The thrill of a lifetime for the St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres is the John Reid Memorial Tournament.
The high-profile bantam AAA hockey tournament celebrates its 38th year as a fixture on the St. Albert sports scene.
“We’re really excited. We’ve grown up watching the tournament and it’s kind of a dream for all of us to play in it,” said left-winger Blake Sydlowski. “We’re honoured to be there this year.”
The Sabres will embrace the moment starting Thursday, when they face-off against the Notre Dame Hounds at 10:45 a.m. and the Los Angeles Jr. Kings at 8 p.m. at Go Auto Arena.
Visit www.johnreidmemorial.com or check out the Gazette scoreboard on page 64 for the tournament schedule.
“One reason why everyone wants to make this team is to play in the John Reid because of how big it is,” said captain Brady Nicholas. “It’s definitely something we all look forward to since the beginning of the year.”
The stage is set for a winning performance by the championship contenders in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
“We’re all going in with the same goal: we want to win that tournament,” Sydlowski said.
The host team hasn’t hoisted the tournament cup since the 1983 Territorial Leasing Sabres, when future National Hockey League players’ Rob Brown and Greg Hawgood were in the lineup.
“We definitely want to win it. It’s pretty big for us. We haven’t won it in about 30 years so we really want to win it,” said defenceman Kyle Fulton. “We’re pretty excited to play all the other great teams. We’re looking forward to competing against them and trying to get first place.”
It would be the sports story of the year in St. Albert if the Sabres can pull it off. The 16-team draw is loaded. Eleven of the top 20 teams in western Canada, recently compiled by Tyler Neisz, owner/director of scouting for Western Elite Hockey Prospects, are entered. The Delta Hockey Academy Wild, last year's champion, is No. 1 and the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins are No. 2. The Lethbridge Golden Hawks and Sherwood Park Flyers of the AMBHL are third and fourth, respectively.
The Colorado Thunderbirds, Dallas Stars Elite and Los Angeles are also listed prominently in the Western United States and United States rankings.
“We want to see how we can do against some of the best teams in western Canada and prove to everyone that we can compete with the best,” Nicolas said of the No. 8-ranked Sabres.
Nicolas and forward Kye Buchanan are returning Sabres from last year’s 2-3 showing as the C finalists, a major improvement from the 0-4-1 team in 2014.
The Sabres haven’t achieved a winning record since going 3-1-1 in 2010.
“There is a lot of tough competition that we’re going to be going against but the biggest thing is to keep your head in the game. Lots of friends and family will be watching but we’ve just got to stay focused on the game and do what we do best, which is win,” Nicholas said.
The Sabres have been super sharp all season despite a rash of injuries and five first-year bantams on the roster. Only three AMBHL teams – Calgary Bisons (23-2-3), Sherwood Park (23-2-1) and Lethbridge (23-3-1) – have more wins and points than the Sabres (20-4-5).
“We’re always looking for the W. No one is really worrying about the number of points they have or anything like that, we just want to win,” Fulton said.
“We work really hard and we don’t quit at any point in the game so I think that’s what gives us an upper edge on some of the other teams,” Sydlowski added. “We always have a goal to win games and we work our hardest. That’s what we do and it works.”
The Sabres have recorded more wins and points than last year’s 16-12-5 squad.
“We’re really glued as a team,” Nicholas said. “We’re playing for each other. We’re all sticking together and standing up for each other.”
The Sabres are stingy defensively with the third-best goals-against in the AMBHL at 62 in 29 games with north all-stars’ Evan Fradette (11-1-3, 1.78 GAA and five shutouts) and Ryley Osland (9-3-2, 2.47 GAA) between the pipes.
“We really try and focus on the defensive side of the game,” Fulton said. “We have two great goalies and we have a good D core. Our forwards are great at backchecking too.”
The Sabres are also the fourth highest-scoring AMBHL team with 130 goals. Four players are in double digits and Stuart Dovey is the top sniper with 21 in 28 games.
“We have a really, really strong defence but we also have some really talented forwards too. We have guys that can score a lot,” said Nicholas, the team leader in assists with 26 in 23 games. “We’re passing the puck lots and getting shots off. We’re also very strong on the puck.”
The slick centre is second on the Sabres in points with 35 despite missing six games to injuries and suspensions. His ninth goal was registered in Sunday's 4-4 draw with the KC Squires (8-9-9) in St. Albert
“I feel like I'm contributing to our wins but there is always room for improvement,” said Nicholas, who notched 11 goals and 29 points as a first-year Sabre.
The Grade 9 Vincent J. Maloney student celebrated his 15th birthday Saturday as one of five Sabres to play in the 26th annual AMBHL all-star game at Go Auto Arena.
“It's really fun that a quarter of the (north all-star) team is from the Sabres,” Nicholas said. “It’s a really good experience playing with some of the best players in our league and it’s really special that it’s in St. Albert this year and I get picked to play in front of my friends and family.”
Fulton, 15, was another Sabres selected for the all-star game.
“I was really excited to be able to go there and play with great players,” said the Grade 10 St. Albert Catholic High School student.
The stay-at-home defenceman has chipped in with 11 assists in 29 games.
“I thought I’ve played pretty solid. I’ve given it my all every game. I just go out there and help my team win,” said the graduate of the bantam AA Bears.
Sydlowski, 14, had his sights set on the all-star game when he cracked the Sabres lineup.
“I’m honoured. It was a goal of mine at the beginning of the year and I was really happy to hear I made it,” said the Grade 9 VJM student.
Sydlowski leads the Sabres in points with 39 and is second in goals with 18 in 29 games after scoring once and picking up an assist against KC.
“I like to grind it up a bit in front of the net and try and get garbage goals but it’s nice to put one in off a good shot too,” said the former bantam AA Comet.
Sydlowski skates on a dangerous line with Nicholas and Austin Spiridakis, who potted his 15th goal and had one assist against KC for 23 points in 29 games.
“I’m having a lot of fun out there but I can’t do it without my teammates helping me out and passing me the puck. We’re basically helping each other,” Sydlowski said.
After the Reid tournament it’s back to business for the Sabres, who trail the Flyers by two points for first place in the nitro north division but Sherwood Park has three games in hand. The Sabres have seven games left until the playoffs and they could battle the Flyers in the best-of-three nitro north final.
The Sabres are 0-2-1 in league play against the Flyers but did beat Sherwood Park at the NWCAA Invitational Tournament in November in Calgary.
“They’re a big, fast, strong team and they move the puck really well. We’ve just got to match them and work our hardest to beat them,” Sydlowski said. “We really want to beat them and show them that we’re better than them because we know we can play with them.”
