The St. Albert-dominated Northwest Sharks finished second overall at the Alberta Cup bantam tournament in Lethbridge.
In the A final Sunday the Sharks lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Calgary South Flames. After scoreless four-on-four and three-on-three overtime sessions, the third shooter for the Flames in the shootout, captain Brayden Point, beat Sharks’ netminder Patrick Gora of St. Albert to give the Flames their first Alberta Cup title since 2008.
Gora faced 45 shots, including 12 in overtime. Aiden Hill of the Flames was tested 24 times.
Gora (2-1, 180 MP, 2.00 GAA, .949 save percentage) was also named to the tournament all-star team, as selected by Western Hockey League scouts and Team Alberta staff.
In the tournament opener, Gora stopped 38 shots as the Sharks doused the Flames 4-1 in division B round robin action.
The Sharks also defeated Edmonton North Oilers 3-1 and Calgary North Stars 5-3. In the semifinals they downed the South Senators 5-2.
Rounding out the St. Albert players on the Sharks was goalie J.T. Bartlett (2-0, 120 MP, 1.50 GAA, .930 save percentage), defencemen Michael Bruni, Guy Butlin (0-1-1), Zach Gonek (1-1-2) and Jake Kohlhauser (1-1-2) and forwards Paul Lovsin (2-1-3), Tyler Mrkonjic (0-2-2) and Brett Smythe (2-0-2).
Local synchronized swimmers turned in medal-winning performances at provincials last weekend at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre.
Kate Chernoff and Sydney Heigh were awarded silver in duet and gold in the team swim with the U12 Edmonton Auroras. Amy Parker also received provincial honours in singles and figures.
Previous placings for the Chernoff and Heigh duo included fourth earlier in the year and fifth at the provincial qualifier last month.
The first place acrobatic circus-themed team swim by the Auroras equalled their top showing at the provincial qualifier. Historically, the team event is dominated by Calgary-based synchro teams.
For more than seven weeks the Auroras were unable to train at full capacity in the duet and team categories when Chernoff broke her arm in a fall.
On tap next for the Auroras is next month’s competition in Winnipeg, featuring teams from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.
The St. Albert-based Smokin Toes hockey team ended the year as the division two regular season and playoff champions in the Edmonton Recreational Hockey League.
Last week in the best-of-three final the Toes defeated Fubar 7-4 and 5-3 for the playoff cup.
In league play the Toes finished first at 24-6 and Fubar was second at 17-10-1-2. The Toes also led the six-team division in penalty minutes with 340 in 30 games.
The Toes are made up of graduates of the St. Albert minor hockey program. The majority played junior B with the St. Albert Merchants. Most of the players have been together for 11 seasons.
The Toes are Jason Dolynny, Scott Martin, Mark Hull, Calvin Schaffer, Ryan Drake, Kelly Hilkewich, Terry Hoffman, Kevin Drake, Kris Horb, Jason Maksymic, Chris Horvatis, Craig Martin, Brett Smith, Shane Hordal, Marc Lutes and goalie Tim Imperato.
Horvatis was the team’s top point producer in league play with 53 in 26 games. He shared the goal-scoring lead with Hordal at 21 apiece.
