OLDS — Two Olds players are leading the charge as the U15AAA Red Deer Rebels host the level's provincials March 20-23 in the Servus Arena.
Noah Ulry and Jaxon Jaffray are both 14 years old, both play left wing and both are team leaders. Jaffray is the captain and Ulry is an assistant captain.
“(That’s) pretty awesome, coming from Olds,” Jaffray’s mom Michelle said during an interview with the Albertan.
Ulry and Jaffray are hoping lots of Olds and area residents come up to Red Deer to support the team for their March 20 game which starts at 6 p.m.
Everyone under 18 years of age who comes into the arena for that game gets in free. Other attractions include face painting, tattoos and a visit from the Red Deer Rebel mascot.
Jaffray and Ulry are confident they have a chance to do well in the provincials, maybe win the championship.
They finished the regular season second in the Alberta Elite Hockey League south standings with a 27-6-0-1-0 record.
“I’m really excited. A bit nervous and I think we have a really good chance of winning it if we play together, play to our strengths,” Ulry said, “playing physical and that.”
“We’re a really tight group,” he said.
Jaffray echoed those thoughts.
“I’m just excited to get it started,” he said.
Jaffray said a key for the team to go far is to play well defensively, “blocking shots and playing tight in the D zone, not letting their get shots through.”
The Rebels have proven they’ll play as hard as it takes for as long as it takes. They won a March 11 playoff game 6-5 in double overtime. Ulry says the puck dropped at 6:45 p.m. and the game wasn’t over until about 10:30 p.m.
Jaffray suffered a shoulder injury during that game. When he came for the interview, his arm was in a sling.
“I was on the boards and I got hit funny,” he said.
Jaffray was asked how bad the injury is, whether he’ll be ready to play March 20.
“I think so,” he said.
