The Red Deer Rebels selected two defencemen from the St. Albert Sabres in the Western Hockey League bantam draft Thursday.
Josh Mahura was picked in the second round (36th overall) as the ninth defenceman taken in the draft and Max Salpeter was grabbed in the eighth round (168th overall).
Mahura recorded nine goals, 13 assists and 51 penalty minutes in 25 games as the Sabres captain.
The six-foot, 165-pound skater also played nine games as an affiliate with the St. Albert Flyers, the north division pennant winners in the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League, and contributed to the team’s playoff run as the North Cup champions and fourth-place finishers at provincials.
Mahura was among nine Sabres on the Northwest Sharks roster at the recent Alberta Cup for second-year bantams.
The six-foot-two, 156-pound Salpeter had one goal and one assist and was third on the Sabres in penalty minutes with 49 in 31 games.
The Sabres failed to make the playoffs in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League with a fifth-place 9-16-8 record in the nitro north division.
Last year seven Sabres were drafted by WHL teams, compared to four in 2011.
If diamond conditions improve at Legion Memorial Park, the bantam AAA St. Albert Cardinals will host the Sherwood Park Athletics in Sunday’s exhibition doubleheader.
Game times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Last Sunday, under cool and blustery conditions, the Cardinals split a doubleheader in Okotoks to start the season.
Southpaw Dylan Gates pitched two shutout innings, striking out six and walking one as the Cardinals defeated the Okotoks Red Dawgs 10-6.
Gates, Cole Seitz, Dan Gerlach and Peter Corrigan supplied the offence.
Ross Suprunuik, another southpaw, started the second game against the Spruce Grove White Sox and put in a solid effort in the 4-1 loss.
Gates, Corrigan, James Robillard and Tylor Jans also had hits.
Ryley Fetter made a superb over the shoulder catch in right centrefield with the bases loaded, which ended with the Cardinals doubling off a runner at second base.
Wednesday the Cardinals are up to bat in league play against Sherwood Park at 6:30 p.m. at Legion park.
The atom A St. Albert Thunder are one of six local hockey teams selected as the grand prize winners in the Ford drills and skills competition through the Train Like A Pro program.
The contest was based on giving back to the community.
Team manager Deb Vollrath nominated the Thunder, one of 87 teams in the contest. Voting was conducted online to determine the finalists for the June 1 session at Rexall Place.
This past season the Thunder donated toys to Santas Anonymous at Christmas time and several players used their own money to buys gifts for those less fortunate.
Carter Stock also pinked his hair for the Hair Massacure and took it upon himself to raise funds for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Make A Wish Foundation and Ronald McDonald House. His teammates provided support with pledges and words of encouragement.
In December the Thunder won the St. Paul Canadians’ tournament and skills competition and received a monetary gift for their efforts. The Thunder elected to donate the funds to help those families in St. Paul who were affected by the tragic Oct. 25 incident when a van crashed through a wall of Racette Junior High School, resulting in the death of 11-year-old Megan Wolitski. Two other students suffered injuries.
The Thunder are Dylan Leslie, Maddux Nollski, Joshua Wirth, Arik Sorensen, Connor Weeks, Joel Vollrath, Luke Aston, Evan Arnold, Lucas Sadownyk, Matthew Waldbilig, Breck McKinley, Ethan Tellier, Regan Kallis, Owen Bourque, Carson Ironside, Kyle Nelson and Stock.
Registrations are being accepted for the fourth annual Skyhawks Basketball & Volleyball Combo Camp.
The Aug. 26 to 29 session at the SkyDome provides boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 15 an opportunity to prepare for school volleyball and basketball club team tryouts.
Instructors are St. Albert Catholic High School teachers and coaches Troy Bontus for volleyball and John Dedrick, Paige Gaudreau and Evan Holstein for basketball.
Volleyball goes from 9:30 a.m. to noon and basketball runs from 12:45 to 3:15 p.m.
Campers can register for one sport individually or attend the entire day and compete in both sports.
The cost is $95 for one session or $175 for both.
Email [email protected] for more information.
