Sports

Thrashers drop weekend pair

Wednesday, 19 December 2012 12:24 Steve Ibbotson

The Three Hills Thrashers knew they were in for a difficult weekend, facing two of their north division rivals.

On Friday night, Three Hills travelled to Airdrie to face the Thunder. Tom Vanderlinde got the Thrashers started on a positive note, firing home his fourth goal of the year just over eight minutes into the game. However, Airdrie replied with a powerplay goal for minutes later and took the lead before the period ended on Alex Hustad's first goal of the night. Hustad added two more in the second stanza, scoring a natural hat trick and chasing Brady Hoover from the Thrashers goal. Tristan Cunningham scored a powerplay goal for the Thrashers just 47 seconds into the final frame, but that was as close as the visitors could get. The Thunder fired two late goals past Devon Dell to claim a 6-2 victory.

Sunday afternoon the boys were in Blackfalds to battle the North division's top team. Coach Ian Hall felt the Thrashers played much better than on Friday night. The teams battled back and forth and found themselves deadlocked 1-1 in the third period with Lucas Ford having scored for Three Hills. However, with just 54 seconds remaining in regulation time, the Wranglers scored the winning goal to send the Thrashers away empty-handed in terms of points.

The Thrashers travel to Medicine Hat for a Friday night game and then down the road to Coaldale for a Saturday night game before the Christmas break. They have fallen into fourth place in the North division, just one point behind Airdrie. Their first home game in the new year is January 5 vs. Ponoka.

Thrashers lose two, win one over weekend

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 08:47 Steve Ibbotson

The Three Hills Thrashers had a busy three-game weekend but only managed to pick up one win.

Friday night the team travelled to Stettler to battle a steadily improving Lightning team. Despite outshooting the Lightning 13-5 in the opening period, they were down 1-0 after twenty minutes. Stettler scored a powerplay goal midway through the second stanza before Thrashers rookie Michael Neumeier put the visitors on the scoreboard. However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the opening five minutes of the final frame as the Lightning scored a pair of goal to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Cam Braun got one back for Three Hills but that was as close as the Thrashers could get and went home on the losing side of a 5-2 score.

Saturday night the boys were back home against the lowly Ponoka Stampeders. However, after the opening period, the Stampeders did not look like a one win, twenty losses team as they led 3-1. The intermission talk from coach Ian Hall seemed to awaken the Thrashers and they responded with a solid second period. Lucas Ford's eighth goal of the season just after five minute mark was followed less than two minutes later by Luke Scheunert's unassisted tally to tie the score. A minute later, brother Jesse scored a powerplay goal to put the Thrashers ahead. Kelby Stevens fourth goal of the season was followed by Jay Kirkham's second goal of the year on a powerplay. Ponoka scored a powerplay goal of their own but Tyrel Severtson responded 28 seconds later to make the score 7-4 after forty minutes. A powerplay goal by the Stampeders earlier in the third period kept the game close and then when Sean Emes scored unassisted with just under eight minutes remaining to cut the Thrashers lead to one goal, everyone got a little nervous. However, Tyrel Severtson's second goal of the night just 30 seconds later gave the Thrashers an insurance marker. Jay Kirkham potted another goal less than a minute later and finished off his first hat trick as a Thrashers with just over two minutes remaining to make the final score 10-6.

The players didn't have too much time to celebrate the victory as they were back on the ice Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm for a battle against the South division's Coaldale Copperheads. Midway through the period, Coaldale struck as Craig Lyon beat Devon Dell in the Thrashers goal. Lucas Ford evened the score in the final minute of the first period for Three Hills. Although both teams continued to generate some scoring chances, it was the visitors who capitalized, scoring three times on 21 second period shots, to take a 4-1 lead after forty minutes. Despite losing the night before in Stettler, the Copperheads seemed to be the less weary team from a busy weekend, scoring two more goals in the final frame to collect a 6-1 victory.

The Thrashers look to get back in the win column in this calendar year on the road as they play in Airdrie this Friday night (Dec. 14) and Sunday afternoon in Blackfalds before heading south the next weekend. Their next home game at Centennial Place arena is on January 5, 2013.

Neons attend Poppy Invitational

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 08:45 Jay S | © ThreeHillsCapital.com

Neons made a splash at the Poppy Invitational Swim Meet in Edmonton, Accompanied by head coach Stephanie Ward, Aislinn Morton and Kristian Freund had some great swims over the course of the weekend and once again proved that we may not have the biggest group but we are mighty in the pool.

Aislinn swam the 100 meter freestyle 1:35.96 50 meter backstroke 55.35, 50 meter breaststroke 53.32 200 IM 3:52.60 50 meter freestyle 43.67 50 fly 58.64 and 100 meter breatstroke in 1:56.4. Aislinn recorded five best times out of the seven swims and took off 14.31 second off her 100 free, 2.20 seconds of her 50 back, 3.67 seconds off her 100 breaststroke and shaved a 16.68 seconds off her 100 meter IM. Some great swimming Aislinn a great way to start the swim season, looking forward to seeing some more of that exceptional breast stroke.

Kristian Freund swam the 100 meter freestyle 1:11.93, 50 meter backstroke 39.25 ,100 meter fly 1:27.90, 50 meter breaststroke 44.97, 200 IM 3:02.76, 50 freestyle 42.04 and the 50 fly in 35.30. Kristian shed 9.19 seconds off the 100 freestyle placing 6th, 2.93 seconds off his fifty backstroke placing 4th, 2.48 seconds off his 50 breastroke placing 4th, 40.92 seconds off his 200 IM placing 9th and 9.94 seconds off his 50 meter fly coming in 2nd. Kristian had a meet qualifying time in the 200 IM securing a position in the Provincial B Time Trials. Well done, Kristian.

Kneehill PeeWee A Chiefs win big in Wetaskiwin

Wednesday, 05 December 2012 10:42 Jay S | © ThreeHillsCapital.com

The Kneehill PeeWee A Chiefs travelled to Wetaskiwin this past weekend to participate in the Wetaskiwin Pee Wee A Challenge. They played a total of five games in two days.

Their first game on Saturday gave them a 12-3 victory over the Okotoks Oilers. The second game also ended in a 7-3 victory over the Red Deer Chiefs. The long day and back-to-back games proved to be too much for the Chiefs in their final game Saturday and they fell to the Sylvan Lake Lakers, 7-3.

Sunday was a completely different story as the Chiefs beat the same Sylvan Lake team in the semi-final, 8-2. The Chiefs met up with the Edmonton Whitemud West team in the finals. The final game proved to be a battle for the Chiefs. They opened the scoring in the 1st period, but ended the period down 2-1. The 2nd period ended with the Chiefs down, 4-3. By the 13 minute mark of the 3rd period they were down 5-3. The Chiefs rallied back and had it all tied up at the seven minute mark. With one minute to go in the final frame, they scored the go ahead goal and won the game. This was an amazing win for the Chiefs. They dug deep and came out on top. The boys should be very proud of their play this past weekend. Go Chiefs!

Kent Rink wins Acme Men's Cash Spiel

Wednesday, 05 December 2012 10:28 Debi Moon

Acme Men's Cash Bonspiel, held Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, featured 14 teams with cash prize payouts for the top ten teams. The event also comes with the annual Friday night steak fry.

The Lyle Kent team of the Crossfield Curling Club were the winners of the 'A' event, and included curlers Mike Knight, Kory Irwin and Marvin Knight. The 'B' event was won by the Wayne Graham team of Irricana Curling Club with his players Wayne Balderson, Gary Bye and Charles Balderson. The 'C' event was won by a local team skipped by Bill Taylor and included Glen Rieger, Dale Downey and Ron Graham.

Placing second in the 'A' event was Acme team: Jay Davis (skip), Lance Smith (3rd), Greg Bates (2nd), and Darryl Gorr (lead). Placing second in the 'B' event was Acme team: Darwyn Moon (skip), Greg Gieck (3rd), Dante Nana (2nd), and Rick Fuller (lead). Winning second in the 'C' event was Carbon team: Ken Cousins (skip), Kelly Steen (3rd), Dave Code (2nd), and Don Appleyard (lead).

Third place in the 'A' event went to Jason Bates, Doug Bates, Al Kostrosky and Max Isaac. Fourth in the 'A' event went to Murray Huddle, Eric Goerzen, Ernie Neufeld, and Chester Reimer. Third place in the 'B' event went to John Van de Laak, Lyle Megli, Mike Ratzlaff, and Kenton Ziegler. Fourth in the 'B' event went to Dennis Kuiken, Darcy Penner, Tom Keet, and Earl Penner.

All teams wish to thank the spares who took on any position to shore up a team when players couldn't always meet the schedule obligations. You are to be congratulated as well.

More Articles...