OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys will one day be a very successful hockey team because of its community-oriented management that prizes building great people as much as winning hockey teams.
That’s the prediction of head coach-GM Scott Atkinson.
He made it during the team’s annual awards banquet Feb. 28 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Olds.
“One of the reasons I came here was because of the philosophy. The management group made it very clear to me — and I’m very much on page with it — that they want to make it a true community-based program,” Atkinson said.
He said that means working hard to recruit as many players from Olds and surrounding area as possible.
“There’s not much in life better than watching someone accomplish the goals that they set out for themselves and you have a small little piece of involvement of it, right?”
President Darcy Dallas thanked the players, parents, staff, volunteers, billets and local businesses that sponsored the team.
He said the club would not still be in this community without all their help.
Vice-president Trent Wilhauk echoed those comments.
Both, along with Atkinson, also thanked the 20-year-olds on the team for all their hard work and dedication and wished them the best of luck as they move on from junior hockey.
Wilhauk made special mention of Brent Schuldhaus who suffered a broken hand.
“His third game into playing with us, he gets jumped, gets into a fight, breaks his hand and his junior career is over.
“That’s tough, but I just want to say, Brent, I hope you enjoyed your time in Olds. We were proud to have you,” Wilhauk said.
“But I think it should just be noted that this poor kid won’t play another junior game again because of a broken hand and yet he’s here tonight and he’s proud to be a Grizzly. And Brent, best of luck in your future endeavours.”
