Local Sports
Local Sports Recap December 19th
By Sheldon Spackman
Another busy weekend is in the books for Central Alberta sports teams.
In the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the Olds Grizzlys lost 6-2 to the Bonnyville Pontiacs on home ice Sunday afternoon. It was the Grizzly’s second loss in a row and drops their record to 11-18-5 with 27 points and seventh place in the AJHL’s Viterra South Division. Bonnyville improves to 25-9-4 with 54 points and tied for first place with the Whitecourt Wolverines in the Viterra North Division.
Olds goals came from Ryley Smith and Chase Olsen. The Grizzly’s next game is Friday, December 30th when they host the 15-15-4 Drumheller Dragons. The Dragons have 34 points and are sixth place in the South Division. It’s a 7:00 pm face-off at the Olds Sportsplex.
In Chinook Hockey League action on Sunday, the Innisfail Eagles lost 3-2 in overtime to the Chiefs in Fort Saskatchewan. Trevor Cameron and Chad Robinson scored for the Eagles, with Robinson’s goal coming on the power play.
The loss drops the Eagle’s record to 3-4-0-5 with 11 points and third place in the CHL. Fort Saskatchewan improves to 5-8-0-0 with 10 points and fourth place in the CHL. Innisfail’s next game is Saturday, January 7th when they visit the Chiefs in Fort Saskatchewan again for an 8:00 pm face-off at the Jubilee Recreation Centre.
Finally, in the Heritage Junior Hockey League on Sunday, The Blackfalds Wranglers lost 5-3 to Airdrie. Wranglers goals came from Brenden Davidson who scored twice, including once on the power play and from Ryan Chambers. The loss drops Blackfalds record to 16-10-0 with 32 points and fourth place in the HJHL’s North Division. Airdrie improves to 20-6-2 with 42 points and second in the North Division. The Wranglers next game is Tuesday, December 20th when they host the 6-17-3 Ponoka Stampeders at 7:30 pm. The Stamps currently have 15 points and are sixth place in the North Division.
Elsewhere in the HJHL on Sunday, Mountainview beat the Academy Bears in Banff 7-2.
Local Sports
End of an era for Red Deer Minor baseball Braves
From Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors
Following many discussions within the Red Deer community, the baseball community, our association members, as well as our board of directors we have made the decision to move forward with rebranding our teams, currently known as the Braves. For our association the Braves name symbolized warrior strength, bravery and resilience, all qualities we were proud to align with; and although the initial moniker of our teams was never intended to carry a derogatory or disrespectful connotation, for some, it has. The topic of our rebrand has been polarizing and arguments both for and against have been passionately presented. We have made the decision to move forward in the direction we feel is best for our association.
In alignment with the membership majority vote, the Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors is excited to announce that we will now be known as the Red Deer Rangers.
The Red Deer Rangers will retain our current navy and crimson colors and will not adopt the colors or logo of the MLB, NHL, or any other Rangers franchise. We are looking forward to forging our own identity and embracing our own look.
As you can appreciate this is a complex initiative that will take time. We will remain the Braves for the 2024 season and aim to have our rebrand complete for the 2025 season.
All participants that submitted the Rangers name during our rebranding poll, will be entered into a draw to receive the first Red Deer Rangers jersey.
We hope you will join us in celebrating this positive endeavor as we create a new inclusive legacy for our association that all can be proud of.
RDMBA Board of Directors
Local Sports
Red Deer Minor Hockey is proud to announce our new General Manager Lane Moore
From Red Deer Minor Hockey
The Red Deer Minor Hockey Board of Directors is pleased & honored to announce, after an extensive search, that Lane Moore has accepted the position of General Manager of Red Deer Minor Hockey. Lane will start his new role early in the new year & is very excited about leading our organization into the future as we aim to provide a positive learning and maturing experience for all of our young athletes & coaches in a minor hockey setting.
Lane comes into the role of General Manager with an extensive resume, in both hockey and administration. Lane has led the Bentley school as principal for the last 17 years & was an educator prior to that. On the hockey side, Lane’s passion for coaching & engaging with young athletes, dates back to 2002. His most recent involvement as a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey saw Lane lead the U17AAA North Star Chiefs for 2 seasons (21-22, 22-23). Prior to his work with Red Deer Minor Hockey Lane served as President of Rimbey Minor Hockey for several seasons.
One of Lane’s biggest strengths is his ability to create highly effective teams by building a common mission & vision & then executing on those through visionary leadership. These attributes shone through during this General Manager search and we are thrilled for Lane to lead this organization now & into the future as we aim to be one of the premier Minor Hockey Associations in the province.
Lane, his wife Kathleen & their three children Easton, Cooper & Lexi call Red Deer home. His son Cooper is the captain of Red Deer U18AAA Optimist Chiefs & his older son Easton is pursuing his hockey career and post-secondary studies in Massachusetts. Please join us in congratulating Lane Moore as the new General Manager of the Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission, welcome Lane!
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