Local Sports

After 42 games played over the span of four days, featuring 16 elite bantam hockey teams, the Kamloops Jardine Blazers emerged victorious when the dust finally settled at the John Reid Memorial Tournament.

Marisa Dick is flipping out over the upcoming Canada Winter Games. “I’m really excited. It’s going to be an amazing experience because it’s kind of like a mini Olympics,” said the 13-year-old St. Albert gymnast.

After a strong start, the St. Albert Sabres ended the John Reid Memorial Tournament with three straight losses.

After a brief break in the schedule, the St. Albert Raiders resume league play tonight in Sherwood Park against the Kings at 7:15 p.m. In the north division the Raiders (18-8-3) are ranked first and the Kings (15-11-2) are fourth.

A winning season is starting to slip away from the slumping St. Albert Steel. Losers of six of their last seven games, the Steel (23-21-2) are mired in the seventh and last playoff spot in the north division.

Today’s semifinals in the A playoff bracket at the John Reid Memorial Tournament start at 1:45 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena and 2:15 p.m. at Troy Murray Arena. The final of the 33rd annual St. Albert bantam AAA tournament goes 2 p.m.

The St. Albert Sabres started play in the John Reid Memorial Tournament with a perfect 2-0 record. In the first game Thursday, the host team squeaked out a 2-1 victory in a tightly contested affair against Red Deer Rebels White at Performance Arena.

There was a silver lining to losing the gold-medal game at the recent U18 world women’s hockey championship for Team Canada assistant coach France Montour. “That was a great accomplishment.

The St. Albert Steel got back on track in the playoff race by derailing one of the teams they are chasing in the north division.

Jarome Iginla has withdrawn from the NHL all-star weekend for family reasons. The St.