Slash Alumni Game
The stars will shine bright Thursday at the fifth annual Slash Alumni Game.Faceoff is 5:15 p.m. at Go Auto Arena between past and present midget AAA Slash players.
The motto for the alumni game, sponsored by the 2011 Esso Cup Legacy Fund, is Tradition Never Graduates.
Last year the alumni prevailed 8-3 against a Slash lineup short five players.
The current Slash team skates into the Christmas break with a first-place 15-1-1 record in the Alberta Female Hockey League after winning twice on the road last weekend.
Scores were 1-0 against Calgary Fire (11-7-1) and 10-1 against the Rocky Mountain Raiders (4-14-2).
In Calgary, Dayle Ross struck on the power play in the first period and Holly Borrett (8-0, 0.63 GAA) stopped 17 shots for her fourth shutout and the team’s eighth this season.
In DeWinton against the Raiders, the Slash were led by Madison Willan’s hat-trick and one assist and Mackenzie Kordic’s three goals while Brianna Sank (7-1, 0.78 GAA) faced 13 shots.
Willan is the AFHL’s top scorer with 18 goals and 33 points.
Meanwhile, the two-time defending Esso Cup national champions were awarded hosting rights for the AFHL’s Final Frozen Four provincials March 22 to 24.
The winner advances to the Pacific Region national qualifier and the best-of-three series will be hosted by the Alberta champion.
The Esso Cup is April 21 to 27 in Sudbury, Ont.
Food bank game
The Lorne Akins School’s annual teachers versus students hockey game in support of the St. Albert Food Bank will pack the stands at Akinsdale Arena.Friday’s puck drop is 10 a.m.
The first intermission will feature a performance by Grade 9 figure skater Grace Smyth.
In the second intermission, students will participate in a mitten toss and the closest to the centre dot wins a donated set of Edmonton Oilers tickets.
Last year the teachers, with ringers in the lineup, won 10-7.
Students who donated non-perishable food items had their names entered in a draw to play in the game.
The origins of the teachers versus students bragging rights date back to the 1970s at the Braeside outdoor rink as part of Lorne Akins’ winter carnival.
The current version was initiated by Mike Olsson, a teacher at Lorne Akins, around 2005 as a fundraiser to assist the family of student Spencer Lorenz who lost their home to fire close to Christmas.
