The Red Deer North Star Chiefs fell just short of winning bronze at the U17AAA Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships.
On Sunday, April 6, the hometown Okotoks Oilers defeated the Chiefs 2-1 in double-overtime in the bronze-medal matchup.
Easton Nafziger opened the scoring for Red Deer just 2:17 into the game — Tayte Hoiland and Jacob Anstey picked up assists on the tally. Okotoks' Kingston Haaf tied the game up about half way through the second period. MacLane Tetarenko sealed the victory for the Oilers by scoring 11:16 into double-overtime.
Chiefs goaltender Grady Gardiner stopped 47 of the 49 shots he faced, while Oilers goaltender Jaxon Hoye stopped 56 of 57.
Gardiner recorded a .944 save percentage and a 1.85 goals-against average, which was good for third in both categories among all goaltenders. Bennett Roth led Red Deer offensively through provincials, scoring four goals and an assist in five games played. Jacob Anstey and Lucas Normand both had four points as well.
The Chiefs went 2-2 in round-robin action before falling in the bronze-medal game. Red Deer first defeated the Canadian (CAC) Gregg Distributors 3-2 on Thursday, April 3, before falling to the Oilers 5-2 later the same day. On Friday, April 4, Red Deer lost 3-2 to the Calgary Flames (NWCAA). The Chiefs then wrapped up round-robin play with a 6-1 victory over the St. Alberta Raiders Flyers.
The Calgary Flames (NWCAA) topped the Canadian (CAC) Gregg Distributors 7-2 in the gold-medal game.
Meanwhile in the Junior B Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, the Sylvan Lake Wranglers were able to win bronze by defeating the Fort St. John Huskies 4-1. The Junior B provincial tournament was held in Morinville.
Maddex Bignell scored twice for Sylvan Lake, with Justin Gyori and Reed Sparrow recording the team's other goals. Kaden Toussaint had a great game between the pipes for the Wranglers, stopping 37 of the 38 shots he faced.
Sylvan Lake opened the tournament with a 3-2 overtime victory over the WAinwright Bisons on Wednesday April 2. The Wranglers followed that up with a 5-2 win over the Sherwood Park Knights the following day.
On Friday, April 4, the Wranglers won another in overtime, this time topping the NWCAA Stampeders 4-3. Sylvan Lake's only loss of the round-robin came to the hometown Morinville Jets on Saturday, April 5.
The Morinville Jets defeated the Wainwright Bisons 4-3 in overtime to win gold.
Hockey Alberta's 2025 provincial tournaments are now concluded.
