St. Albert netminder Matt Murray of the Spruce Grove Saints was one of three Alberta Junior Hockey League players named to the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s western all-star team.
The all-star team featured players from the Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba junior A leagues.
Murray, 18, was also the winner of the CJHL’s Top Goaltender Award after posting a 23-4 record, 2.59 GAA, .910 save percentage and three shutouts for the Saints in the regular season.
Murray backstopped Team Canada West to a gold medal at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge and in the 2-1 win over Russia in the final he stopped 27 shots to finish 4-0 in the tournament, with a 2.75 GAA and .912 save percentage for the undefeated Team Canada West lineup that featured 11 AJHL players.
The former bantam AAA Sabre and midget 15 Flyer was one of two AJHL players selected for the 2016 CJHL Prospects Game and was identified in the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings.
The AJHL’s top netminder this season contributed to the Saints’ 2015 championship as a rookie.
Murray has committed to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen, an NCAA Division I team in the Hockey East Association.
Tyler Dea of St. Albert is the recipient of the 2016 RBC Junior A Scholarship for the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons’ captain and defenceman graduated from the AJHL after two seasons and 103 games with the Oil Barons.
The former midget AAA Raider also played for the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Fort McMurray in 2012/13.
The RBC scholarship program is designed to provide an opportunity for junior A players to apply for a scholarship based on their academic accomplishments and community services. Each of the 10 members of the Canadian Junior Hockey League select one winner, who is awarded a $1,000 scholarship and is also considered for the $5,000 national award.
Dea plans to study pharmacy and is enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan for the fall of 2016.
Dea spent the 2013/14 season with the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League before joining Fort McMurray, where he scored both of his AJHL goals.
Dea recorded 22 points and 187 penalty minutes in 112 AJHL games.
Fight of the Fittest will break a sweat June 24 to 26 at Servus Credit Union Place.
The elite Canadian fitness competition will feature athletes participating in a number of fitness events. Admission is free.
The event is hosted by Saint City CrossFit, a St. Albert-based fitness and wellness facility.
Visit www.fightofthefittest.com for more information.
Tuesday the St. Albert Crude travel to Fort Saskatchewan to play the Rebels in junior B Tier I lacrosse.
Start time is 8 p.m. at JRC Arena.
The Rebels (4-6) and Crude (3-7) split the previous two north division meetings in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.
The Crude were winless in five games before Friday’s contest against the Edmonton Warriors (6-2-1) at Bill Hunter Arena. The score was unavailable at press time.
The next home game is Saturday against the Calgary Chill (9-1) at 8:30 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
