INNISFAIL - The Atom A DQ Flyers have claimed the title of champions for their annual home tournament.
The Flyers welcomed six teams for the annual tournament on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Innisfail Twin Arena.
They downed the Bow River Bruins 6 to 3 in an action-packed final.
“It was very exciting for the boys. The previous weekend we attended our away tournament in Rimbey and we lost in the finals in a shootout,” said Teresa Dodd, team manager. “They were really motivated to win their home tournament.”
The Atom A DQ Flyers played a total of three teams in the tournament including the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Strathcona Warriors. Other teams in this year's tournament included those from Didsbury and Tofield.
The Innisfail squad plays in the Central Alberta Hockey League and is coached by Ryan Dodd, along with assistant coaches Brady Brooks, Curtis Flewelling, Alan Smith and Trevor Stoddard.
“We are very fortunate that most teams get the opportunity to have an individual home tournament,” said Teresa Dodd, noting that home tournaments help raise needed funds to cover away tournaments and transportation. “Many associations don't necessarily have the ice availability like we do in Innisfail.”
This year the DQ Flyers are playing at the Tier 1 level, noted Dodd.
“Every atom team gets the opportunity to host their own tournament which allows them to invite teams that are playing at the equivalent level and tier,” she said. “The teams were very evenly matched. Each team had to work really hard to get to the end and to get to the finals.”
Dodd said the Innisfail Atom A DQ Flyers are also having a successful season.
“We have a great little team this year. We were put into Tier 1 and for us, that's quite an accomplishment for the boys,” she said, noting their abilities and skill level on the ice.
“This is an awesome group of kids this year. We definitely have a high skill set with this team, as well we are very fortunate to have five very skilled coaches that work really well together to help develop these kids to play at the tier that they were put into,” she added.
In the new year, the team will focus on preparing for the provincial playdowns that begin in February.
“We're looking forward to playing at the Tier 1 level in the league. That will help us prepare for provincials, playing at the A level,” said the manager.
After a successful tournament at home, the team has high hopes for the second half of the season and the playoffs.
“Provincials are something we're very much looking forward too,” she concluded.
