The last match for St. Albert before the second division playoffs in the Edmonton Rugby Union is Thursday’s first-place showdown against the Nor’Westers.
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
A victory by the 2010 playoff finalists would clinch the division pennant and home-field advantage in the Sept. 17 semifinals.
The Nor’Westers (7-3) have a game in hand on St. Albert (8-3) and the third-place Leduc Crude (7-4), the defending provincial champions.
Two weeks ago, St. Albert rallied to beat the visiting Nor’Westers 39-32. David Owen’s second try of the game with seven minutes to play gave St. Albert its first lead at 34-32.
Thursday’s exhibition doubleheader at the Riel Park turf field kicks off at 5 p.m. when the Paul Kane Blues host the M.E. Lazerte Voyageurs.
At 7:30 p.m., the Bellerose Bulldogs entertain the Harry Ainlay Titans, last year’s tier I provincial finalists.
League play starts Sept. 8 for Paul Kane, Bellerose and the St. Albert High Skyhawks in the Metro Edmonton league’s Carr conference. The Blues huddle up against the defending champion Salisbury Sabres at 5 p.m. at Clarke Park. At the Riel Park field, the Skyhawks play the Archbishop Jordan Scots at 5 p.m. and Bellerose tackles the Bev Facey Falcons at 7:30 p.m.
The St. Albert Steel wrap up their pre-season schedule this weekend with three games in three days.
On Friday, the Steel skate in Sherwood Park against the Crusaders at 7 p.m.
The teams meet again Saturday at Performance Arena at 7 p.m.
Sunday, the Steel and the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Spruce Grove Saints travel to Whitecourt for a 2 p.m. contest.
Last weekend, the Steel played four games in three days and lost 9-4 to the Crusaders, 8-2 to the Saints, 2-1 to the Drayton Valley Thunder and 4-2 to the Saints.
The score from Tuesday’s home game against the Camrose Kodiaks was unavailable at press time.
The City of St. Albert’s Skating Sports Wall of Fame will officially be unveiled Monday at Performance Arena.
The ceremony begins at 5:45 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend.
The inaugural 25 recipients were selected by the Skating Sports Wall of Fame committee because of their accomplishments and contributions to their chosen skating sport. They either played minor sports in St. Albert or, as a resident, achieved outstanding national level status.
