Multiple Central Albertans were part of the championship-winning squad at the Prospects Cup in Red Deer.
The Hockey Alberta event, featuring the top male 2012-born players from across the province, was played at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre from May 7-11.
Team South Gold defeated Team South Black in the gold-medal game on Championship Sunday. Both of these teams had several players from Central Alberta.
Team South Gold featured Red Deer forwards Archer Martin and Dalton Sherwick, Bentley forward Cale Stephenson, Lacombe County defenceman Logan Ruttan, and Red Deer goaltender Thomas Wright.
Meanwhile Red Deer forwards Easton Van Grinsven and Ian Kim, Eckville forward Masen Medin, Sylvan Lake forward Ethan Cuff, Ponoka County defenceman Drennan Blair, and Sylvan Lake goaltender Maxim Phillips played on Team South Black.
Team South Black's Carson Lamotte opened the scoring in the final minute of the opening period. Ponoka County's Drennan Blair picked up an assist on the tally.
Rhett Fabro tied the game at one with 10 seconds remaining in the second period. Red Deer's Archer Martin then scored 12:52 into the third period to put Team South Gold up 2-1. Kiptyn Wrathall added another for South Gold, to put his team up by two goals with about three minutes left on the clock.
Lamotte scored his second of the game, and fifth of the tournament to bring his team within one, but that was as close as the game got, as Team South Gold went on to win 3-2.
Red Deer's Ian Kim led the tournament with nine points in four games. Lamotte, Red Deer's Dalton Sherwick and Raylan Johnson all had seven points, which was second only to Kim. Red Deer's Easton Van Grinsven rounded out the top five scorers, with six points.
The event also featured Wetaskiwin forwards Bryce Fuhrhop and Ryland Fuhrhop playing on Team Capital Green.
The Prospects Cup is the final event of the 2025 Hockey Alberta Spring Showcase. The showcase began with the Alberta Cup, which was held from April 24-27, and then continued with the Alberta Challenge the following weekend.
"A huge thank you to all of our incredible volunteers who showed up with heart, energy, and dedication over the past 3 weeks," Hockey Alberta stated in a Facebook post on Monday, May 12.
"Your support made everything possible — from start to finish. We’re beyond grateful for each and every one of you."
