinordi

PERIOD 3

Spruce Grove Saints at 7:28 (PP) - Brett Switzer from Curt Morrison and Brendan Lines

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Home Town advantage becomes critical during the North-South Cross Over. When you factor in the away from home eating and sleeping along with the travel. . .it wares a team down. (I did not play hockey and just staying and eating with the team this past weekend, was exhausting) But to me, the biggest factor, is the home town crowds. When any team, at any level, in any sport to gets to the Semi Finals - it creates a buzz in the community. People get excited and head down to games in droves. (Except for in Spruce Grove apparently, where the loudest thing in the Spruce Grove Arena was the Titanic Fog Horn - followed closely by the 20-some Grizzly fans who made the trip). The last game at the Olds Sportcomplex had over 1100 fans in attendance, and that was on a Monday!

5 and 1 = The Grizzlys record at the Olds Sportscomplex in the post season.

FRIDAY - ROUND 3

2009-03-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

AND IT BEGINS

It's been five long years since the Olds Grizzlys advanced to Alberta Junior Hockey League's Semi-Finals - a stretch that ends tonight.

The Grizzlys' clinched a final-four spot for the first time since 2004 with a 4 games to 2, Second Round Series win over the Okotoks Oilers on Monday and are now gearing up and packing up for a weekend in Spruce Grove.

Dating back to 1989 Olds has made the final four 11 times (prior to tonight's series kick off) and have emerged victorious 4 times - the last time was over a decade ago in 1995.

FINAL FOUR HISTORY

1989	South Final	Lost 4-1 to Red Deer Rustlers
1990	South Final	Lost 4-1 to Calgary Canucks
1992	Semi Final	Won 4-1 over Fort Saskatchewan Traders
1993	Semi Final	Won 4-1 over Fort McMurray Oil Barons
1994	Semi Final	Won 4-0 over St. Albert Saints
1995	Semi Final	Won 4-0 over Sherwood Park Crusaders
1996	Semi Final	Lost 4-0 to St. Albert Saints
1999	Semi Final	Lost 4-1 to Calgary Canucks
2001	Semi Final	Lost 4-3 to Drayton Valley Thunder
2002	Semi Final	Lost 4-0 to Drayton Valley Thunder
2004	Semi Final	Lost 4-2 to Grande Prairie Storm

Safe to say - this team to due.

It won't be an easy task however.

Not only will the Grizzlys have to travel to the AJHL's North but, once there, they'll be up against this year's power-house Spruce Grove Saints.

First and foremost, the North.

Whether AJHL Players will admit it or not - it's a whole new ball game when teams travel from one division to another. It's not like traveling to play a team you'll face 6 times in a regular season. In fact, teams will only play other teams from opposition divisions twice in a year.

Here's how the Grizzlys fared against teams from the North this season.

OLDS RECORD Vs. NORTH OPPONENTS
9-8-0-1
AT HOME
5-2-0-1
AWAY
4-6-0-0
GOALS SCORED Vs. NORTH OPPONENTS
47 (Avg. 2.61 per Game)
GOALS ALLOWED
57 (Avg. 3.16 per Game)
SHOTS FOR Vs. NORTH OPPONENTS
579
SHOTS AGAINST
571
POWER PLAY GOALS Vs. NORTH OPPONENTS
17 for 106 (16%)
POWER PLAY GOALS ALLOWED
18 for 92 (19.6%)

Now, it's not so much as what Division the Grizzlys are playing but who the Grizzlys are playing.

The Spruce Grove Saints lead the league in almost every statistical category in the regular season:

In the overall standings with a 46-7-4-5 record, good for 101 points, 12 more than any other team in the league and 27 more than the Olds Grizzlys.

In Goals For with 274 - averaging 4.4 per game. (Grizzlys averaged 3.6)

In Goals Against Average with 2.2 per game. (Grizzlys allowed 3 per game)

In Power Play Percentage with a 29.79% conversion rate. (Grizzlys worked at 18.84)

In Penalty Kill, thwarting the opposition's Power Plays 87.90% of the time. (Grizzlys at 84%)

Scarier still, the Saints haven't lost 2 games in regulation in a row this season and of their 7 regulation losses and 5 overtime losses - 4 regulation loses and 3 overtime loses came in the first two months of the season.

This is nothing new to Grizzlys Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg, who made it clear earlier in the week that his team isn't taking anything or one for granted.

"They have a lot of skilled players, they've got the Co-MVP running the back end and some great goaltending," he said. "We're going to have to be at our best and the players in that dressing room know that."

REGULAR SEASON HISTORY
The Grizzlys and the Saints met up only twice in the regular season, the Saints winning both games and outscoring Olds 12-4 (41% of the Saints Goals came on the PP, Olds went 1 for 11).

KEYS TO THE SERIES
Playing disciplined hockey. Grizzlys Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg says keeping the series 5 on 5 will be critical.

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Keep an eye on Blue-Liner Frank Carbonaro. The former Spruce Grove Saint was traded to the Olds Grizzlys mid-season for power-forward Konrad Becker. Carbonaro, who's been a standout in the post-season for the Grizzlys, is excited to for this series to begin.

"It's exciting," according to 18 year old Carbonaro, "I was kind of hoping things would turn out this way." "To back and play in front of Spruce Grove is a chance to play in front of family and friends and it's a chance to play against guys who I played with last year and guys that I grew up with too"

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
Despite the Mountain of a Team the Grizzlys face in the Saints - at the end of the day, it's Playoff Hockey. Anything can happen. I've seen some of the best hockey I've seen the Grizzlys play in this post-season run but with that said, I've seen some of the worst. If Olds can get off this roller-coaster of inconsistency and play that "Grizzlys', Keep Pushing Forward Hockey" game in and game out - I have all the faith in the world they can pull off what some have said would be a miracle upset.

LIVE FROM THE GRANT FUHR ARENA
Listen to 96.5 CKfm for a complete Semi-Final preview starting at 6:30, followed by live play by play at 7:00.

WEDNESDAY - EVERYBODY'S WATCHING CAMROSE VS BROOKS, THE RED DEER REBELS, & INNISFAIL INDIANS

2009-03-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

SCOREBOARD WATCHERS

The Olds Grizzlys, the Spruce Grove Saints and the Grande Prairie Storm are all stuck in limbo - that is until about 10:30 PM tonight.

By then, barring a terrific stretch of overtime, all three teams should know who their 'Final Four' opponent will be.

It all hinges on tonight's Game 7 between the Camrose Kodiaks and the Brooks Bandits.

Here's how it breaks down, should Brooks win;

Olds Grizzlys @ Spruce Grove Saints

Brooks Bandits @ Grande Prairie Storm

And if it's Camrose that takes the win;

Olds Grizzlys @ Grande Prairie Storm

Camrose Kodiaks @ Spruce Grove Saints

Game time is 7:00 and live play by play can be heard by clicking either here for Camrose or here for Brooks.

This is one of those series where home ice really seems to be an advantage as each team has struggled to win away from their own barn;

Camrose Kodiaks	@	Brooks Bandits	2 - 7
Camrose Kodiaks	@	Brooks Bandits	2 - 6
Brooks Bandits	@	Camrose Kodiaks	3 - 5
Brooks Bandits	@	Camrose Kodiaks	1 - 2
Camrose Kodiaks	@	Brooks Bandits	1 - 3
Brooks Bandits	@	Camrose Kodiaks	2 - 5

___________________________
ANOTHER ROTTEN REBELS SEASON IN THE BOOKS

The Red Deer Rebels managed to win their last game of the season, a 2-1 triumph over the Edmonton Oil Kings, but the problem is that once again their last game of the season came earlier than that of 16 other teams in the Western Hockey League.

Just eight seasons removed from a Memorial Cup and six removed from three seasons of consecutive division and conference titles the Rebels have now missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons and three of the last four years.

Yes, it's safe to say the once feared Eastern Conference power house has seen it's fair share of struggles over the past few seasons.

But, to be fair the team has seen it's fair share of changes.

Mastermind GM and Coach Brent Sutter left the team he still owns to prove his worth in the NHL's Coaching Ranks (New Jersey Devils) in July of 2007, then his replacement, older brother Brian resigned after only a season - leaving the reins to former Calgary Flames defenceman and rookie coach Jesse Wallin.

Wallin did manage to improve the teams point totals from a year earlier, picking up 60 points as opposed to 43 the year before, but, even with the 17 point differential the Rebels still finished 6th in the Central Division for the second year in a row.

So what comes next for the Red Deer Rebels, where do they go from here and how can they return to their former glory?

I have no idea.

But, I am a glass half full kind of guy. . .so here are 3 things the Rebels can look forward to:

1) Coaching - Wallin may not have gotten the Rebels to the Post-Season, but there was an improvement over the man he replaced, and that's all you can ask of a rookie head coach.

2) Landon Ferraro - Though the Rebels' 18 year old M-V-P will likely be drafted to the NHL in the latter portion of the 1st round - it's not likely he'll be NHL ready. With that said, he could once again join the Rebels next season and that's good news for the Red Deer team considering he more than doubled his goal output from the year before and scored 22% of the teams total goals this season.

3) Alex Petrovic - this year's Rookie of the Year for the Rebels finished with 13 points and a -4 rating on the Blue-Line, but given his age and his 6'4" frame this kid is going to get nothing but better.
________________________________
SPRING TRAINING UNDERWAY

There may still be snow on the ground but the Innisfail Indians Baseball Team isn't waiting to get their spring training underway.

After only one disappointing but crucial loss last season, the Indians are hoping to get back to Parkland Baseball League glory.

Heading into 2007-08, the Indians were the defending champs but after an undefeated regular season in the P.B.L, the Tribe's first and only loss came in a semi final elimination game to the Rocky Red Dogs.

The Indians should see several returning faces which is a good thing because team officials say this year the primary goal is to bring the title back to Innisfail.

With that said, according to Ray Begeron, there will be a few open roster spots with the departure of Curtis Flewelling, Andy Willigar and Denver Wik and the Tribe hopes to have those filed by those interested in playing competitive ball this season.

The Indians will be practicing indoors until weather and field conditions allow the workouts to move outdoors.

Anyone interested in earning a spot on the Tribe's roster is asked to contact Ray at 403-227-6464.

The Parkland Baseball League is recognized by Baseball Alberta as 'AA' with a season that runs from mid-May into early August.

TUESDAY- GRIZZLYS HEADING TO SEMI'S

2009-03-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

...W

For the first time since 2004, the Olds Grizzlys will be apart of the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Final Four.

The Grizzlys advanced to the league's semi finals after a dominant 7-1 Game 6 win over the Okotoks Oilers last night at the Olds Sports Complex, a win that clinched the Second Round Series for Olds 4 games to 2.

With 8 goals scored in the game - it's hard to belive none of them came in the first period.

Infact the first goal of the game would come just over a minute into the second period, when on the power play the Grizzlys' "Tic-Tac-Toe Trio", Kwas to deBruyn to Orban to the back of the net, would make it 1-0.

(AJHL's Scoring Summary does not list Kwas on the play - why, I have no idea)

Later at 17:25 Corey Campbell would use hard work and benifit from the great vision of deBruyn and Kwas on the Power Play to make it 2-0 Grizzlys - and thats how the score would stay heading into the third.

In the final frame - Marc Boulanger and the Grizzlys would have to weather an over five minute flurry from Okotoks, a flurry that was finally rewarded with a John McInnis goal to get Okotoks to within 1.

But not 30 seconds later Nic Bourgeois would score for Olds making it 3-1 - stomping out any of the new-found life in the Okotoks Oilers and switching the Grizzlys to rapid-fire.

At 11:46 and 14:20 of the 3rd Brance Orban would score a pair of goals to complete the hat-trick and make it 5-1, at 18:12 Shadoe Stoodley would score an empty net marker making it 6-1, then 19:34 Bourgeois would score his 2nd of the night short-handed to make it 7-1.

After the game Bourgeois, who now leads all active post-season rookies with 5 goals, talked about the goal he scored that quite literally halted Okotoks' hopes of a come-back, "I dont' really know," he said with a smirk, "I walked out there and saw five-hole and tried going five-hole and the next thing I know my stick was out of my hands and I didn't know what happened and all of a sudden I saw the ref. point it was in. . . I was pretty excited, I'm glad it went in."

Grizzlys Net-Minder Marc Boulanger, who, other than a 7-0 shutout over Drumheller in Game 3 of the 1st round, posted his highest save percentage of the post-season, was a cool as a cucumber when he talked about his tremendous performance in Game 6.

"It was just another game, other players to face in another rink" he said. "Tonight things were going my way, pucks were hitting me and sometimes that's just how it goes."

Over 1100 fans piled into the Sportsplex and Brance Orban, who lead the charge offensively with 3 goals, said the community support didn't go unnoticed.

"At home with our fans, I don't think anyone's going to beat us. . .that's incredible."

The Grizzlys will have to wait until games 3 and 4 of Round 3 before getting another chance to entertain the home town crowd as they now enter the Semis as one of the lowest seeds.

And speaking of waiting, they'll have to do just that before they even know who their "Final Four" opponent will be. . . depending on the winner of Wednesday's Game 7 between Camrose and Brooks - Olds will head to either Grande Prairie or Spruce Grove this weekend.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 1:12 (PP) - Brance Orban from Curtis deBruyn

Olds Grizzlys at 17:25 (PP) - Corey Campbell from Curtis deBruyn and Jordan Kwas

PERIOD 3

Okotoks Oilers at 6:03 - John McInnis from Brandon Hoogenboom and Jeremy Roberts

Olds Grizzlys at 6:28 - Nicholas Bourgeois (unassisted)

Olds Grizzlys at 11:46 - Brance Orban from Corey Campbell and Frank Carbonaro

Olds Grizzlys at 14:20 - Brance Orban from Corbin Karl and Wade Bergman

Olds Grizzlys at 18:12 (EN) - Shadoe Stoodley from Matt Marantz and Wade Bergman

Olds Grizzlys at 19:34 (SH) - Nicholas Bourgeois (unassisted)

GAME NOTES
Grizzlys' Carey Koruluk missed his second consecutive game due to a lower body injury; Grizzlys' Blue-Liner Brendon Algeo was a healthy scratch for game 6; Okotoks out-shot Olds 38-30; Olds went 2 for 7 with the P-P (28.5%); Okotoks went 0 for 7 (0%); Marc Boulanger posted a .973 SV%; In 52 minutes of action Sean Cahill posted a 851 SV% while Steve Papciak in 7:22 minutes posted a .666 SV%.

SERIES SUMMARY
GAME 1 - Olds 5 Okotoks 2
GAME 2 - Okotoks 6 Olds 3
GAME 3 - Olds 6 Okotoks 5
GAME 4 - Olds 3 Okotoks 2
GAME 5 - Okotoks 6 Olds 2
GAME 6 - Olds 7 Okotoks 1

SERIES TOTALS

GOALS
OLDS - 26
OKOS - 22

SHOTS
OLDS - 190
OKOS - 168

POWER PLAY %
OLDS - 23%
OKOS - 15%

OLDS LEADING POINT GETTERS
GOALS - BRANCE ORBAN = 5

ASSISTS - CURTIS deBRUYN & FRANK CARBONARO (TIED) = 5

POINTS - JORDAN KWAS & BRANCE ORBAN (TIED) = 8

OKOTOKS LEADING POINT GETTERS
GOALS - CORBIN KNIGHT = 7

ASSISTS - KYLE REYNOLDS & CHRIS DUSZYNSKI (TIED) = 5

POINTS - CORBIN KNIGHT = 8

INTERESTING TO NOTE
The Olds Grizzlys scored by committee in the regular season and it hasn't stop in the playoffs - here's a list of the League Leading Scorers in the Post-Season (as of March 17th) - you'll see Olds is very well represented.

	PLAYER	#	P	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	P/G	PPG	SHG	PIM
1	Jordan Kwas	15	F	Olds Grizzlys	11	7	10	17	1.5	3	1	4
2	Brance Orban	10	LW	Olds Grizzlys	11	10	6	16	1.5	5	0	4
3	Zahn Raubenheimer	21	F	Grande Prairie Storm	10	8	8	16	1.6	1	0	6
4	Reese Rolheiser	14	C	Sherwood Park Crusaders	10	5	11	16	1.6	2	1	12
5	Curtis deBruyn	25	D	Olds Grizzlys	11	2	14	16	1.5	1	0	14
6	Morgan MacLean	27	F	Grande Prairie Storm	10	3	10	13	1.3	1	0	14
7	Nick Blair	20	LW	Sherwood Park Crusaders	10	2	11	13	1.3	0	0	54
8	Corban Knight	9	F	Okotoks Oilers	9	10	2	12	1.3	3	1	12
9	Kyle Reynolds	26	F	Okotoks Oilers	9	4	8	12	1.3	0	0	20
10	Dennis Rix	9	F	Grande Prairie Storm	10	3	9	12	1.2	3	0	4
11	Blake Clement	15	F	Grande Prairie Storm	8	8	3	11	1.4	3	1	21
12	Shadoe Stoodley	9	F	Olds Grizzlys	11	8	3	11	1.0	1	0	30
13	Carter Rowney	17	F	Grande Prairie Storm	10	7	4	11	1.1	4	0	6
14	Nik Yaremchuk	7	LW	Sherwood Park Crusaders	10	7	4	11	1.1	2	0	6
15	Frank Carbonaro	27	D	Olds Grizzlys	11	0	11	11	1.0	0	0	4
16	Jarret Granberg	9	F	Brooks Bandits	6	4	6	10	1.7	2	0	0
17	Branden Gracel	26	C	Fort McMurray Oil Barons	9	4	6	10	1.1	1	0	4
18	Corey Campbell	14	C	Olds Grizzlys	11	4	6	10	0.9	3	0	22
19	Shawn Ostrow	26	F	Camrose Kodiaks	10	2	8	10	1.0	1	1	10
20	Rob Kleebaum	39	F	Sherwood Park Crusaders	10	8	1	9	0.9	5	0	15

LEAGUE LEADING PLAYERS

NEXT 20 >

**6 of 20 = 30% of the League's Top Point Producers in the Post Season.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
Don't let the score of the last two games fool you - this series was much closer than they would make it seem. This was one hell of a series and to me Games 3 and 4 were the truest indicators of that.

After this series, to me anyway, the Grizzlys have proven the benefits of putting a team together based on character, grit, determination and chemistry. Though their dept chart may not show a team full of All-Stars, when push comes to shove, every player in that locker room knows their responsibility out on the ice, they know they're just one part of the body. They may be a hand, a foot, a finger, a toe, an arm or a leg - but so long as every part moves in sync with the other - there's no telling how far this body can run.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE
After the series I had a chance to talk with a proud Grandfather of one of the Grizzlys. I won't say who, but I will say the conversation reminded me of why I, and the majority of people in this country, love this sport so much. He talked about how proud he was to be able to be part of his Grandson's development growing up and being able to see hours of hard work (my words - not his) paying off on the ice, right in front of him. He told me he used to give this practicular Grizzly a dollar for every goal and 2 dollars for every assist - and based on this players numbers in both the regular and the post season - I can say, job well done.

MONDAY - GAME 6, THE AJHL'S NORTH WRAPS UP & COACHING CHANGES IN DRUMHELLER

2009-03-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

A MUST WIN?

By all accounts, No, tonight's Game 6 at the Olds Sports Complex is not a must win - at least, not for the Grizzlys.

Olds worked hard to gain home ice advantage in their Best of Seven, 2nd Round AJHL Playoff series with the Okotoks Oilers so they wouldn't find themselves in the same predicament the Oilers face tonight.

So they wouldn't have to look the possibility of elimination in the face while away from the friendly confines of a home town arena pack with, for the most part, cheering home-town fans.

With that said, what the Grizzlys worked so hard for - all comes down to tonight.

This is why it was such a big deal to win one of the first two in Okotoks and this is why it was such a big deal to win the next two at home - for the chance to have the Home Town Crowd, the Home Town Cooking, the Home Town Advantage on a night when you try to wrap up a series early, on your Home Ice.

So, the question begs to be asked, what if?

What if Olds doesn't win tonight?

What if the Grizzlys don't come out with their best effort and the Oilers win game 6, sending the series to 7 and sending it back to Okotoks?

The edge, the advantage, the hard-work early on. . .literally, all goes by the way-side and now it's your team at the disadvantage - now it's your team that has to win to stay alive, and has to do so away from home.

I know, I know ... Okotoks would also have to win to stay alive should the series be sent the distance, but, that would be nothing new to the Oilers - in fact, should this series be sent to a Game 7, the Oilers would be pretty well versed in the art of playing to see another 2008-2009 AJHL post-season day - after all, they would have already faced that reality in two straight games.

So, in the end - is tonight a Must Win for the Olds Grizzlys?

No.

But it couldn't hurt.

Live play by play of tonight's game can be heard on 96.5 CKfm.

INTERESTING TO NOTE
As I alluded to after Game 5 - in all of their post-season losses the Grizzlys have allowed 6 goals - but - have always responded to win the next game, in fact every aspect of a Grizzlys Hockey game, is always a little better following a loss.

STATS IN GAMES FOLLOWING A POST SEASON LOSS

RECORD - 3 and 0 (6-3-0-1 POST SEASON RECORD)

GOALS ALLOWED - 9 in 3 games (2,2,5) - Avg. 3 per Game (3.7 POST SEASON TOTAL AVG)

SAVE PERCENTAGE - .886 SV% (.866 SV% POST SEASON TOTAL)

GOALS SCORED - 15 in 3 games (4,5,6) - Avg. 5 per Game (4.2 POST SEASON TOTAL AVG)

POWER PLAY PERCENTAGE - 29.4% (19.7% POST SEASON TOTAL, 5% DURING LOSES)

(The Following is the most important stat of the them all...)

Now if Sesame Street taught me anything as a Child - it's patterns matter. . .here's what the Grizzlys Post-Season Record would look like it you took it and turned into a fancy Sesame Street Pattern-o-gram.

L, W, W, L, W, W, L, W, W, L . . .?

(This is where Big Bird would ask "What comes Next?")
___________________________________________
THE ROAD TO THE CUP

Both teams in the AJHL's North Division have wrapped up their second round tilts and now patiently await their South Division Foes.

Brooks Robinson scored early in the third overtime last night as the Grande Prairie Storm defeated the Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-3 to win the best of seven series four games to two.

The Storm was the second seed in the North heading into the post-season.

Meantime the Spruce Grove Saints, who downed the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in 5 games on Friday.

The regular season champs will face the lowest remaining seed when the dust has finally settled here in the South.
___________________________________
COACHING CHANGES IN THE DRAGONS' DEN

Effective March 12, 2009, the Drumheller Dragons announce changes to the management and coaching structure of the Hockey Club.

Head Coach, Rob Hegberg and Assistant Coach, Jason Hegberg, will be leaving their coaching roles with the team as well as General Manager, Doug Hergenhein.

Rob Hegberg started his coaching career in the 2004-05 season as assistant coach with the Dragons. His brother, Jason, came on board as assistant coach in the 2005-06 season, and together the brother combination lead the way ever since.

Doug Hergenhein joined the team during the 2006–07 campaign as General Manager.

The Dragons organization wish Rob, Jason and Doug the best of luck in all their future endeavors and thank them for their dedication to the team and the community of Drumheller.

(FROM AJHL.ca)

SUNDAY - A BUSY HOCKEY WEEKEND

2009-03-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

10 MINUTE MISCONDUCT

The Okotoks Oilers took advantage of a Olds Grizzly's ten minute mental vaction in game 5 of their Best of Seven 2nd Round Series on Saturday.

Leading the series 3 games to 1 and the game 1 to nothing, thanks to a Power Play goal scored by Curtis deBruyn 2:59 into the game, the Grizzlys took their foot off the gas and allowed the Oilers to get back into the game and into the series.

Not a minute after allowing the first goal - the Oilers responded and in a big way.

Using an aggressive fore-check to gain the zone - behind the Grizzlys' net Jeremy Roberts spotted Kyle Reynolds alone out-front who made no mistake putting it past Marc Boulanger to tie the game at one.

The Oilers would score three more to make it 4-1 - each of their goals coming just minutes after the one before it and each of their goals coming from hard work down low along wide open passing options in front of Olds' net.

In the second Olds would be given a chance to turn the tide when down 4-1 at about the 5 minute mark they'd be given a Power Play opportunity . . . but, just 26 seconds into the man advantage, Corey Campbell would loose an edge and stumble to the ice - leaving room for Brendon Hoogenboom to snag the puck, skate up ice and score short-handed, making it 5-1 Okotoks.

Okotoks would add another on the Power Play before heading into the third and up 6-1 all but ensuring an Olds comeback was out of the question while also keeping their season alive by forcing a Game 6.

The Grizzlys would save face in third - out-shooting Okotoks 10-5 while not allowing a single Oilers score and adding a second goal to trim the deficit to 4 goals, as opposed to 5.

The Oilers will try to build on Saturday's success while the Grizzlys will try to figure out what went wrong when the two teams meet up again on Monday at the Sports Complex in Olds for Game 6.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Olds Grizzlys at 2:59 (PP) - Curtis deBruyn from Brance Orban and Jordan Kwas

Okotoks Oilers at 3:49 - Kyle Reynolds from Jeremy Roberts and Scott Keeven

Okotoks Oilers at 5:57 - Corban Knight from James Bannister and Chris Duszynski

Okotoks Oilers at 7:49 - Kyle Reynolds from Quinn Sproule and John McInnis

Okotoks Oilers at 8:41 - Corban Knight from Chris Duszynski

PERIOD 2

Okotoks Oilers at 5:33 (SH) - Brandon Hoogenboom (unassisted)

Okotoks Oilers at 11:49 (PP) - Justin Daigle from Jeremy Roberts and Kyle Reynolds

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 17:44 - Brance Orban from Tanner Dion

GAME NOTES
Okotoks' Corbin Knight scored two goals and at post time lead the league with 10 in the playoffs; Olds' Jordan Kwas picked up an assist and at post time lead the league with 17 points in the playoffs; Olds' Curtis deBruyn scored for the first time this playoff series; Olds' Carey Koruluk sat out with a lower body injury; Olds' Brayden Hopfe made his 2nd post-season appearance in net - stopping 13 of 13 shots while playing in relief of Marc Boulanger, who started the game but was pulled after Okotoks' fourth goal in the first period and then again after starting the 2nd period, Boulanger was pulled after Okotoks' sixth goal; Sean Cahill started in net for Okotoks making 22 of 24 shots; Olds went 1 for 5 with the PP while Okotoks also went 1 for 5, but scored 6 on 5 on the delayed Power Play.

INTERESTING TO NOTE
Olds has faced post-season losses four times now this year and in each loss they've allowed six goals; The last time the Grizzlys lost 6-2 was against Drumheller in Game 1 of the first round - they responded by beating the Dragons 4-2 the next game; Olds is now 0 for 2 when having the chance to close out a series in the opposition's barn.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
I've seen Saturday's 6-2 loss 4 times now this post-season. I know it may sound cocky and arrogant to suggest that no team has beaten the Grizzlys without the Grizzlys first beating themselves - but that's why this segment is called "IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION". I have yet to see a team beat the Grizzlys when they're playing their systems and playing to the best of their abilities. Now, with that said, should it have been Okotoks that won that very close 3-2 game 4 in Olds - I really would have to stop using this as argument because to me that was one of the Grizzlys best efforts this post-season, despite the parity on the scoreboard.
_______________________________________
ROCKY WINS 'AA' PROVINCIALS

The Rocky Rams downed the Innisfail Eagles 9-4 on Saturday to win the 2009 Provincial Senior 'AA' Mens Championship.

The Eagles headed into this weekend's Games 5 and 6 after an emotional Game 4 last week when they, despite being down to only 12 players and G-M who had to fill in behind the bench because of snow storm, managed to tie the series with a 7-5 win at the Rocky Arena.

But, not being able to carry that momentum forward into this weekend's action, the Eagles dropped their next two games and lost the Championship series 4 games to 2.
________________________________________
FIRST EVER 'ATOM' FEMALE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OLDS

Hockey Alberta held it's first ever Atom Female Provincial Championships over the weekend in Olds and it was close but no cigar for the home team.

After finishing the Round Robin with a Pool A leading 4-0-and-1 record the Olds 'Atom' Thunder lost in the Semi Finals to the Calgary Southland Shooting Stars 3-2.

With the win the Shooting Stars earned a trip to the Gold Medal Game - but the undefeated Sheerwood Park Sabres proved to be to much for any team in the tourney - trouncing Calgary Southland 9-1.

(SHEERWOOD PARK SABRES)

FRIDAY - GRIZZ UP 3-1

2009-03-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

THE CHOKE HOLD

The Grizzlys took a firm grip of their Best of Seven Second Round AJHL series with the Okotoks Oilers last night.

After a "run and gun" 6-5 victory on Wednesday, the Grizzlys clamped down defensively and took care of home base - beating the Oilers 3-2 - and taking a 3 games to 1 series lead.

The Oilers would draw first blood at 11:17 of the 1st period as John McInnis would score on a 5-3 Man Advantage but not five minutes later Mitch Maxwell of the Olds Grizzlys would score to tie the game on the Power Play.

In the 2nd Jordan Kwas would give Olds it's first lead of the game - scoring at 14:32, putting the Grizzly up 2 to 1 - but with just 46 seconds left Corbin Knight would catch a bizarre "pop-fly" behind the Grizzlys' net, drop the puck and immediately dish to Chris Duszynski - who'd catch Marc Boulanger by surprise and pot his 2nd of the post season, tieing the game heading into the 3rd.

Both teams would exchange Power Play chances in the final frame - the Oilers, who'd get the first chance a man up, could not beat Boulanger, while the Grizzlys would need only 46 seconds to take advantage of their P-P when Jordan Kwas would score an unassisted beauty - giving Olds a 3-2 lead and a 3-1 edge in the best of seven affair.

After the game Cale Wright, who drew into the line-up to replace an injured Carey Koruluk, talked about his suddenly surging team-mate Jordan Kwas.

"He's a completely different player." said Wright, who's grind it out style of play was as important a role as that of Kwas' on Thursday.

"He played great for us in the regular season but now he's just a totally different player - it's been awesome."

Kwas, Wright, and the rest of the Olds Grizzlys will have to continue to be just that, awesome, if they hope to role into Okotoks and advance to the 3rd round of the AJHL's playoffs on Saturday with a win.

Listen to Live Coverage of Saturday's Game in Okotoks on 96.5 CKfm, starting at 7:00 PM.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Okotoks Oilers at 11:17 (PP) - John McInnis from Dave Lamouche and Justin Daigle

Olds Grizzlys at 15:26 (PP) - Mitchell Maxwell from Shadoe Stoodley and Wade Bergman

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 14:32 - Jordan Kwas from Mitchell Maxwell and Ben Wilson

Okotoks Oilers at 19:14 - Chris Duszynski from Kyle Reynolds and Corban Knight

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 11:48 (PP) - Jordan Kwas (unassisted)

GAME NOTES
At post time Jordan Kwas lead the league with 16 points in 9 games after game 4; Marc Boulanger played a fantastic game making 22 saves on 24 shots and earning a .916% in net; Steve Papciak earned a .918% making 34 saves on 37 shots; Olds' Carey Koruluk missed his second game of the series with a lower body injury; Ryan Cornforth was a healthy scratch for Olds - putting Corbin Karl back on the Blue-line; Olds went 2 for 6 with the PP (33.3%); Okotoks went 1 for 6 (16.6%).
INTERESTING TO NOTE
The Olds Grizzlys haven't lost 3 back to back games since November, when from the 18th to the 22nd they lost 3 road games in Camrose, Fort McMurray and Saint Albert in a row. That's what it'll take for the Okotoks Oilers to win this 2nd round series at this point - 3 back to back loses from the Olds Grizzlys.
IN THE BLOGGERS OPINION
Safe to say that this series is now firmly planted in the paws of the Olds Grizzlys. Don't let up, don't release any of the pressure in your choke hold and don't let a desperate team hang around. I think the Grizzlys need to come out with their best effort on Saturday and shut this down as soon as possible. We've seen the Grizzly have trouble closing out their opponents in this post-season, whether its when leading after two periods or failing to close out Drumheller in Game 4 and we've all heard the old saying, "Don't Kick a Guy When He's Down" - well I say Kick, Punch, Drag . . .do whatever it takes to end this now!

THURSDAY - GRIZZ LEAD 2-1, THE AJHL & ATOM GIRLS HOCKEY

2009-03-12T06:13:00.001-07:00

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Over 670 fans at the Sports Complex in Olds breathed a collective sigh of relief last night after the Olds Grizzlys snuck out a 6-5 win over the Okotoks Oilers in an offensive slugfest.

Thanks to a pair of Power Play goals scored by Corey Campbell along with a Mitch Maxwell short handed marker the Grizzlys were up 3-0 with less than 3 minutes to play in the first period. . .but, Corbin Knight would only need a minute to cut that lead to a single goal thanks to his 7th and league leading 8th of the post-season ensuring his Okotoks Oilers would head into the first intermission down by only a goal.

In the Second Justin Daigle would tie the game for the Oilers - only to once again face a deficit after Maxwell scored his 2nd of the game putting Olds up 4-3.

Then in the 3rd the goals would once again come fast and furious.

Maxwell would pick up his third point of the night, dropping a no-look pass to the point for Ben Wilson who'd blast home his first of the post-season putting Olds up 5-3. Then, just over two minutes later, the Oilers would once again draw to within a goal thanks to Nicholas Bell.

At 14:20 Nic Bourgeois would keep the play in the Oilers zone by a hair then dish to deBruyn who'd and put the puck on net - Corbin Karl was "Johnny on the Spot" for the Grizzlys deflecting it up and over the shoulder of the Steve Papciak, once again giving the Grizzlys a 2 goal lead. But, once again, the Oilers would respond, this time only 22 seconds later, when John McInnis would score putting Okotoks to within one.

The Grizzlys though, despite being sent to the Penalty Kill with 2:51 remaining and having to face 6 Okotoks attacker after they pulled their net-minder with 57 seconds left to play, would hang on - winning Game 2 by a score of 6-5 and taking a 2 games to 1 lead in their best of seven 2nd round series.

After the Game Mitch Maxwell, who posted his highest offensive output of the post-season with 2 goals and an assist, talked about the Oilers and their ability to make teams who take a shift off pay,

"That's when we'd get into trouble, we'd get up two and kind of relax," he said, "They're just way too high-powered, they've got guys like Knight and Reynolds that can fly with the puck and once we'd sit back, they'd came on top of us and they'd score quick."

"Against these guys if you take a shift off - they'll make you pay."

The Grizzlys will try to avoid doing just that tonight - when they welcome back the Oilers for Game 4.

Game time from the Sports Complex is 7:30 with live coverage starting at 7:25 on 96.5 CKfm .

SCORING SUMMARY

Olds Grizzlys at 10:12 (PP) - Corey Campbell from Brance Orban and Curtis deBruyn

Olds Grizzlys at 13:51 (PP) - Corey Campbell from Brance Orban and Jordan Kwas

Olds Grizzlys at 17:55 (SH) - Mitchell Maxwell from Jordan Kwas

Okotoks Oilers at 18:15 (PP) - Corban Knight from Justin Daigle and Quinn Sproule

Okotoks Oilers at 19:26 - Corban Knight from Kyle Reynolds and Chris Duszynski

PERIOD 2

Okotoks Oilers at 4:48 - Justin Daigle from Kyle Reynolds and Conrad Smith

Olds Grizzlys at 8:55 - Mitchell Maxwell from Shadoe Stoodley

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 8:14 - Ben Wilson from Mitchell Maxwell

Okotoks Oilers at 10:50 - Nicholas Bell from Quinn Sproule

Olds Grizzlys at 14:20 - Corbin Karl from Curtis deBruyn

Okotoks Oilers at 14:42 - John McInnis from Jeremy Roberts and Jesse Hudkins

GAME NOTES
Olds' Jordan Kwas picked up two helpers - giving him 14 points in 8 games in the post-season, which at post time lead the league; Okotoks' Corbin Knight scored 2 goals - giving him 8 and passing Olds' Shadoe Stoodly for the league league; Sean Cahill started in net for Okotoks - but after allowing 3 goals on 13 shots (.769 SV%) he was replaced by Steve Papciak to start the 2nd period; Papciak made 19 Saves on 22 Shots, earning a .863 Save Percentage; Marc Boulanger made 18 saves on 23 shots, earning a .782 Save Percentage; Olds went 2 for 7 with the Man Advantage (28%); Okotoks went 1 for 7 (14%).

INTERESTING TO NOTE
In 8 Games Played - Olds is the highest scoring team in the Post-Season with 37 Goals (AVR 4.62 Per Game). Since 2005-2006, of the 21 "Best of Seven" Series played in the AJHL, teams that win Game 3 win the series 62% of the time. Or, also since 2005-2006 , of the 7 times teams have entered a Game 3 tied at a game a piece in a "Best of Seven" Series in the AJHL - teams that win Game 3 win the series 71% of the time.

IN THIS BLOGGER'S OPINION
Tonight will be a real test for the Olds Grizzlys - in 8 games this post-season, Olds has won two games in a row only once (Game 2 and 3 Vs Drumheller). The Grizzlys won aguably the hardest game to win in a seven game series and in doing so have thrown all the preasure back on the travelling Okotoks Oilers. I'm wondering if we haven't seen the best of the Oilers - I mean you have to give them credit, down 3-0 at one point, they kept the preasure on and came extremely close to sending that gave into Overtime - with that said, if that was their best, it wasn't good enough. Officiating lacks consitency in this series - how Ryan Cornforth gets called for "Hitting From Behind" and a Game Misconduct in Game 2 (those who saw the hit know what I'm talking about) when in Game 3 a clear cut "Hitting From Behind" was called "Boarding", I'll never know. I find it odd that the league announced with gusto that for certain games there would be not 1 but 2 officals on the ice for the post-season but Olds has yet to expirience said luxary (including in Game 5 Vs Drumheller, when on a Friday night, there wasn't a single other AJHL game underway.)
____________________________________________
THE ROAD TO THE CUP

AJHL
Playoffs
Division Semifinals
(Best-of-7)

SOUTH
Camrose 5 Brooks 3
(Brooks leads series 2-1)
*The Brooks Bandits continue to struggle when playing on the road - something they'd best find a cure for before tonight's game 4 at the Edgeworth Center in Camrose.

NORTH
Sherwood Park 4 Grande Prairie 2
(Series tied 2-2)
*Former Grizzlys Goalie Chad Carter allowed 4 goals on 24 shots - the most he's allowed in the Playoffs.

Spruce Grove 7 Fort McMurray 6
(Spruce Grove leads series 3-1)
*You have think Fort Mac is all but done - playing on home ice and chance to tie the series, Spruce Grove sneaks past them thanks to a game winning goal with just 15 second left in the game - that's hard for a team to come back from.
___________________________________________
FIRST EVER 'ATOM' PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE PLAYED IN OLDS

Starting tonight 10 teams from all over Alberta will be in Olds and Disbury with one thing on their minds - Gold!

For the first time ever Hockey Alberta is awarding an atom girls provincial championship and teams from Olds, Fort Saskatchewan, Grand Prairie, Red Deer, Okotoks, Spruce Grove, Onoway, and a couple from Calgary will all be vying for the top prize.

The Olds Pee Wee Thunder won the Gold last year and will be looking to keep the prize in town.

Listen to live play by play of the Gold Medal Game, which will go Sunday at 1:30 from the Olds Sports Complex, on 96.5 CKfm .

WEDNESDAY - GAME 3

2009-03-11T10:27:00.001-07:00

MUST WIN?

Let's be honest, every playoff game is a Must Win or at least a It'd Be A Nice Win. But for some reason Game 3's have always stood-out to me as very important ones. Home Team or Away, Up Two Games, Down Two Games or Tied - a Win in Game 3 carries some much leverage.

If you're down Two Games to None and you win Game 3, you've just planted a seed of doubt in the opposition's mind, if you're Up Two Games to None and you win Game 3, you've just created an almost insurmountable lead and, well, if you're like the Olds Grizzlys and the Okotoks Oilers and you're series is tied - you've just gained an edge - you've just sent a loud message - you've just said, "You're lucky this series isn't any shorter, or you'd be in big trouble" to the opposing team.

Maybe it's just me - but then again, maybe it's not.

Since 2005-2006, of the 21 "Best of Seven" Series played in the AJHL, teams that win Game 3 win the series 62% of the time.

Or, also since 2005-2006 , of the 7 times teams have entered a Game 3 tied at a game a piece in a "Best of Seven" Series in the AJHL - teams that win Game 3 win the series 71% of the time.

At the end of the day - Stats are nothing more than numbers that, truthfully, can be swung in any direction, believe me, I used to work at a rated radio station where we were Number 1! (On Weekdays from 6 to 9 AM) - but with that said I rather be rated be Number 1! (On weekdays from 6 to 9 AM) than Number 4 (out of 4 - All the time) - Or - I would rather be in the 62 and 71 percentile I referred to earlier as opposed to being in the 38 and 29.

GRIZZLYS' KEYS TO THE GAME

Consistency. Set the tone early and don't let up, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, if the Grizzlys truly leave it all out on the ice, every player on every shift, there isn't a team that can beat them.
The Power Play - when going "0 for " with the man-advantage, the Grizzly lose. It's just that simple.
Marc Boulanger. He'll be a key this entire series. Okotoks is a skilled group of players who can make something out of nothing in the offensive end and he'll have to be at his best to keep the puck out of his net.

TUESDAY - OKOTOKS TIES SERIES

2009-03-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

A REAL ROLLER COASTER

Fans at the Okotoks Centennial Arena were treated to the quite the back and forth affair between the Oilers and the Olds Grizzlys last night.

The Oilers' Conrad Smith would open the scoring at 6:28 while Chris Duszynski would also score in the first at 15:39.

In the 2nd the Grizzlys would weather an Okotoks shooting gallery early on - then with 5 minutes remaining would respond with one of their own.

At 15:34 Shadoe Stoodley would score his 7th of the post-season.

Then, on the same Oilers Power Play, both Jordan Kwas and Nic Bourgeois would score beautiful short-handed markers in less than a minutes time - giving the Grizzlys a 3-2 lead heading into the 3rd.

As anticipated the Oilers came out of the gate in the final frame with an aggressive offensive front - a front that would draw a Bourgeois interference penalty and a Power Play that would prove detrimental to the Grizzlys' lead as with just 9 seconds left in the Man-Advantage Brandon Hoogenboom would score to tie the game at 7:08.

Then just over 3 minutes after the game's tieing goal Scott Keevin would score, then Corbin Knight would score short-handed not two minutes after that.

With his team facing the same 2 goal deficit they worked so hard climb out of in the 2nd - Grizzlys Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg called a time out to try to rally the troops with 2 minutes left in the game.

Hasselberg pulled Goaltender Marc Boulanger for the extra attacker in the process.

And after a breif span of Grizzlys' pressure - Okotoks' Knight would break out and pot an empty net goal to ice the cake, making it 6-3 with 1:11 left to go in the game all but ensuring the series would head back to Olds tied at a game a piece.

After the loss Hasselberg was asked about about the game including both team's efforts in Game Two.

"I didn't think Okotoks was a whole lot different, we didn't put the same preasure on them that we did last night [Game 1] and for some reason we came up a little bit flat to start." Hasselberg said. "We got the bench going in the second period and you could really see where when we played our game it was very hard for Okotoks to generate anything."

"We got to figure out how to get off this roller coaster ride and start playing consistent hockey," he said, "I really think we gave the win away tonight."

The Grizzlys and Oilers will now meet up the Olds Sportscomplex for game 3 on Wednesday, then game 4 on Thursday.

SCORING SUMMARY

Okotoks Oilers at 6:28 - Conrad Smith from Cody Dion and Jeff Barrett

Okotoks Oilers at 15:39 - Chris Duszynski from Quinn Sproule

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 15:34 - Shadoe Stoodley (unassisted)

Olds Grizzlys at 17:16 (SH) - Nicholas Bourgeois (unassisted)

Olds Grizzlys at 18:09 (SH) - Jordan Kwas from Mitchell Maxwell

PERIOD 3

Okotoks Oilers at 7:08 (PP) - Brandon Hoogenboom from Jesse Hudkins and John McInnis

Okotoks Oilers at 10:51 - Scott Keeven from Chris Duszynski

Okotoks Oilers at 12:05 (SH) - Corban Knight from Nicholas Bell

Okotoks Oilers at 18:49 (EN) - Corban Knight (unassisted)

GAME NOTES
Nic Bourgeois scored for the third game in a row for Olds; Curtis deBruyn was held pointless for the first time since the Grizzlys Game 1 loss to Drumheller in Round 1; Okotoks' Corbin Knight scored his 5th and 6th goals of the playoffs, which at post time put him into a 4-way tie for 2nd place, behind only Shadoe Stoodly of the Grizzly's who scored his 7th; Olds went 0-5 with the PP, Okotoks went 1 for 6; Marc Boulanger made 28 saves earning a .848 Save Percentage; Sean Cahill made his first post-season appearance earning a .906 Save Percentage; Shadoe Stoodley and Cody Dion engaged in a spirited bout with 46 seconds left in the game - I call it a draw.

INTERESTING TO NOTE
In all of three of the post-season loses for the Olds Grizzlys - they've gone 0 for 5 with the Power Play.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
I have yet to see any team out-class the Olds Grizzlys. You know, a team that when you look back at the game, you could say "We tried our best, played our best and they still beat us" - in this Bloggers Opinion, a team like that doesn't exist. I have however seen several teams outwork the Grizzlys. Olds is one of the best teams in the league and when they play to the best of their abilities along with consistent hard team work, shift after shift, there's no doubt in my mind they can beat anyone - on any night. Last night the Grizzlys did not play their best hockey - well other than for about a 5 minute span in the second period and I guess that could be a building block for the team heading into Wednesday's Game 3.

Also if I could give props to the Oilers' Corbin Knight - not that I thought he had an outstanding game but more so how he closed it out. So many times you'll see guys blast shots into an empty net from five feet away and throw their hands in the air like they just scored the most important goal of the game. Not Knight, he glided the puck into the empty net, with no force and without a "take that" attitude - after which he kept his hands down and skated over to his team to celebrate the win. His attitude showed that he knew the goal was nothing more than an insurance marker on a game won by several other goals and hard work in a win that would only tie a playoff series at one a piece. It was nice to see.

MONDAY - GRIZZ STEAL HOME ICE ADVANTAGE

2009-03-09T06:59:00.001-07:00

A GREAT ROAD SHOW

If there's a better example of a great road playoff game - I've yet to see it.

On the road the Olds Grizzlys knew a quick start against the high-powered offense of the Okotoks Oilers would be key in the first game of their second round series . . . and what a start it was.

After an aggressive fore-check and great cycle in the Oilers' end Corey Campbell faked a shot and dished to Matt Marantz, who'd blast a slapper past Steve Papciak for his first of the post-season

The goal coming just 2:18 into the game.

Then under three minutes later on the Power-Play a great goal, from what's become a staple for the Grizzlys, the Tic-Tac-Toe Brigade - when from the point, Curtis deBruyn passed to Jordan Kwas who went cross-ice to a wide open Brance Orban - who made no mistake - putting the Grizzlys up 2-0.

That's how the score would stay until the lone goal of the second period which saw hard work from Nic Bourgeois result in his 2nd goal of the playoffs - putting the Grizzlys up 3-0.

In the 3rd Olds and Okotoks would go tit for tat - Sean Neumeier would score for the Grizzlys 7:59 into the frame, then on the Power Play the AJHL's Rookie of the Year Corbin Knight would break Marc Boulanger's bid for a shutout at the 10:51 mark for Okotoks.

The Oilers would then draw to within 2 goals after a great pass from Chris Duszynski would catch Boulanger out of position and leave Brandon Hoogenboom with a wide open net at 15:02.

But with less than two minutes left to play a great individual effort from Jordan Kwas would put Olds up 5-2 and thwart any chances of an Okotoks come back.

After the game Matt Marantz talked about his first goal of the post-season.

"I kind of got lucky," said Marantz, "it [the puck] went off one of their defensemen's stick and up into the air and into the net, you have to get lucky sometimes . . . it's really a monkey of my back."

The Grizzlys, who thanks to win - lead the series one game to none, will be back to work again tonight when once again they'll travel to Okotoks for Game 2.

Live coverage of tonight's game can be heard on 96.5 CKfm or by visiting ckfm.ca.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Olds Grizzlys at 2:18 - Matt Marantz from Corey Campbell and Curtis deBruyn

Olds Grizzlys at 6:42 (PP) - Brance Orban from Jordan Kwas and Curtis deBruyn

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 7:40 - Nicholas Bourgeois from Shadoe Stoodley and Tanner Dion

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 7:59 - Sean Neumeier from Corey Campbell

Okotoks Oilers at 10:51 (PP) - Corban Knight from Quinn Sproule and Kyle Reynolds

Okotoks Oilers at 15:02 - Brandon Hoogenboom from Chris Duszynski

Olds Grizzlys at 18:15 - Jordan Kwas from Tanner Dion

GAME NOTES
Curtis deBruyn continues to be a force to be reckon with - picking up 2 points, he's tied with 11 points for the league lead and leads all d-men in the post-season, his closest competitor is Kodie Curran of now eliminated Calgary Canucks who had 7pts; Jordan Kwas also has 11 points, while Brance Orban has 6 gaols and 9 pts; The Grizzlys out-shot Okotoks 32-23; Marc Boulanger made big saves when he needed too earning a .913 Save Percentage while Steve Papciak looked shaky to start the game but made several big saves in the 2nd to prevent a run-away, he picked up an .823 Save Percentage; Olds went 1 for 6 on Power Play and Okotoks went 1 for 3; Okotoks scored fewer than 3 goals for the first time in the post-season this year.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
I expect a much better Okotoks team tonight. The Oilers were caught off guard when it comes to facing a worthy adversary in the post-season and were the equivalent of tongue tied on ice. With that said - if the Grizzlys can play the same way they did last night, especially in their own end - I don't care what Okotoks team is on the ice - Olds will give them a run for their money.

SUNDAY - GRIZZ Vs OILERS STATS CENTRAL, RECENT PLAYOFF HISTORY & A SPECIAL EDITION OF "IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION"

2009-03-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

ROUND TWO DIVISION SEMIFINAL SERIES

STATS CENTRAL

OLDS GRIZZLYS (3) Vs. OKOTOKS OILERS (2)

REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

RECORDS
Olds - 35 - 23 - 1 - 3 -- 74pts (3rd in South, 7th in AJHL)
Okos - 39 - 19 - 2 - 2 -- 82pts (2nd in South, 5th in AJHL)

GOALS FOR
Olds - 225 (2nd in South, 5th in AJHL)
Okos - 257 (1st in South, 2nd in AJHL)

GOALS AGAINST
Olds - 189 (4th in South, 9th in AJHL)
Okos - 187 (3rd in South, tied for 6th in AJHL)

LAST PLAYOFF ROUND

Olds def Drumheller in 5 Games
Okos def Canmore in 3 Games

GOALS FOR
Olds - 23 in 5 games (4.6 per game)
Okos - 14 in 3 games (4.7 per game)

GOALS AGAINST
Olds - 16 in 5 games (3.2 per game)
Okos - 6 in 3 games (2 per game)

LAST ROUND SPECIAL TEAMS
Olds Power Play - 7 for 39 = 17.9%
Olds Penalty Kill - 21 for 25 = 84%

Okos Power Play - 4 for 16 = 25%
Okos Penalty Kill - 19 for 19 = 100%

SEASON SERIES STATS BETWEEN OLDS AND OKOTOKS

RECORDS Vs EACH OTHER IN 2008-09
Olds - 5-1-0-0
Okos - 1-4-0 -1

SEASON SERIES GOALS FOR
Olds - 21
Okos - 14

SEASON SERIES SHOTS ON NET
Olds - 173
Okos - 176

POWER PLAY CONVERSION Vs EACH OTHER
Olds - 5 for 32 = 15.6%
Okos - 1 for 34 = 2.9%

TOP POINT PRODUCERS IN SEASON SERIES
OLDS
Jordan Kwas - 4G - 3A - 7PTS

Curtis deBruyn - 2G - 5A - 7PTS

Mitch Maxwell - 2G - 5A - 7PTS

Brance Orban - 2G - 4A - 6PTS

Several Tied at 3PTS

OKOTOKS
Rodger Craig - 3G - 1A - 4PTS

Kyle Reynolds - 3G - 1A - 4PTS

Cody Dion - 2G - 2A - 4PTS

Justin Daigle - 1G - 2A - 3PTS

Jeff Barrett - 0G - 3A - 3PTS

GOALIE STATS Vs EACH OTHER
OLDS
Marc Boulanger - 146 Saves on 159 Shots = .918 SV% (6 Starts)
Brayden Hopfe - 16 Saves on 17 Shots = .941 SV% (1 Relief App.)

OKOTOKS
Steve Papciak - 79 Saves on 90 Shots = .877 SV% (4 Starts, 1 Relief App.)
Sean Cahill - 73 Saves on 83 Shots = 890 SV% (2 Starts)
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RECENT PLAYOFF HISTORY

OLDS
The 2nd Round on the AJHL's post-season has not been kind to the Olds Grizzlys. Last year Olds was eliminated in 6 games by the Camrose Kodiaks in Round Two - while in 2006-2007 the Grizzly post-season run also came to an end in Round Two, this time in 5 games to the Camrose Kodiaks.

OKOTOKS
The Okotoks Oilers were also eliminated in the 2nd Round of last year's post-season. The Oilers fell in 5 games to the Drumheller Dragons. In 2006-2007 Okotoks advanced to the 3rd round before being eliminated by the Fort Saskatchewan Traders in 5 games.
_____________________________________
IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION - TEAM ASSESSMENT

OLDS
Tried, tested and true - in this Bloggers Opinion there's nothing that gets a team ready for a playoff run than a first round series that goes the distance. Having to face possible elimination, especially in a game 5 or game 7 scenario, and living to face the next round - changes a team's mentality. Truth be told there is no switch to flip in a players mind that would instantly prepare them and get them to the level of intensity, drive and determination required once playoffs start - it's a crescendo to that point. Grit and Sand Paper - The Grizzlys have plenty of it, and will need it. Physical yet disciplined play will be key against the Oilers.

OKOTOKS
Well rested? The Oilers will try to refute my previous point about playoff hockey. The Oilers breezed past the Canmore Eagles without much of a challenge in their first series. The Eagles were the worst team statistically to enter the playoffs - let's be honest, they weren't a good hockey club before they shipped off the likes of Hudson and Odegard . . .let alone without them. Now the Oilers will have to truly get ready for post-season hockey and a series that could easily go the distance. Okotoks had the best offense in the South Division during the regular season - look for them to pepper shots from every angle to try to beat Boulanger.

SATURDAY - GRIZZLYS OFF TO OKOTOKS, ORBAN WINS RBC JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP & THE ROAD TO THE CUP

2009-03-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

GRIZZLYS GET GOING

A total team effort.

That's what it was going to take to beat the Drumheller Dragons in the 5th and deciding game of their first round series and the Olds Grizzlys did not disappoint the over 1200 in attendance at the Sports Complex.

The Dragons would open the scoring at 16:35 of the 1st period on a great goal by Ashton Reinboldt after an even better pass from Robbie Nocera.

But just over two minutes later and with only 1:18 left to go in the period - Grizzly Captain Curtis deBruyn would speed from blue-line to blue-line and beyond - dropping behind the Dragons net, but not before feathering a beautiful pass to Shadoe Stoodley, who was left all alone in front and made no mistake potting his league leading 6th of the post-season over the shoulder of Braden Gamble.

The Grizzlys would score the lone goal of the second on great grind it out effort on the Power Play - Jordan Kwas didn't draw an assist on the play, but make no mistake, he was key to the goal, drawing in two Dragons thanks to some fancy stick work before dishing to Frank Carbonaro on the point, who passed the deBruyn, who connected with Brance Orban who launched the puck past Gamble putting Olds up 2-1 with 14:26 left to go in the frame.

In the third Sean Neumeier would score the eventual game winner at the 7:20 mark thanks to a tremendous break out, through the neutral zone pass from Wade Bergman.

The Dragons would make the game a little more interesting when just three minutes later Jeff Young would scored on the Power Play - making it 3-2.

But the final nail in the coffin of the Dragons' season would come with less than 3 minutes left in the game - when Nic Bourgeois would add some insurance after winning a battle along the boards, driving hard to Drumheller's net and beating Gamble high-stick side - making it 4-2.

Drumheller would pull Gamble with a 1:38 left in the game for the extra attacker allowing deBruyn to cap off a fantastic game by notching an empty goal and sending Olds to a 5-2 win.

In the end Olds out-shot the Dragons 47-21 in arguably their best "team effort" of the series and maybe the season.

GAME NOTES
Olds Brendon Algeo came back from injury and saw ice time for the 1st time in the series and was fantastic. Drumheller's Justin Faryna missed what would have been his last game in the AJHL due to an injury he suffered in Game 3 on home ice. Olds went 1 for 6 with the PP - the Dragons went 1 for 4. Marc Boulanger finished the game with a .904 save percentage while Braden Gamble finished at .913.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Drumheller Dragons at 16:35 - Ashton Reinboldt from Robert Nocera

Olds Grizzlys at 18:42 - Shadoe Stoodley from Curtis deBruyn and Matt Marantz

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 5:34 (PP) - Brance Orban from Curtis deBruyn and Frank Carbonaro

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 7:20 - Sean Neumeier from Wade Bergman and Marc Boulanger

Drumheller Dragons at 10:18 (PP) - Jeff Young from Tyler Matthews

Olds Grizzlys at 17:03 - Nicholas Bourgeois (unassisted)

Olds Grizzlys at 19:19 (EN) - Curtis deBruyn (unassisted)

SERIES SUMMARY
Game 1 - Drum 6 Olds 2 (Olds Sports Complex)
Game 2 - Olds 4 Drum 2 (Olds Sports Complex)
Game 3 - Olds 7 Drum 0 (Drumheller Memorial Arena)
Game 4 - Drum 6 Olds 5 (2OT) (Drumheller Memorial Arena)
Game 5 - Olds 5 Drum 2 (Olds Sports Complex)

SERIES NOTES
(At post Time) After the 5 game series Grizzly Captain Curtis deBruyn lead the league in points with 1g, 9pts. Followed by two other Grizzlys in Brance Orban with 5g, 8 pts and Jordan Kwas with 3g, 8pts. Olds Shadoe Stoodley was tied for the league lead in Goals with 6. Marc Boulanger finished with .897 Save Percentage and a 2.96 GAA.

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
Some may tilt their heads and call me crazy by this comment - but I think being stranded outside the Ronn Gore Memorial Arena in Torrington for over 8 hours in the midst one of the worst wind and snow storms in Alberta in recent memory, all of this after a 6-5 OT loss - did the Grizzlys a World of Good. In game 5 the Grizzlys played more as a team than I've seen this season, in fact they played like a family. Families ban together in tough times and in this bloggers opinion it's too far of a stretch to not think that sitting on a bus as a team, as a family, whether they talked about the OT loss or not, all through the night - had nothing to do with their style on the ice in Game 5.

LOOKING AHEAD TO ROUND 2
The Olds Grizzlys will head to Okotoks on Sunday to start Round Two with the Okotoks Oilers.
Check back Sunday for STATS CENTRAL.
____________________________

ANOTHER AWARD FOR ORBAN

The Alberta Junior Hockey League has selected Brance Orban of the Olds Grizzlys as the AJHL recipient of the 2009 RBC Junior A Scholarship. The 2009 RBC Junior A Scholarship recipients, one from each of the CJHL’s ten leagues, receive $1,000 toward post-secondary education, with one national winner receiving $5,000.

The annual scholarship provides financial assistance to players of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJHL) for their post-secondary education. Players eligible for the RBC Junior A Scholarship must be a Canadian citizen, on a Canadian Junior A team roster, and registered in or applying for full-time post-secondary studies. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievements, Junior A success, and community involvement.

Brance Orban will be attending Bemidji State University in Minnesota for the 2009-2010 season. Orban is currently evaluating two options for his post-secondary studies; Sports Management or Elementary Education.

In High School, Brance volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club and volunteered as a coach for young hockey players. Since arriving in Olds, Brance has participated in the Kindergarten reading program, Special Olympics Floor Hockey games, assisted with hockey schools, and volunteered with local team practices. Orban and his teammates have set up a Tobacco Awareness program for young kids in Olds and the surrounding communities, and have raised over $1,500 in cancer pledges during the past three seasons by shaving their heads.

Scott Kenway of the Olds Grizzlys won the 2007-2008 RBC Junior A Scholarship. The recipient of the $5,000 National RBC Junior A Scholarship will be presented at the 2009 RBC Royal Bank Cup in May 2009. The winner of the National RBC Junior A Scholarship will be selected by a national panel of Hockey Canada appointed junior hockey representatives.

(as taken from www.ajhl.ca)

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THE NEXT FEW MILES ON THE ROAD TO THE ENERFLEX CUP

South Division Match-Ups - Round Two (Division Semi-Final)

Brooks Bandits (1) vs. Camrose Kodiaks (4)

Game 1 – Sunday, March 8 @ Brooks 7:00PM
Game 2 – Monday, March 9 @ Brooks 7:00PM
Game 3 – Wednesday, March 11 @ Camrose 7:30PM
Game 4 – Thursday, March 12 @ Camrose 7:30PM
* Game 5 – Saturday, March 14@ Brooks 7:00PM
* Game 6 – Monday, March 16 @ Camrose 7:30PM
* Game 7 – Wednesday, March 18 @ Brooks 7:00PM

The Brooks Bandits earned a first round bye in the 2009 AJHL Playoffs by securing 1st place in the South Division. The Camrose Kodiaks defeated the Calgary Canucks in the opening round of the 2009 AJHL Playoffs to advance to the South Division Semi-Final.

The Camrose Kodiaks earned a bye to the South Division Semi-Final in 2008 and won the AJHL Championship in Game 7 versus the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The Brooks Bandits were eliminated in Round One of the 2008 AJHL Playoffs by the Drumheller Dragons.

Okotoks Oilers (2) vs. Olds Grizzlys (3)

Game 1 – Sunday, March 8 @ Okotoks 7:00PM
Game 2 – Monday, March 9 @ Okotoks 7:00PM
Game 3 – Wednesday, March 11 @ Olds 7:30 PM
Game 4 – Thursday, March 12 @ Olds 7:30 PM
* Game 5 – Saturday, March 14@ Okotoks 7:00PM
* Game 6 – Monday, March 16 @ Olds 7:30 PM
* Game 7 – Wednesday, March 18 @ Okotoks 7:00PM

The Okotoks Oilers swept the Canmore Eagles in Round One of the 2009 AJHL Playoffs. The Olds Grizzlys defeated the Drumheller Dragons in Game 5 to advance to the Division Semi-Final Series versus the Oilers. The Okotoks Oilers and the Olds Grizzlys were both eliminated in Round Two of the 2008 AJHL Playoffs.

North Division Match-Ups - Round Two (Division Semi-Final)

Spruce Grove Saints (1) vs. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (4)

Game 1 – Saturday, March 7 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM
Game 2 – Sunday, March 8 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 10 @ Ft. McMurray 8:30PM
Game 4 – Wednesday, March 11 @ Ft. McMurray 8:30PM
*Game 5 – Friday, March 13 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM
*Game 6 – Sunday, March 15 @ Ft. McMurray 8:30PM
*Game 7 – Tuesday, March 17 @ Spruce Grove 7:00PM

The Spruce Grove Saints earned a first round bye in the 2009 AJHL Playoffs by securing 1st place in the North Division and also captured the Dave Duchak Trophy as the 2008-2009 AJHL Regular Season Champions. The Saints were defeated by the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in the 2008 League Semi-Final.

Fort McMurray advanced to the 2009 North Division Semi-Final by eliminating the Bonnyville Pontiacs 3-1 in Round One. The Oil Barons also eliminated the Pontiacs from the 2008 AJHL Playoffs . The Fort McMurray Oil Barons were then defeated by the Camrose Kodiaks in Game 7 of the 2008 League Final.

Grande Prairie Storm (2) vs. Sherwood Park Crusaders (3)

Game 1 – Saturday, March 7 @ Grande Prairie 7:30PM
Game 2 – Sunday, March 8 @ Grande Prairie 7:30PM
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 10 @ Sherwood Park 7:30PM
Game 4 – Wednesday, March 11@ Sherwood Park 7:30PM
*Game 5 – Friday, March 13 @ Grande Prairie 7:30PM
*Game 6 – Sunday, March 15 @ Sherwood Park 7:30PM
*Game 7 – Tuesday, March 17 @ Grande Prairie 7:30PM

The Storm have advanced to Round Two with a 3-1 series victory over the Lloydminster Bobcats. The Storm were eliminated by the Spruce Grove Saints in Round Two of the 2008 AJHL Playoffs.

The Crusaders eliminated the St. Albert Steel in the opening round of the 2009 AJHL Playoffs to advance to Round Two. The Crusaders were defeated by the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the opening round of the 2008 AJHL Playoffs.

FRIDAY - THIS ONE'S FOR ALL THE MARBLES

2009-03-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

GAME 5!

This one's for all the Marbles, Do or Die, Looser Goes Home, Winner Takes All . . . use whatever cliche you want to describe the situation.

In the end, there isn't actually a word or a phrase that "hits the nail on the head" (another cliche - and I'm sorry) when it comes to describing the emotion, excitement and anticipation of a series that goes the distance.

Game 3, Game 5, Game 7 - hell, Game 15 in a best of 15 - it all means the same.

It means that you can expect two teams to put forth their highest caliber of hockey - and it the end, one will still go home facing a long off-season and one will go home with the excitement and wonder of what lies ahead.

On one side you have the Olds Grizzlys - A team coming off that bizarre and sickening feeling of a Double Overtime Loss in the Playoffs (for those who haven't ever played sports - it's like a mix of pure adrenaline, a racing heart, butterflies and a then blind-sided, sucker punch out of nowhere to the gut). You combine those emotions and feelings with a very. . .very long bus ride home - where, for well over 8 hours, there was nothing else to do but ponder what could have been and realize what instead, will be.

Then on the other side, you have the Drumheller Dragons - A team that fought and lived to see another post-season day. A team that stared into the eyes of pending elimination from the face of the 2008-2009 AJHL season and in the end said "We'll see ya Friday".

Though I'm sure he'd much rather be talking about the Okotoks Oilers than Game 5, Grizzly's Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg delivered the perfect quote when asked about his team's current situation.

"We worked extremely hard all year to get home ice advantage," said Hasselberg, "Thats what it comes down to now - we've got home ice on a Friday night in Olds, I don't think you can ask for a better script than that."

Normally at this point I rattle off a bunch of stats and figures from the two teams last encounter - but truth be told, at this point, it's not necessary.

Here's what I can tell you - it's Game 5 - this one's for all the Marbles, it's Do or Die, a Looser will Go Home and a Winner will Take All . . . and there's nothing more exciting in sports.
ICE CHIPS

Olds' Blue-Liner Brendon Algeo, who has yet to see any action this series, will play tonight - who'll be out has yet to be determined. Though I can't say for certain, Drumheller's Justin Faryna will likely not be in the line-up. No word if Kyle Fehr and Colten Hayes will return to the Dragons line-up.
INTERESTING TO NOTE

In the past 10 years the Olds Grizzlys have only had one series go the distance, be it 5 games or 7. It was back in 2000-2001 when in the league semi-final the Grizzlys lost to the Drayton Valley Thunder. Meantime in the past 4 season's the Drumheller Dragons have had a series need it's final game twice - in 2005-2006 the Dragons lost in the 5th Game of the 1st Round to Canmore, then in 2006-2007, the Dragons lost, once again in the 5th Game of the 1st Round to Okotoks.

IN THIS BLOGGER'S OPINION

Any Broadcaster, Beat Reporter, Blogger or otherwise that tells you they aren't emotionally invested in the teams they follow - is lying! So with that said I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't rooting for the Grizzlys tonight. I can say it's been one hell of a ride and win or loose, Okotoks or Off-Season - I CAN'T WAIT FOR PUCK DROP TONIGHT.

With the excitement of playoff hockey so intense I can barely stand-it. . .

Here's a couple videos I've watched to get myself just jacked for tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut4IHv6q7fM
(As a Flames Fan I damn near cry every time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLAWjdmw4Lw
(As a Flames Fan I laugh every time - but all in all a great video for a series that went the distance.)

THURSDAY - GRIZZ FALL IN 2 OT, WOW - WHAT A TRIP HOME & THE AJHL'S SOUTH DIVISION

2009-03-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

DRUMHELLER TURNS THE TIDE AND TIES THE SERIES

A slow start in Game 4 has resulted in another swing of the "momentum pendulum".

Despite scoring the first goal 1:01 into game 4 - it's safe to say the Grizzlys came out flat.

After taking the quick 1-0 lead, much like in game 1 in Olds, it seemed as if the Grizzlys' minds seemed to wonder towards travel plans to Okotoks and the Dragons took advantage.

A Tanner Dion charging penalty not a minute after Olds' goal would give the Dragons all they needed to turn the tide for game 4 - and once again - perhaps the series, scoring their first goal on the power play.

Mere moments afterwards however, it was the Dragons who would be sent to the box - but rather than taking advantage of their man-up chance, much like in game one in Olds, the Grizzlys would allow not one, but two short-handed goals during their powerless power play.

Facing a 3-1 deficit, when less than 4 minutes earlier the Grizz were up a goal, Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg called a time-out to rally the troops and it would work as just over 40 seconds later Carey Koroluk scored, denting into the Dragons lead to make it 3-2.

It would stay that way until the 2nd - when the Grizzlys, playing like men revitalized, would outscore their opposition 3-1 and head into the 3rd frame up 5-4.

Trying desperately to tie the game and keep their season alive the Dragons played a fantastic 3rd - out-shooting Olds 12-3 and playing extremely disciplined in the process - and, with less than 3:00 minutes remaining (AJHL Scoring Summary Not Accurate on Time of Third Goal) the hard work would pay off thanks to Scott Kennedy's game tieing 2nd goal of the post-season and 2nd of the night.

It was then off to overtime - where the first 10 of OT would solve nothing - and neither would the first 10 of the second overtime frame, but after successfully killing off Corbin Karl's Cross Checking minor - the Grizzlys were hemmed into their own end and after just 12 seconds of being back at full strength and just over 24 hours after his team was handed a 7-0 loss on home ice Ashton Reinboldt would score for Dragons, and in the process steal any momentum Olds had heading into the game and perhaps keeping some of it for his own team for Game 5.

Game 5 goes Friday Night at the Olds Sports Complex at 7:30.

GAME NOTES

The Dragons sat two D-Men - Kyle Fehr and Colten Hayes, who both took several penalties in Game 3; After leaving in Game 3 the Dragon's Justin Faryna was seen on crutches and with a bandaged hand sitting in stands for game 4; Garret Sheehan played very well in his first full taste of AJHL playoff action this season, making 33 saves - 18 of those coming in Overtime; Olds Blue-liner Brendon Algeo, has missed the entire series do to injury - but did practice with the team for the first time this week; Olds went 0-5 with the Power Play; Drumheller went 1-8.

SCORING SUMMARY

Olds Grizzlys at 1:01 - Shadoe Stoodley from Frank Carbonaro and Corbin Karl

Drumheller Dragons at 2:51 (PP) - Tyler Matthews from Robert Nocera and Patrick Bartoshyk

Drumheller Dragons at 3:41 (SH) - Robert Nocera from Colin Bergman and Patrick Bartoshyk

Drumheller Dragons at 5:04 (SH) - Scott Kennedy from Ashton Reinboldt and Lee Morrow

Olds Grizzlys at 5:56 - Carey Koroluk from Sean Neumeier

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 7:13 - Shadoe Stoodley from Frank Carbonaro and Mitchell Maxwell

Olds Grizzlys at 10:19 - Brance Orban from Jordan Kwas and Corey Campbell

Drumheller Dragons at 11:15 - Justin Morello from Lee Morrow and John Bokla

Olds Grizzlys at 14:58 - Chad Berglund from Tanner Dion and Nicholas Bourgeois

PERIOD 3

Drumheller Dragons at 6:58 - Scott Kennedy from John Bokla and Ashton Reinboldt

OVERTIME PERIOD 2

Drumheller Dragons at 10:38 - Ashton Reinboldt from Scott Kennedy and Tyler Matthews

INTERESTING TO NOTE

The Similarities between the Dragons Game 1 win and Game 4 win are uncanny. Observe:

Game 1:
Dragons score 6 goals - en route to a 6-2 win.
Game 4:
Dragons score 6 goals - en route to a 6-5 OT win.

Game 1:
Olds' Shadoe Stoodley opens the game's scoring 58 seconds in.
Game 4:
Olds' Shadoe Stoodley opens the game's scoring 1:01 minutes in.

Game 1:
Drumheller scores 3 special team goals in the win (1SH, 2PP)
Game 4:
Drumheller scored 3 special team goals in the win (2SH, 1 PP)

Game 1:
Drumheller goes perfect on the penalty kill. (Olds 0 for 5 PP)
Game 4:
Drumheller goes perfect on the penalty kill. (Olds 0 for 5 PP)

Game 1:
Lance Mckinnen is the Game's Referee
Game 2:
Lance Mckinnen is the Game's Referee

IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION
Though I know at times I'm pretty Olds biased (and proud of it) I have to really give credit to the Drumheller Dragons for their effort in Game 4. I can tell you this much, when this team plays smart - disciplined hockey - they are a really good Hockey Club.
_____________________________
THE LONG WAY HOME

Alright. I've already gotten several calls asking about the "ride-home" and yes, I can tell you the Grizzlys Caravan did not make it home. . .last night.

We rolled into town about 8:00 this morning.

Here's the blow by blow.

Now on any other night - I'd be on the Grizzlys bus with the team and Coaching staff - but on this night we had a Media Van (Play by Play Man Galen Hartviksen, myself (Color Analysis) and Andrew Wild from the Olds Albertan), together with the Grizzlys Video Crew Jeep and the team Bus formed what I've dubbed the Grizzly Caravan.

With about 60 kilometers left in our trek home the 100 kilometer an hour winds caused zero visibility, forcing both the media van and video crew jeep to pull over on a range road and wait it out.

Well about an hour and a half passed by - but this storm was not going anywhere and after a call to the Team Bus by the Video Crew, we were informed that the team was pulled over about 10 kilometers back at the Ronn Gore Memorial Arena in Torrington and much like us - were waiting for a break in the storm.

After carefully assessing the situation, both the Media Van and Video Crew Jeep decided that we were better off in town and in a group than not and elected to drive back to Torrington.

After about 15 minutes on the road, the Video Crew Jeep went into the ditch and not straying from the original mission left the Jeep behind and merged as one sole unit in the Media Van and persevered - making it back to Torrington with the team.

All in all - coaches, players, crew and media waited for about 8 hours in their respective vehicles and at daylight braved the winds, still gusting at around 60-80km/hour, and snow and thanks to some dandy driving by "Dubya and Dubya" (Wes, the Bus Driver and Wild the Media Van Man) made it home safe and sound.

In the end we all - or maybe it was just me - took home a valuable message.

As much as playoff overtime loses suck - they don't compare to peeing in 100 kilometer an hour winds.

Thanks again for the Calls.
_________________________
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE. . .

The Olds Vs Drumheller Series will be the only one going the distance in Round 1.

The Camrose Kodiaks booked a bus to Brooks to battle the Bandits in Round 2 after finishing off the Calgary Canucks 3 games to 1 at the Edgeworth Center last night.

WEDNESDAY - GRIZZLYS UP 2 TO 1, THE AJHL'S NORTH & JACK DAINES HEADING TO HALL OF FAME

2009-03-04T08:03:00.001-08:00

GRIZZLYS MAUL DRAGONS

The Olds Grizzlys entered the Dragon's Den in Drumheller last night with one thing on their minds - momentum.

Olds had generated a massive swing in Game 2 - when down to 2 goals to none, a Nic Bourgeois fight sparked a 4 goal second period and a series tieing 4-2 win.

Loosing said momentum would be detrimental and they weren't about to give it up.

The Grizzlys opened the flood gates 3:37 into the game when Defenseman Wade Bergman's "seeing eye shot" found it's way from the Dragon Blue-Line through several pairs of skates and eventually through the legs of Drumheller net-minder Braden Gamble.

Then just under 2 minutes later Matt Tinordi, who was a healthy scrath for game 2, scored on a great grinder play set up from Sean Neumeier and Carey Koroluk putting the Grizzlys up 2-0 heading into the first intermission.

Early on in the 2nd Olds would get a little undisciplined but would successfully kill off two straight Drumheller Power Plays and from there on in the Dragons mentality seemed to shift from "We can beat these guys" to "If we can't beat you - we'll beat you up".

From the 9:01 mark of the 2nd period to the end of the game - Drumheller would take 26 minutes worth of minor penalties and 60 minutes worth of Game Misconducts and Olds would make them pay registering 41 shots in total and 4 power play goals en route to 7-0 win.

It was obviouse what the Dragons were looking for - a fight - revenge - anything other than an actual goal to walk away with - but Olds would have none of it.

The Grizzlys earned their momentum and it wasn't up for sale.

"It's very difficult," said Bergman when asked how hard it was to stay disciplined and focused against a team looking for nothing more than a fight, "Guys are getting under your skin and you want to show them that you're not going to take it, but it's worth it all in the end."

The Grizzlys, leading the best of 5 now 2 games to 1, will be looking for a series win tonight in Drumheller - listen to live play by play coverage at www.ckfm.ca starting at 7:30.

GAME NOTES

Heading into the game Olds Coach Kevin Hasselberg wanted to see more offense from guys other than Kwas and Orban - he got just that - of the 18 points registered by Grizzlys - 5 assists and 1 goal came from the Blue-Line and 2 goals and 4 assists came from the Sand Paper Players; Marc Boulanger made 18 save for his first career playoff shutout; Jordan Kwas leads the league in points with 7 in 3 games played, Orban is tied in second with 6; Drumheller's leading scorer Todd Chinova wasn't in the line-up Tuesday while Justin Faryna left the game with what looked like a leg injury and did not return; Cremona native Garret Sheehan made his first playoff appearence playing the entire third period (10 Svs on 13 Sh) after Braden Gamble was pulled from the Dragons net after allowing 4 goals on 28 shots.
SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Olds Grizzlys at 3:37 - Wade Bergman from Nicholas Bourgeois

Olds Grizzlys at 4:54 - Matt Tinordi from Sean Neumeier and Carey Koroluk

PERIOD 2

Olds Grizzlys at 14:05 (PP) - Brance Orban from Jordan Kwas and Curtis deBruyn

Olds Grizzlys at 14:56 - Shadoe Stoodley from Curtis deBruyn

PERIOD 3

Olds Grizzlys at 12:18 (PP) - Jordan Kwas from Corey Campbell and Frank Carbonaro

Olds Grizzlys at 12:55 (PP) - Shadoe Stoodley from Ryan Cornforth and Ben Wilson

Olds Grizzlys at 19:10 (PP) - Matt Tinordi from Sean Neumeier

_______________________________

THE AJHL'S NORTH

The north division's 2nd round match-ups are all set.

The league's top team - the Spruce Grove Saints - will play the 5th place Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The MOB beat out Bonnyville last night.

While the 2nd seeded Grand Prairie Storm, who knocked out Lloyd, will take on the 3rd place Sherwood Park Crusaders, who knocked out Saint Albert.

_______________________________

JACK HEADS TO THE HALL OF FAME

Innisfail's Jack Daines is among the 2009 inductees to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

It was announced yesterday that Daines will go in as a Rodeo Builder.

He is also a member of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Other new inductees into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame iclude former CFLer and Calgary Stampeder Larry Robinson, Boxer Scotty 'Bulldog' Olson, and Olympian Duff Gibson

Gibson became the oldest person to win a gold medal in an individual event at the Winter Olympics when he won the skelton in Torino, Italy.

The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet takes place on May 29th.

TUESDAY - GRIZZ @ DRUM GAME 3

2009-03-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

LIVE FROM THE "COW-BELL CRAZY" DRUMHELLER MEMORIAL ARENA

To Quote T-Pain "I'm on a Bus". . . oh wait that was Boat.

None the less I'm on the Bus on the way to Drumheller.

Listen to live play starting at 7:30 at http://www.ckfm.ca/

MONDAY - GRIZZ TIE SERIES AND THE AJHL'S SOUTH DIVISION

2009-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

BOURGEOIS' BOUT SHIFTS SERIES MOMENTUM

You'll have a tough time convincing the fans at the Olds Sports Complex that fighting doesn't belong in the game.

This after Nic Bourgeois single-handedly shifted the momentum of Game 2 - and perhaps the entire first round series - between the Olds Grizzlys and the Drumheller Dragons in the 2nd period of last night's contest.

His team trailing 2-0 on the scoreboard and down a game in the series Bourgeois went looking for a scrap and found a willing combatant in Drumheller defenseman Colten Hayes.

Despite almost a foot disadvantage, the 5'8'' Bourgeois delivered a fight winning sequence of rights and lefts to the 6'2'' Hayes, who, in Game 1 had laid a relatively one-sided beating to Ryan Cornforth and who had also sent Shadoe Stoodley to the I-R in a fight during the regular season.

The fight sent the fans to their feet and the Grizzlys on a scoring surge as not :45 seconds later Corey Campbell would get Olds on the board for the first time, then again less than 3 and half minutes after that Brance Orban would score to tie the game.

Jordan Kwas would score the third for the Grizz while Orban would score another - putting the Olds Grizzlys up 4-2 heading into the 3rd, where Grizzlys' netminder Marc Boulanger would be the story.

Boulanger made 11 of his 33 saves in the third, several of which came in the last 2 and half minutes of the game when already short-handed the Grizzlys killed off a 6 on 4 Drumheller man-advantage with the Dragon's net empty, helping Olds tie the series at a game a piece with a 4-2 win.

After the game Jordan Kwas, who's 2 period goal would stand up as the winner, was asked about Bourgeois' game changing tilt with Hayes.

"That's the TSN turning point, probably even the playoff turning point," Kwas said, "You get a guy [Bourgeois] like that to change the momentum in the game and it worked out great for us."

The Grizzlys will now have to re-focus and perhaps purchase several pairs of ear-plugs as the series now shifts to the "Cow-Bell Crazy" Drumheller Memorial Arena for games 3 and 4.

GAME NOTES
Brance Orban also added 2 helpers to his pair of goals, giving him 5 points in the playoffs, which at post time lead the AJHL in that category. Grizzlys Goalie Marc Boulanger rebounded from poor preformance in game 1 (Sv% .827) with a much better outing in game 2 (Sv% .942). Rookie netminder for Drumheller Braden Gambel did not fair near as well as he did in game 1 (Sv% .959) - struggling with rebound controll in game 2 (Sv% .875). The Grizzlys went 2 for 6 with the Power Play, Drumheller went oh for 4. Cody Rainaldi and Jeff Young scored the goals for Drumheller.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

Drumheller Dragons at 17:44 - Cody Rainaldi from Patrick Bartoshyk

PERIOD 2

Drumheller Dragons at 5:08 - Jeff Young from Tyler Matthews and Robert Nocera

Olds Grizzlys at 5:59 - Corey Campbell from Brance Orban and Jordan Kwas

Olds Grizzlys at 8:12 (PP) - Brance Orban from Curtis deBruyn and Frank Carbonaro

Olds Grizzlys at 14:47 (PP) - Jordan Kwas from Curtis deBruyn and Brance Orban

Olds Grizzlys at 18:08 - Brance Orban from Jordan Kwas and Ben Wilson

PERIOD 3

No Scoring

__________________________________

GAMES ONE AND TWO DONE AND DONE IN SOUTH DIVISION.

Okotoks Oilers Vs. Canmore Eagles
Okotoks Wins Game #1 - 3-1
Okotoks Wins Game #2 - 5-0

Failing to Score on the Power Play may be the downfall of the Canmore Eagles in this series. The Eagles have gone 0 for 16 so far.

Camrose Kodiaks Vs. Calgary Canucks
Camrose Wins Game #1 - 3-2 OT
Camrose Wins Game #2 - 4-3 OT

These 2 teams just may exhaust each other to the point of no-return. Two games end in OT - but in the end the two heroes were wearing Kodiak Jerseys. Cam Dion in Game 1 and Kyle Miller in Game 2.

SUNDAY - GRIZZ FALL HARD IN GAME 1, THE AJHL'S NORTH AND THE WEEKEND THAT WAS & INNISFAIL EAGLES RESULTS

2009-03-01T11:06:00.000-08:00

DRAGONS TAKE GAME ONE IN ROMP

The Drumheller Dragons proved to be no-underdog in Game One of their 3 Vs 6 First Round South Division Playoff Clash.

Though both Drumheller and the Olds Grizzlys would head into the first intermission tied at one - the next 40 minutes would lean heavily in the favor of the Dragons.

One of the many proverbial nails in the Grizzlys Game One Coffin would be a Drumheller Short-Handed marker, scored by Colin Bergman, only 1:46 into the second period and that wouldn't be the end of the special teams story in this game one battle.

Up 3-2 the Dragons would kill off a pivotal Olds Grizzlys Power Play and mere moments later Cody Rainaldi would pot the fourth of the game for the Dragons with just 8 seconds left to play in the 2nd frame.

The Grizzlys Powerless Power Play would once again come back to bite them in the 3rd.

Down 5-2 at about the mid-way point - Olds failed to register a single shot on a 38 second 5-3 man-advantage.

In the end the Drumheller Dragons would go 1 for 4 with the Power Play while the Grizzlys would go 0 for 5 and despite outshooting the Dragons 49-35 . . .Olds would loose Game One 6-2 and home ice advantage in the process.

After the game Grizzlys' Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg said to expect a different Olds Grizzly team in Game 2 - which goes tonight (Mar.1) at 7:30 from the Olds SportsComplex.

GAME NOTES -

Drumheller Dragons Coaching Staff elected to go with Brayden Gamble over Garret Sheehan in Net for Game 1. Gamble, who had only seen 20 games during the Regular Season, was very positionally sound in his first playoff game in the AJHL; Grizzlys Goaltender Marc Boulanger was yanked with 14:30 left to go in the 3rd after allowing 5 goals on 29 shots, in his replacement Brayden Hopfe made 5 saves on 6 shots; Corey Campbell was named the Grizzlys Star of the Game; Todd Chinova was named the Dragons Star of the Game.

SCORING SUMMARY-

PERIOD 1

Olds Grizzlys at 0:58 - Shadoe Stoodley from Corey Campbell

Drumheller Dragons at 4:52 - Ashton Reinboldt from Scott Kennedy and Justin Faryna

PERIOD 2

Drumheller Dragons at 1:46 (SH) - Colin Bergman from Cam Lamoureux

Olds Grizzlys at 3:54 - Jordan Kwas from Brance Orban and Mitchell Maxwell

Drumheller Dragons at 11:26 - Todd Chinova from Tyler Matthews

Drumheller Dragons at 19:51 - Cody Rainaldi from Trent Colberg and Colin Bergman

PERIOD 3

Drumheller Dragons at 5:30 (PP) - Jeff Young from Kyle Fehr and Lee Morrow

Drumheller Dragons at 14:49 (SH) - Todd Chinova from Lee Morrow and Kyle Fehr

BY THE NUMBERS -

So Far this Post-Season - In Nine Games Played in both the South and the North - The team with the better Power Play Percentage has Won the Game 88% of the Time. (The Only Game that would differ was Game #2 between Lloyd. and G.P. - both teams went 25% on the P.P. and Lloyd Won)
In the 1st Round of the past 3 playoff seasons in the AJHL - Teams That Win Game One - Win the Series 73% of the Time (13 of the last 18)
In the 1st Round of the past 3 playoff seasons in the AJHL's South Division - Teams That Win Game One - Win the Series 55% of the Time (5 of the last 9)

INTERESTING TO NOTE -

Both Drumheller and Olds Swept their First Round Series in 2007-2008.
In 2006-2007 - Olds lost it's 1st Game of the 1st Round but went on to Win the Series 3 games to 1, while Drumheller won it's 1st game but lost the series 3 games to 2.

___________________________________________

TWO GAMES IN THE BOOKS UP NORTH

Games one and two are all but wrapped up in the AJHL's North Division - Here's How Things Look So Far:

Grande Prairie Storm Vs Lloydminster Bobcats
Storm Win Game 1 - 5-2
Bobcats Win Game 2 - 3-1

*Former Olds Grizzly and 2008 - 2009's AJHL Goaltender of the Year for the Grande Prairie Storm was the difference in Game 1 - registering a .941 Save Percentage. However in Game 2 Carder looked more human allowing 3 goals on 27 shots - .888%.

Saint Albert Steel Vs Sheerwood Park Crusaders
Crusaders Win Game 1 - 6-5
Crusaders Win Game 2 - 6-1

*Rob Kleebaum has 4 Goals for the Cru in the two games so far - meantime both Nic Yeremchuk and David Way also have 4 points for Sheerwood Park.

Bonnyville Pontiacs Vs Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Pontiacs Win Game 1 - 5-3
Oil Barons Win Game 2 - 4-1

*Three Power Play Goals was the difference for the MOB in Game 2.
________________________________
EAGLES - RAMS KNOTTED A ONE GAME A PIECE

Both the Innisfail Eagles and Rocky Rams won on home ice in the best of 7 Senior 'AA' Provincial Series this weekend.

In Game 1 on Friday the Eagles beat the Rocky Rams at the Innisfail Twin Arena 6-4. Derek Blais was a stand-out for the Eagles, picking up 1 goals and 4 points.

Meantime on Saturday it was the Rams appeasing the home town crowd - beating the Eagles in Rocky 3-2, thanks to Nathan Turners game-winning 3rd period goal. Games 3 and 4 go next weekend.

FRIDAY - LETS GET IT ON!

2009-02-27T18:11:00.000-08:00

The Olds Grizzlys head into this year's edition of the post season with several impressive regular season feats under their belt.

In the 2008-2009 Season Olds scored 225 goals - the most since 2003-04, they allowed only 189 - the least since 2005-06. They also amassed 35 wins, matching last year's total, the best since a 41 win season set by the Grizzlys of 2003-04.

Looking up and down the roster the Grizzlys would seem to have all the ingredients necessary for a solid run into the playoffs;

A) A legitimate Super Star in Brance Orban. Orban lead the Grizzlys in almost every statistical category this season, in goals with 37 (2nd in league), in points with 77 (5th in league), in Power Play Goals with 14 (8th in league), in Shorthanded goals with 4 (tied for 2nd in league) . . .the list goes on. He also picked up more points than any other Grizzly since the 2001-02 season when Ryan Huddy notched 84.

B) A Captain who will stop at nothing to ensure his team is victorious in Curtis deBruyn. deByruyn's leadership and motivation skills are beyond compare. This combined with the fact that he's found his scoring touch this season makes him one of the most valuable components to this team. deBruyn has nearly doubled his point totals from last year - in fact, you could combine his first three years in the league and they would still fall short of his 10 goals and 48 points (ranked 3rd among AJHL defenseman) - an total not seen by a Grizzly Blue-Liner in the past four years.

C) The Wiley Veteran, Shadoe Stoodley. Despite missing a hand-full of games do to injury - Stoodley still managed 47 points in 43 games played - averaging 1.1 points per game, 2nd only to Brance Orban in that category (tied for 19th in league). Every shift, Stoodley leads by example by playing with an intense energy.

D) The Rookies. Lead by Mitch Maxwell (13g, 54pts - tied for 4th among league rookies) the crop of rookies in the Grizzlys' Den had a fantastic season - as a group of 10 first years - they amassed 248 points -second only the group of rookies with the Okotoks Oilers in the South Division.

E) The Sand Paper Players. Providing the Grit and the Energy - this group of players did it all and did it with a chip on their shoulder. Blocking Shots, Winning Battles, Laying the Body, Killing Penalties and Outworking the opposition, if not with their skill then with sheer passion. Some, like Nick Bourgeois, were an offensive threat while some, like Corey Campbell, were a threat period.

F) The Red Lamp Blue-Liners - deBruyn, Wade Bergman, Brendon Algeo, and Frank Carbonaro - all solid in their own end - scarier still - just as solid on the other side of the ice. The Group of 7 Defensemen contributed 172 points in total - 41 more points than there nearest competition in that category in the South, the Camrose Kodiaks.

G) And finally - the Man Between the Pipes. Marc Boulanger, in this bloggers opinion, was the most under-rated goalie in the AJHL this season. In his first season as a number one man, Boulanger has compiled the lowest G-A-A, 2.62 (8th in AJHL), and highest save percentage, 90.88 (9th in AJHL), of any Grizzlys' netminder in the past 4 seasons. What's more impressive is that he managed those numbers despite a spell early on in the season that saw an injury riddled blue line use inexperienced forwards as substitutes in the interim. He won 26 games for Olds this season (2nd in the AJHL), 2 of those shutouts, in 50 games (2nd in the AJHL). In his 5 post - season appearances last year, he proved to his coach he could be number one, winning 3 of 5 games (one of which was a relief appearance when after Chad Carder had allowed 3 goals on 15 shots - Boulanger was perfect on 15 shots helping his team to victory) and compiling a sparkling, 91.74 Save Percentage and an outstanding 2.34 G-A-A. Boulanger has proven he's a big game goaltender.

What's more important than any of the preceding however, is that according to Grizzlys' coaching staff, each and every member of this Grizzlys team plays for their team-mates and has fun in the process.

When asked what the practice schedule would be like heading into the post-season, Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg said it would be cruel to keep these guys [Grizzlys] away from the rink, adding, in his coaching career he hadn't encountered a group of players that loved being together as much as his current team.

And in the end it is that mentality, the Grizzlys believe, that will help carry them into a long post-season run.
____________________________________
The Drumheller Dragons will most likely look back on the 2008-2009 regular season and wonder where it all went wrong.

With a solid group of returning players combined with last season's impressive playoff run (advanced to third round - lost to Camrose in 5 games) the Drumheller Dragons were poised to make a lot of noise in the South Division in 08-09 and early on it looked as if the hype was warranted.

Drumheller started the season very well. In fact it was in September that the Dragons handed the Olds Grizzlys a 9-5 loss while the Dragons would finish a busy month of October with an 8-3-0 -1 record.

But while the players on the ice were busy in October - as was management - making a plethora of trades.

In the months of October and November the Dragons traded Ryan Corbiell, Chad Hohmann and Erik Slemp - all members of the previous season's Dragon team and all traded for either future considerations or out of province players. (Those are only a few trades the Dragons made this past season; others include Wade Epp to the BCHL and Spencer Copp to the Calgary Royals).

Now, to be fair I didn't see enough Dragon games to accurately determine what it was that sent the team spiraling, but judging by the pre and post trade statistics - it may not be that far of a stretch to assume those trades did not help.

Prior to the trades the Dragons were a top team in the South Division - but afterwards would go on to win only one of eleven games in November and would later only win 4 games in each of the next three months - finishing with 26-30-1-5 record, matching the 2006-2007 lowest point totals, of the past four years.

Needless to say the Dragons will be running on full steam in the playoffs in the hopes of a ridding an otherwise dismal regular season once full of potential and promise from their minds and the minds of their fans.

THURSDAY - Olds Vs. Drum Stats Central, AJHL Awards, and Local B-Ball Results

2009-02-26T19:04:00.000-08:00

OLDS Vs. DRUM STATS CENTRAL

First Round Divisional Playoff Series Stats Central

Olds Grizzlys (3) Vs. Drumheller Dragons (6)

REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

RECORDS

Olds - 35 - 23 - 1 - 3 -- 74 (3rd in South, 7th in AJHL)

Drum - 26 - 30 - 1 - 5 -- 58 (6th in South, Tied for 11th in AJHL)

GOALS FOR

Olds - 225

Drum - 213

GOALS AGAINST

Olds - 189

Drum - 219

LAST 10 GAMES HEADING INTO POST SEASON

Olds - 6 and 4

Drum - 3 and 6

SPECIALS TEAMS

Olds PP - 7th in AJHL - 75 on 398 - 18.84%

Drum PP - 15th in AJHL - 53 on 363 - 14.40%

Olds PK - 5th in AJHL - 315 of 375 - 84.00%

Drum PK - 7th in AJHL - 388 of 431 - 83.06%

SEASON SERIES STATS BETWEEN OLDS AND DRUMHELLER

RECORDS Vs EACH OTHER IN 2008-09

Olds - 4 - 2 - 0 - 0

Drum - 2 - 3 - 0 - 1

SEASON SERIES GOALS FOR

Olds - 29

Drum - 22

SEASON SERIES SHOTS ON NET

Olds - 184

Drum - 176

POWER PLAY CONVERSION Vs EACH OTHER

PP @ HOME

Olds - 4 for 26 - 15.3%

Drum - 5 for 24 - 20.8%

PP ON ROAD

Olds - 3 for 24 - 12.5%

Drum - 1 for 18 - 5.5%

PP TOTAL

Olds - 7 for 50 - 14%

Drum - 6 for 42 - 14.2%

TOP POINT PRODUCERS IN SEASON SERIES

Olds Grizzlys

1) Brance Orban - 6G - 3A - 9PTS

2) Mitch Maxwell - 1G - 6A - 9PTS

3) Shadoe Stoodly - 6G - 1A - 7PTS

4) Nicholas Bourgeois - 3G - 4A - 7PTS

5) Curtis deBruyn - 1G - 6A - 7PTS

Drumheller Dragons

1) Cam Lamoureux - 4G - 4A - 8PTS

2) Robert Nocera - 1G - 4A - 5PTS

3) Justin Faryna - 2G - 2A - 4PTS

4) Patrick Bartoshyk - 1G - 3A - 4PTS

5) Trent Colberg - 2G - 1A - 3PTS (several with 3pts)

GOALIES STATS Vs EACH OTHER

Olds Grizzlys

Marc Boulanger - 124 Saves on 138 Shots - .898 SV% (5 Starts, 1 Relief App.)

Brayden Hopfe - 5 Saves on 8 Shots - .625 SV% (1 Start)

Drumheller Dragons

Garret Sheehan - 119 Saves on 140 Shots - .850 SV% (4 Starts, 1 Relief App.)

Braden Gamble - 27 Saves on 29 Shots - .931 SV% (1 Start)

CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR A FULL PREVIEW

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CHAD BERGLUND AWARDED STEWY STUART MEMORIAL TROPHY

Aquired from the Camrose Kodiaks in December, Berglund is in his first season in the AJHL and Grizzlys' Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg says the award is much deserved.

“I have been involved with Chad’s hockey development for the past eight years and have witnessed his personal growth, sacrifices and challenges through this time,” said Hasselberg. “Rarely do you see a young adult who has faced such great adversity and used it to strive for a greater sense of personal achievement.”

“Chad is the least penalized player on our team and is becoming one of the most energetic players on the Grizzlys roster. He competes every practice and every shift and doesn’t take for granted the opportunity to play the sport he loves.

Chad is becoming a role model in our community and continues to strive for his goal, to keep playing hockey.”

The Stewy Stewart Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the AJHL player in the South Division that best exhibits the following attributes: character, dedication, perseverance, integrity and sportsmanship.

Meantime, Jarret Granberg of the Brooks Bandits and Connor Hardowa of the Spruce Grove Saints have been nominated as the co-recipients of the 2009 Most Valuable Player Award.

Granberg completed the 2008-2009 AJHL Regular Season with 42 goals and 86 points, second overall in the AJHL Scoring Race. His 42 goals led the League during the AJHL Regular Season.

Connor Hardowa is in his third season with the 2008-2009 AJHL Regular Season Champion Spruce Grove Saints. The 20 year-old defenceman recorded 63 points in 61 regular season games this season, the most of any AJHL defenceman.

Other Awards:

*Scoring Champion - Ernie Love Trophy - Reese Rolheiser of the Sherwood Park Crusaders (33 goals and 88 points)

*Top Goaltender - Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey League Trophy - Chad Carder of the Grande Prairie Storm (League leading 2.02 GAA and .922 Save Percentage)

*Rookie of the Year - Dick White Trophy - Corban Knight of the Okotoks Oilers. (Led all AJHL Rookies in scoring with 72 points in 61 games)

*Outstanding Defenceman - W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy - Connor Hardowa of the Spruce Grove Saints.

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SPARTANS LEAGUE CHAMPS

The Olds Highschool Spartans are League Champs once again.

It was an uphill battle for the Senior Boys Basketball Team.

Ranked 3rd heading into the postseason, they knocked off 2nd place Didsbury 71-59 on Monday and then on Wednesday defended their crown beating Number One Ranked Innisfail in the league final.

Coach Tom Christensen says it was a solid team effort lead by the only two returning players from last year's Champs as both Taylor Grenier and Brendan Warawa had 20 points a piece in the final.

WEDNESDAY – Grizz Lock Up 3rd in a Gong Show and Big News for Curling in Olds

2009-02-25T08:06:00.000-08:00

GRIZZ TAKE 3RD

The Camrose Kodiaks redefined the phrase undisciplined hockey last night at the Edgeworth Center.

72 Penalty Minutes, an ejected head coach in Boris Rybalka, two overlapping 7 minutes shorthanded stints to create an over four minute 5 on 3 man advantage for the opposition and a second period that saw the team play just over 4 minutes even strength – resulted in an embarrassment on home ice.

Somehow the Olds Grizzlys kept their composure through it all – out-shooting the Kodiaks 56-12, scoring 4 power play goals and winning 6-1.

With the win the Olds Grizzlys win the season series with their South Division rivals 4-3-0-and-1, lock up 3rd place in the South and set a playoff date with the Drumheller Dragons.

Head Coach for the Olds Grizzlys Kevin Hasselberg talks about winning the season series and his teams focus and discipline in refusing to stoop to the Kodiaks level.

http://www.box.net/shared/ggi1jrz2vh

The Grizzlys begin their postseason run this weekend – check back tomorrow for detailed analysis on the GRIZZLYS Vs DRAGONS series.
_________________________________________
BIG CURLING EVENT IN OLDS IN MARCH

The Alberta Juvenille Provincial Curling Championships are coming to the Olds Curling Club.

Boys and Girls rinks from across Alberta will compete for a chance to head to Nationals.

Central Alberta will be well represented at the event as on the boys side a rink from Sundre and Red Deer will compete - while on the Girls side a rink from Red Deer will be in the mix.

The Alberta Juvenille Provincal Curling Championships go March 6th, 7th, and 8th - with the first draw set for 3:00 PM on the 6th.

TUESDAY - Grizz Look for Third Place & Colts Season Over

2009-02-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

The Number 3

The Olds Grizzlys will wrap up their AJHL regular season having the number three on their mind.

With a win against the Camrose Kodiaks – the Grizz will clinch the 3rd seed in the South Division.

Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg talks about that elusive Third Spot.

http://www.box.net/shared/5rgacj6bm0

Live play by play of tonight’s game live from the Edgeworth can be heard on 96.5 CKfm staring at 7:30 PM.

http://www.ckfm.ca/

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Colts Season in the Books

The Vipers ended the Mountain View Colts season last night at the Red Deer Arena.

Red Deer won game 3 of the best of 3 Heritage Junior Hockey League's division quarter finals by the score of 4-2.

The Vipers captured the series 2 games to 1.

MONDAY - Grizz and Colts Talk

2009-02-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

GRIZZ HOPE TO SINK CLAWS INTO 3RD PLACE

With only one game left in the regular season there's still plenty to be determined for the Olds Grizzlys.

Where they'll finish in the standings and who their first round opponent will be. . .it all comes down to tomorrow night.

At post time the Grizzlys are tied with the Calgary Canucks for 3rd spot in the AJHL's South Division and with a win in Camrose against the Kodiaks would lock up that coveted 3rd seed and of course a first round playoff date with the Drumheller Dragons.

Beating Camrose in their own barn won't be an easy task as the Grizz will be up against what Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg calls a "Hungry Team".

The Kodiaks have lost 2 straight - the latest of which saw Camrose surrender the game tieing goal with 1 second remaining in the 3rd and then go on to loose 4-3 in Overtime to the Calgary Canucks.

Olds meantime is coming of a 1 and 1 Lakeland swing - falling to the Bonnyville Pontiacs 4-0 on Friday then rebounding to beat Lloydminster 3-2 on Saturday.

Now, should Olds loose, they'll be hoping the Calgary Canucks suffer the same fate to the Sheerwood Park Crusaders - which because of more regular season wins - would still give Olds 3rd place.

Regardless, after a month of speculation - it'll all be decided tomorrow night.

________________________

DO OR DIE FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW COLTS

Tonight, by far, is the biggest game of the season for the Mountain View Colts.

They're up against the Red Deer Vipers for the final and deciding game of their Heritage Junior Hockey League opening round playoff series.

After the Colts hammered the Vipers 7-3 in Red Deer in Game 1 - the Vipers returned the favor - downing the Colts 8-3 at the Didsbury Memorial Arena yesterday.

Game 3 goes from the Red Deer Arena at 7:30 PM.