Skip to content

U15 Eagles welcome Alberta's best teams at provincials in Canmore

“There’s a lot of energy in the locker room; everyone is just so excited to play."

CANMORE ­– The hometown boys' sights are set on one thing this week in Canmore: becoming Alberta’s top U15 hockey team.

From Thursday to Sunday (March 24-27), the 2022 U15 Tier 1 Hockey Alberta Provincials go down at the Canmore Recreation Centre, where the top eight teams face off for the championship, including the U15 Canmore Eagles.

“There’s a lot of energy in the locker room; everyone is just so excited to play,” said left winger Emmet Long.

Along with the Eagles, the seven teams going for glory are the Springbank Rockies, Northwest Warriors, La Crete Lumberjacks, KC Sabres, Drayton Valley, Wainwright, and 3C’s Coyotes.

Defenceman Raine Kapitza said there are some pre-provincials jitters, but excitement and confidence also surrounds the Eagles.

“Lots of the team is nervous; we just lost the banner, so we really want to win this provincials,” said Kapitza.

Fresh wounds haven't healed over yet between rivals the Eagles and Coyotes after the teams' recent Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) championship banner tilt, which saw 3C’s emerging victorious in the hard-fought match-up.

They won’t meet in the round robin, but the Eagles hope to play the Coyotes at some point at Provincials.

“Just for revenge and try to get them back because we should have won those games,” said Long.

“I think if we really put in all the work I think we can make it far. We haven’t really seen a lot of the players and the teams play, so I’m not too sure yet, but I think we can win if we really try to and put in the work.”

All games will be played at the Canmore Recreation Centre with round robin action happening Thursday to Saturday. The playoffs begin Sunday at 8 a.m. and the championship game’s puck drop is 4 p.m.

The Eagles round robin games include Thursday at 7:45 p.m. vs. La Crete; Friday at 1:30 p.m. vs. Drayton Valley; and Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. Springbank.

Games are free to attend. Food bank donations are being accepted at the arena’s entrance.

After the past two years of COVID-19 and sports being cancelled, Eagles head coach and vice president of Canmore Minor Hockey Association, Reid Solodan, said the main aspect of hosting provincials is for all players to have fun and regain a sense of normalcy.

“Whatever kids deserve to get here, it’s seeing that light at the end of the tunnel that we are going to get back to normal here and last year was a complete write-off for hockey and everything,” said Solodan. “For us to host it and seven other teams from around Alberta I think these kids deserve it.

"I played in provincials when I was U13 and I remember it to this day and just how much fun it was. ... We’re a fast, pass-the-puck team and we have a shorter bench than most teams; we should be up there, I think, so it will be good.”

Canmore minor hockey is also looking for more volunteers for the four-day event. If interested, contact [email protected].


Jordan Small

About the Author: Jordan Small

An award-winning reporter, Jordan Small has covered sports, the arts, and news in the Bow Valley since 2014. Originally from Barrie, Ont., Jordan has lived in Alberta since 2013.
Read more


Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks