Local Sports

The Innisfail Eagles open the Alberta senior AA/A hockey championships against the Devon Barons Friday at 8 p.m. at the Innisfail Arena.

Despite being born and raised in Red Deer, Shauntelle Hogg figured by the time she got into Grade 9 she needed to move on if she wanted to develop her volleyball skills.As a result she travelled back and forth three to four times a week to Calgary to play with the prestigious Dinos program at the U15 level and the following year her whole family moved to the Stampede City.

It came down to the best defence against the best offence in the Alberta Midget Hockey League championship final.And in the end defence won out as the Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs edged the high-scoring Edmonton Southside Athletics 1-0 in the deciding game of the best-of-five final before over 1,200 fans at the Arena Saturday afternoon.

WHISTLER, B.C. — Canadian biathlete and two-time Olympian Zina Kocher of Red Deer was the top Canuck in the women’s event of the 2013 cross-country Haywood Ski Nationals Saturday.Kocher, 30, finished the 30-kilometre skate-ski race in 1:19.31.4.

Injuries are something every team has to deal with.In the Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs case they have more than their share.The Rebels are without three regulars, including two defencemen, and even lost one of their top backups in rearguard Cole Kapak, who received a concussion during the opening game of the best-of-five Alberta Midget Hockey League final against the Edmonton Southside Athletics.

It wasn’t the prettiest effort the Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs have turned in this season, but it may well be one of their best.Playing without three regulars, including two defencemen, the Rebels turned in a solid two-way performance in recording a 4-0 victory over the Edmonton Southside Athletics before over 800 fans at the Arena Tuesday.

The Red Deer Silver Sharks dominated the annual Red Deer masters swim meet at the Michener Pool during the weekend.Bryan Iliscupidez led the way, winning six events while setting a provincial record in the 18-24 year-old 200-metre breaststroke in a time of two minutes 38.48 seconds.

There was a positive and a negative side to the fact the Bentley Generals wrapped up their best-of-seven provincial senior AAA hockey championship against the Stony Plain Eagles in four games.On the positive side they have three weeks to rest and be ready for the Allan Cup, which runs April 15-20 at the Red Deer Arena.

EDMONTON — It was anything but a good day for the Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs Sunday.The Rebels were whipped 8-2 by the Edmonton Southside Athletics, who evened the best-of-five Alberta Midget Hockey League final up at 1-1.Rory Davidson and Jacob Schofield scored for the Rebels in the third period.

The Red Deer Vipers have the Okotoks Bisons right where they want them.The Vipers trail the Bisons 2-0 in the best-of-five Heritage Junior B Hockey League final after dropping a 4-3 decision at the Arena Saturday.