CREMONA - For the first time in many years, a Cremona-based hockey team has won a provincial championship.
The U13 Cremona Cowboys went undefeated at the recent provincial U13 Tier 4 championships in Grande Cache, winning five games to take the banner.
The team has both male and female players and is the first local team to win provincials since a Cremona U11 team did it more than decade ago.
The Cowboys did very well in the regular season, qualifying as the Central Alberta Hockey League representative team in the provincial championships.
“The Cowboys had a very successful season going 13-2-1 in regular season earning them a bye to the second round,” said coach Neil MacDonald.
“Winning that, we met Olds in the group final, which we won our grouping. From there we captured our league championship and earned the berth to provincials.
“All along the way up to and including the provincial championship we went 12-0 in the playoffs.”
The eight-team provincials was played March 21-24.
The Cowboys defeated the Vulcan Hawks in the final.
“We won the game 7-2. Although the score doesn’t dictate a close one, it was 3-2 going into the third,” he said.
The winning Cremona Cowboys team includes Austin Bieber, Cameron McKinnon, MacKenzie Bellamy, Leo Matz, Kale Earle, Roman Reid, Colton Rappel, Wyatt McLaughlin, Jack Hallet, Ethan Lema, Mikko Nicol, Kayden Juneau, Kate MacDonald, Isaac Foat and Ryerson Baker.
The team coaching staff includes Ken Bieber, Matt Lama, Neil MacDonald, Shayne Bellamy, Tim Earle, Sherry MacDonald and Mary Juneau.
