The Calgary Flames signed St. Albert product Turner Elson to a three-year, two-way $560,000 contract last week.
The left winger with the Red Deer Rebels attended the Flames’ rookie camp as a free agent. The five-foot-11 and 175-pound skater played in the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton and was then invited to the main camp.
“Turner Elson was a player we had on our draft list at this past summer’s draft. However, with only five selections in the seven rounds we were not able to land him at that time,” Flames general manager Jay Feaster said in a news release. “Having him come to rookie camp and then participate in main camp and play a pre-season game enabled our entire hockey operations department to evaluate him as a player and get to know him as a person.
“There was no question that we wanted to add him to our organization and we are thrilled to have him under contract. He thinks the game very well and displays what we consider to be very good hockey sense. He also competes hard every shift and is responsible in all three zones. We look forward to monitoring his progress this year in the WHL.”
Elson, 19, is entering his third Western Hockey League season with the Rebels. In 2010-11 he recorded 16 goals, 15 assists and 124 penalty minutes in 68 games. His career totals include 25 goals, 48 points and 218 PIM in 135 regular season games.
Elson’s younger brother, Trace, was also among the last cuts at the Rebels’ training camp. Trace, 16, is a forward who made his Alberta Junior Hockey League debut Saturday with the Sherwood Park Crusaders and picked up an assist in the 4-1 win against the St. Albert Steel.
Brady McCorriston’s shorthanded goal with 6:05 left in the third period sealed the deal for the Morinville Jets in Friday’s 3-1 victory over the St. Albert Merchants at Akinsdale Arena.
Keagan Arcand and Dalen Paul put the Jets on top in the first period. Kurtis Watts replied for the Merchants on a second-period power play.
Brad Miller was in net for Morinville and Justin Pawlenchuk tended the twine for St. Albert
It was a relatively tame affair between the rival junior B clubs. The Jets were penalized 13 times for 32 minutes and the Merchants had seven infractions for 22 minutes.
Both teams were in action Sunday. The Merchants needed a shootout to edge the Beverly Warriors 4-3 at Clareview Arena. The Jets dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Spruce Grove Regals in Morinville.
The Merchants and Jets hook up again Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Ray McDonald Sports Centre in Morinville.
On Friday night the Merchants (2-1) host the North Edmonton Red Wings at 8 p.m. and the Jets (2-0-1) visit the Stony Plain Flyers at 8:30 p.m.
The Edmonton Thunder continued their domination of the St. Albert Slash in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League.
The 2011 Esso Cup national silver medallists outshot the Slash 36-9 in Saturday’s 4-0 win at Performance Arena. Chloe Sanderson, a Slash netminder last season, posted the shutout.
The Thunder struck three times in the second period and once in the third against goalie Emily Mitchell in the penalty-riddled affair.
Last season the Thunder posted a 7-1-1 record against the Slash while going 43-4-5 overall. The Slash finished 41-15-4 overall and as the host team placed fifth in the six-team Esso Cup tournament.
On Sunday the Slash defeated the Spruce Grove Saints 3-1 at Grant Fuhr Arena. Megan Lalor scored twice and Sabrina Flemming also tallied. Slash goalie Kaelin Klim stopped 20 shots.
The Slash and Thunder share top spot in the north standings with 3-1 records.
This weekend the Slash head south to play the Calgary Bruins and the Highwood Raiders.
