Ian Mitchell of Calahoo played a big role in Canada White winning the World U17 Hockey Challenge.
The former midget AAA St. Albert Raiders’ defencemen, who plays with the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, assisted on two power-play goals in the 6-2 victory over Russia in Saturday’s final in Dawson Creek.
In six games, Mitchell scored twice and finished with five points for the 4-2 Canada White roster of players from across the country. The eight-team competition included the Canada Black and Canada Red teams.
The Bellerose Composite High School student played bantam AAA in Spruce Grove before joining the Raiders last season. He also played at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George with the Team Alberta silver medallists.
Mitchell was a second-round selection, 32nd overall, by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2014 Western Hockey League bantam draft.
The St. Albert Merchants face-off against the North Edmonton Red Wings at Londonderry Arena tonight at 8 p.m.
The Red Wings (10-4-1) are third and the Merchants (7-6-2) are fourth in the west division of the Capital Junior B Hockey League.
Early in the season, the Merchants edged the 2015 Founders Cup and provincial champions and western silver medallists 5-4 in St. Albert.
The Merchants are 4-1-2 on the road 3-5 on home ice after Friday’s 7-3 loss to the first-place Edmonton Mustangs (12-3) at Akinsdale Arena.
It was 3-2 Merchants when the Mustangs potted a pair in the second period and struck three times in the third.
Jared Kwasney scored in the first and goals by Tristan Gavin and Casey Reid put the Merchants up by one with 14:58 left in the second. Matt Havens picked up two assists for a team-high 25 points in 11 games.
The Merchants were outshot 38-30 and Ty Clelland (6-6, 3.66 GAA) was in net.
The Merchants host the Spruce Grove Regals (1-11-1) Friday and the Stony Plain Flyers (6-9-1) Sunday at 8 p.m.
The St. Albert Raiders have two home games on tap this weekend in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
The Raiders (2-9-1) skate against the SEAC Tigers (1-8-3) of Medicine Hat Saturday at 6:45 p.m. and Sunday’s start time against the Lethbridge Hurricanes (5-1-6) is 1:15 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
At last weekend’s third annual AMHL showcase event in Sherwood Park the Raiders rallied to tie the Calgary Buffaloes (6-5-1) at 3-3 and lost 4-2 to the Calgary Northstars (5-4-2).
The Raiders salvaged a point against the Buffaloes on goals by Garrett Clegg with 3:36 remaining and Colin Schmidt with 15 seconds to go.
Connor Tupala also scored and assisted on the tying marker.
The Raiders were outshot 15-8 in the third and 51-19 overall. Thomas Davis was between the pipes.
Leif Mattson and Caden Benson lit the lamp in the third and Zach Aston assisted on both goals against the Northstars.
Shots were 39-30 for the Northstars and Ethan Crotty was in net.
The Raiders are 2-2-1 in their last five games. They are 1-5-1 on the road and 1-4 at home.
The St. Albert Crusaders host the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League Thursday.
Puck drop is 8:15 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
The Crusaders are 8-2-1 after Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Maple Leafs (1-7-1) at Confederation Arena and the Rangers are 2-6-1.
Scott MacDonald and Nattias Neset scored on the power play and Elliot Saive (4-1-1, 3.17 GAA) stopped 34 shots in the second consecutive win for the 2015 Fountain Tire Cup finalists after last week’s 6-3 loss to the St. Albert Blues (4-4-2).
The Blues are in Wetaskiwin Sunday to play the Ice Kings (0-6) at 3:30 p.m.
The Blues are coming off Sunday’s 6-4 win over SSAC Lakewood Chevrolet (7-4) at Confederation Arena. Brett Mossing pumped in five goals and Bryce Sturm made it 6-3 with 9:23 remaining. Chris Curr (3-2, 2.81 GAA) was tested 32 times by SSAC.
The St. Albert Slash and the Calgary Fire hook up in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League Friday.
Faceoff is 8 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
The Fire (6-1-3) is tied for second in the nine-team standings and the Slash (3-5-3) share sixth place.
The Slash posted a 4-2 shootout decision against the Red Deer Chiefs (5-3-3) in St. Albert last weekend. The Slash led 2-0 on first-period goals by Breanna Golosky and Sophie Robertson and in the shootout Breanna Jones and Kyrelle Skoye scored.
The shot margin was 47-19 for the Chiefs, the 2015 Esso Cup national silver medallists as the host team. Natalie Bender (1-3-2, 2.17 GAA) backstopped the Slash to their first win after three losses.
The Slash play the Rocky Mountain Raiders (7-2-1) Saturday at 4:45 p.m. in DeWinton and Sunday they visit the Fire at 10:30 a.m. at Max Bell Centre.
Dalen Paul’s hat-trick and five-point night for the Morinville Kings highlighted Saturday’s 10-2 rout of the Rocky Rams in the North Central Senior AA Hockey League.
The Kings outshot the Rams 52-30 in Rocky Mountain House.
Nico Avveduti recorded two goals and two assists and Gerald Desjarlais had one goal and three assists. Brayden Arcand, Tim Nolte, Shamus Graham and Wayne Gatza potted singles and Keegan Arcand drew three assists. In net was Chris Sharkey (2-1, 2.93 GAA).
The Kings improved to 2-2-1 and the Rams are 1-3.
The Kings battle the defending NCHL champion Warriors (2-2) in Westlock Friday at 8:30 p.m.
The St. Albert Sabres were undefeated in four games before Tuesday’s contest against the winless Maple Leafs in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
The score from Castledowns Arena was unavailable at press time
Last weekend the Sabres (9-2-3) blanked the Canadian Athletic Club 9-0 at Callingwood Arena and tied the Lloydminster Heat 4-4 in the Border City.
Stuart Dovey scored three times, Dominik Cesarz chipped in with one goal and three assists and Evan Fradette (5-0-2, 1.75 GAA) stopped 18 shots for his second shutout of the season.
Ethan McKinley, Blake Sydlowski, Carson Henry, Aidan West and Kye Buchanan notched singles against CAC (4-6-1). West, Brett Bamber and Michael Benning collected three assists apiece.
Bamber’s power-play marker pulled the Sabres even with the Heat (6-4-4) at four with 4:15 to play.
Austin Spiridakis, Sydlowski and Logan McKinley also scored, Brady Nicholas was credited with three assists and Cesarz had two helpers against the top Charger north division team.
Shots were 50-35 for the Sabres, ranked second in the Nitro north standings. Ryley Osland (4-2-1, 2.54 GAA) was in net.
Meanwhile, the Sabres are hosting the 26th AMBHL all-star game Jan. 9 at 2:15 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
