Stars on ice
The main event this weekend at Servus Credit Union Place is the Edmonton Region STARSkate Invitational and Alberta Winter Games Zones 5 to 8 Runoffs.
It’s also the first event this season in the STARSkate stream for competitors in the Alberta-NWT/Nunavut sectionals.
The host St. Albert Skating Centre will be represented by 43 skaters and is among 43 clubs participating.
Overall, approximately 600 skaters will perform at the Go Auto and Troy Murray arenas during the following three days:
Friday: 11:20 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. (two floods) at Go Auto and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (four floods) at Troy Murray.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (two floods) at Go Auto and 8:30 a.m. to 9:05 p.m. (five floods) at Troy Murray
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. (two floods) at Go Auto and 8:30 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. (two floods) at Troy Murray.
Visit stalbertskatingcentre.com for the various categories, disciplines and flight times and list of participants.
Baseball awards
The 2019 Baseball Alberta award winners include individuals who shone bright on and off the field for the St. Albert Minor Baseball Association.
Brenda Bourassa, a tireless worker behind the scenes over the years as a valuable member of the SAMBA executive, was recognized as the AAA off-field manager of the year with the 18U Tier I provincial champion Cardinals.
Eric Hartman was also selected the 13U AAA player of the year as a catcher and strong hitter with the Tier I provincial champion Cardinals.
Recent 13U AAA award recipients from SAMBA include Zach Froment (2013), Jacob Brinkhof (2011), Mat Brisson (2009) and Shane Zimmer (2005).
3A volleyball
The Morinville Wolves are returning to the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association 3A men’s volleyball championship.
The Wolves are the North Central wild card team at provincials after losing Saturday’s zone final to the Barrhead Gryphons 25-21, 24-26, 10-15 in Westlock.
The Wolves finished 5-2 in the tournament after repeating as the North Central champion last year.
At last year’s provincials in Rocky Mountain House, the only loss in seven matches for the Wolves was the semifinal against Barrhead.
The Wolves went on to sweep the Edmonton Christian Lions from the metro Edmonton division one league for bronze while Barrhead repeated as provincial gold medallists.
Two years ago, Barrhead swept the Wolves in the gold-medal match.
Both years Barrhead was the wild-card team at provincials after losing to the Wolves in the zone finals.
The last provincial men’s volleyball championship for the Wolves was 1981 in the 2A tournament.
The Wolves were unable to provide an accurate season record at press time.
The 12-team provincials start Thursday in Magrath and in pool B the Wolves play the Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles, the metro Edmonton division two champions, Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams, St. Paul Lions, St. Joseph Celtics of Grande Prairie and Cardston Cougars.
In the North Central women’s tournament at Whitecourt, the Wolves placed fourth after losses to Barrhead, the eventual zone champion, in the semifinals and the R.F. Staples Thunderbirds of Westlock in the bronze playoff.
Last year the lady Wolves won zones and at provincials in Beaverlodge finished 2-3.
Meanwhile, the St. Albert Skyhawks were unsuccessful in the men’s and women’s metro Edmonton 3A provincial qualifier tournaments.
