Chies first star
Hayden Chies did everything except fill the water bottles in Tuesday's victory for the senior AA St. Albert Cardinals.
The longtime St. Albert baseball player batted 3-for-4 with a single, double and home run, drove in three runs and in the last inning struck-out three as the closer for the save in the come-from-behind 8-7 decision against the Sherwood Park Athletics (1-1) in the North Central Alberta Baseball League home opener at Legion Memorial Park.
The Cardinals overcome a 6-1 deficit late in the game against last year’s league finalists.
Starting pitcher Tanner McLean-Poll tossed four innings and reliever Landon Christoffel worked 1-1/3 innings for his first NCABL win.
Kento Vanzwoll, Jake Enright and Zack Pollard finished with one RBI apiece.
Enright also went 2-for-3 as the Cardinals improved to 2-0 in league play.
The Cardinals are in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the host Westlock Red Lions, the same team that eliminated the Red Birds from the fourth and final playoff berth in the second-last game of the 2018 regular season.
Wednesday the Cardinals welcome the defending NCABL champion Edmonton Blackhawks at 7 p.m. at Legion park.
The Cardinals defeated the Blackhawks 4-1 May 7 at RE/MAX Field.
Savoie honoured
Carter Savoie of St. Albert is this year’s recipient of the Top Rookie Award in the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The left winger with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League beat out forward Alexander Campbell of the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), defenceman Owen Murray of the Portage Terriers (MJHL), netminder Mitchell Weeks of the Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL) and forward Bryce Young of the Red Lake Miners (SIJHL) following a voting and balloting process completed by each of the 10 leagues that comprise the CJHL.
Savoie, 17, led the Crusaders in offensive production with 73 points on 31 goals and 42 points as the highest-scoring AJHL rookie while finishing fifth overall in the league scoring race.
The AJHL’s rookie of the year was also one of four 2002-born players invited to take part in the Team Canada West Selection Camp for the 2018 World Junior A Challenge.
The former St. Albert Gregg Distributor Sabre in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League and Northern Alberta Xtreme 15 player in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League has committed to the attend the University of Denver on an NCAA division one scholarship for the 2021-22 season.
Savoie’s Western Hockey League rights belong to the Winnipeg ICE, who selected his brother, Matthew, with the first overall pick in the May 2 bantam draft.
Matthew, a prolific centre, has also committed to play for the University of Denver in 2021/22.
Bowl games
The north rosters for Football Alberta’s 30th annual Senior Bowl and its inaugural Junior Bowl on Monday includes several St. Albert players.
A pair of receivers, Ethan Wedman of the Paul Kane Blues and Nathan Brake of the Sturgeon Spirits, are playing in the Senior Bowl, a showcase event for the top graduating Grade 12s in the province.
Representing the bantam St. Albert Palmer 49ers in the Junior Bowl are defensive back Will Mah, offensive lineman Nick Haasz and receivers Ty Bates and Max Taylor.
The Junior Bowl is a new concept that replaces the Bantam Bowl and while its still strictly aged based for U16 players, there are some younger Grade 10s involved as well.
The Junior Bowl’s purpose is to select the Team Alberta U16 roster for the Football Canada Western Challenge in July at Kamloops. Alberta is the two-time defending champion.
Kickoff times at Hellard Field in Calgary are 11 a.m. for the Junior Bowl and 2 p.m. for the Senior Bowl.
