CARSTAIRS-CREMONA-DIDSBURY -- The local hockey season has finished for another year. Many teams from the area did very well in playoff competition both regionally and provincially.
In Carstairs, the Atom A Bruins team had a strong season ending with winning the league banner for Tier 2.
"This heartwarming accomplishment was achieved through dedication, teamwork and fun by all our incredible players and coaches," said team manager Chelsea Parker.
Along the way the Bruins had a 16-win, one-loss and one-tie record in the regular season followed by a four-win, one-loss record in playoffs.
"Our highlights this season also included winning the Innisfail Tier 2 Atom A tournament and the Camrose Tier 2 Atom A tournament," she said.
The Carstairs Minor Hockey Association had a very good season overall with around 150 players registered over five teams as well as pre-hockey and pond hockey, said president Bill Sandilands.
"We had three atom teams, two novice teams, and we had a pre-hockey and a pond hockey team," said Sandilands. "The Atom A Tier 2 team won their banner and that was a repeat performance from last year. They had a few kids returning that won back-to-back championships."
Sandilands said all the teams did very well from the start of the year to the end.
"The two novice teams were in the final banner games in their respective division, so they did pretty well," he said.
The pre-hockey program is a non-committal program for ages six and under, while pond hockey is seven and up, said Sandilands.
"They both just skated once a week, Saturday mornings," he said.
Carstairs Minor Hockey hosted both a novice tournament and an atom tournament.
"We hosted two tournaments for the first time in, I think, five years," he said. "Our novice tournament in the beginning of December was a huge success. Both our novice teams participated, so there were two different divisions. The response from other teams was overwhelmingly positive. They loved our rink and we had great atmosphere."
The atom tournament was held in late January and Sandilands said that was a big success as well.
"We'll probably hold at least two tournaments if not three tournaments next year," he said.
Carstairs also hosted a girls' hockey "try-it" night in early March.
"We had from seven years old up to 17 come out and try it," he said. "We had close to 60 participants. So there is a possibility of having an atom girls' team in Carstairs next year. That's one thing we're looking into."
In Didsbury, the Atom B Ramblers finished off a great season by winning their provincial qualifier tournament and competing in the Atom D Provincial Tournament in Elk Point on March 14-17.
"We've had an amazing year with 10 dedicated players who have shown nothing but heart, hustle and humour," said team manager Margo Nygard. "The Didsbury Ramblers Atom B are some of the friendliest and most dedicated people you'll meet.
"Our hard-working players, dedicated coaches and supportive parents and fan base have truly made this year one to remember."
The Ramblers won all three rounds at the provincial qualifier tournament, beating Hanna, Sundre and Rockyford. In their last game, on March 3 against Rockyford, the team came from behind to win to capture the Zone 6 championship and qualify for provincials, said Nygard.
Nygard said the boys worked incredibly hard in the provincials battling against the top teams in Alberta.
"We had one loss and two wins in the round robin, missing the semifinals by one win," she said.
In total, Didsbury Minor Hockey had around 80 players playing on five teams (Tyke 1 and 2, Novice and Atom 1 and 2) as well as pre-hockey.
Rick Phillips, president of Didsbury Minor Hockey, said that it was a very good year with numbers up from the previous year.
"Our atom (Tier 5) team made provincials and lost in the league final," said Phillips. "Our novice team lost in the final for playoffs. I thought we had a great year."
The association held a couple of tournaments throughout the year, which went over very well, said Phillips.
"We had a three-on-three tournament in September to start off the season for atom players," he said. "We had an atom tournament and a novice tournament as well. Next year we're hoping to host a tyke tournament so we'll have tournaments for each level."
Didsbury Minor Hockey held its awards banquet on March 27 with each team giving out awards for most dedicated, most valuable, most sportsmanlike and most improved.
Cremona Minor Hockey also had nearly 80 players from age four to 12 playing in several different levels from tyke up to peewee.
Vanessa Reeve, ice scheduler for Cremona Minor Hockey, said they had about a dozen players in each level in the six age groups: tyke Initiation, tyke travel, novice half-ice, novice full-ice, atom and peewee.
"All our Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) teams made the playoffs, novice full ice, atom and peewee," said Reeve. "Our tyke Initiation team all did amazing, learning basic skills and are ready for tyke travel for next year; the tyke travel team had an amazing year as well, having fun and learning skills; our novice half-ice had another great year with lots of fun and learning; and novice full-ice won all the tournaments they entered. They made playoffs but lost in the first round. "
Reeve added that the Cremona Atom Cowboys won a tournament in Sundre and made playoffs, losing in the first round.
"Our peewee team had an amazing year too," she said. "They won a tournament Sundre and played Clive in the banner round losing in Game 3."
