Tonight the St. Albert Raiders host the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League.
Faceoff is 7:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena. The Raiders are 4-2-2 on home ice.
In the north division the Raiders and Southside Athletic Club share first place at 8-3-3 and the Rangers are last at 1-10-2.
Last weekend at the inaugural midget AAA showcase event in Strathmore, the Raiders lost 5-3 to the host UFA Bisons and edged the provincial champion Red Deer Chiefs 3-2.
Kyler Hehr, Brett Smythe and Paul Lovsin converted power-play chances against the 7-7 Bisons. Starting netminder Pat Gora (three GA on 11 shots) was replaced by Mitch Martell in period two.
The Raiders rebounded to beat Red Deer, 2012 Telus Cup national champions. Smythe sniped the tying goal in the second and the game winner with under five minutes remaining.
Jason Miller also scored against the 9-2-3 south division leaders. Martell (6-1-1, 1.66 GAA) was in net.
Dating back to the 2011/12 regular season, the Raiders had lost six in a row to Red Deer, including the best-of-five provincial final and 3-2 last month in St. Albert.
The SAPEC Tier 1 junior high volleyball finals swing into action Thursday at Bellerose Composite High School.
At 6 p.m. the Sir George Simpson Voyageurs spike the ball against the William D. Cuts Crusaders for the girls’ crown and at 7:45 p.m. Simpson battles the Vincent J. Maloney Marauders for the boys’ title.
Admission is $2 for students and $3 for adults.
Both Simpson teams are 9-0 in league play.
The Tier 2 finals were staged Tuesday, featuring the Richard S. Fowler Falcons and Lorne Akins Gators for the girls and Elmer S. Gish Warriors and Morinville Wolves for the boys. Scores were unavailable at press time.
The first draw in the St. Albert OK Tire Men’s Bonspiel rocks the ice Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday’s finals start at 12:30 p.m.
Prize money is $5,000, paid per win.
The 30-team competition features three-time defending champion Mike Hutchings, a Bellerose Composite High School teacher. His bonspiel line-up consists of third Brian McPherson, second Chris King and lead Derek Skarban.
The St. Albert Colts and Stettler Panthers huddle up Saturday in the fifth annual Tier 4 bantam provincial football final.
Kickoff is 10 a.m. at Johnny Bright Park. Admission is $5.
The Colts are 3-6 as the Tier 4 champions in the Capital District Minor Football Association.
Last weekend the Panthers beat the Lloydminster Colts 26-12 in the north playoff.
There is no Tier 4 peewee division in southern Alberta.
