Football star
Bellerose High School football star Ben Graunke continues to add accolades to his brilliant high school career.
The Gazette was informed via e-mail Wednesday Graunke has been named a Metro Edmonton High School Athletic Association all-star. The information was posted on the school’s Facebook page.
The decision couldn’t have been tough for judges; The Gazette reported last fall Graunke, tailback and safety, had been named MVP of the Carr conference and had his named etched on the Haliburton trophy.
Chad Hill, head coach of the 6-3 Bulldogs, said last fall of the MVP winner, “This award is the culmination of the last three seasons of hard work and dedication. Ben worked out with incredible intensity in the off-season so that he could produce the type of numbers that he did on both sides of the ball.”
Great swing
A young St. Albert golfer distinguished himself recently at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Nationwide Series at The Links at Spruce Grove over the Victoria Day weekend.
Noah Lubberding, 15, came within one stroke of the championship. Red Deer golfer Brett Pasula took the title with a score of 145, with Lubberding behind at 146.
The MJT’s two-day tournament, a Golf Alberta Order of Merit ranked event, ran over the May long weekend and saw Pasula hold on to qualify for the Future Champions Golf World Championship in La Quinta, Calif., this July.
According to an e-mail sent to the Gazette, as the wind came up on the second day, so did the scores. Low Overall and MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 winner, Pasula, 16, shot 69-76=145 and held on to defeat both Alex Corrigan, 15, of Calgary (75-71=146), and 15-year-old newcomer Lubberding of St. Albert, (74-72=146), by one shot. When summing up his round, Pasula said that he kept pulling all his shots on the back nine and started to miss the key putts, ‘but somehow got it done.’ Corrigan was low in the entire field on day two with a one-under par 71 to apply the pressure.
Made the team
A St. Albert hockey product has earned a spot on a prestigious provincial team. Abby Benning, defence, was named May 22 to Hockey Alberta’s Team Alberta.
Following spring camp in May, a selected group of players will be identified to compete at a fall selection camp in September, according to Hockey Alberta. Players will be shortlisted and scouted through the start of the club team season until the final Team Alberta roster is named that will compete at the 2013 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, Nov. 6-10 in Calgary.
Benning, the daughter of NHL veteran Brian Benning, is well-known in local hockey circles.
Train like the pros
Two St. Albert minor hockey teams have a once in a lifetime opportunity to train like the Edmonton Oilers.
Ford is boosting youth hockey teams who have helped out and contributed within their communities with a chance to train like the pros. A two-month contest gave 14 minor hockey teams the opportunity to train like the Edmonton Oilers.
St. Albert’s own Novice Thunder, and Atom ‘A’ Thunder were both chosen as winning teams. They now will attend an exclusive event at Rexall Place on Saturday, June 1. The event includes the opportunity to work with professional trainers, coaches and nutritionists; a tour of Rexall Place (including inside the team locker room); and Oilers merchandise.
Minor hockey teams entered online by submitting a short essay, featuring their community commitment and passion for the game, along with a team photo.
