The Red Deer Optimist Chiefs opening weekend of the U18 AAA Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) season did not go as hoped.
On Friday they were defeated 4-1 by the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in their home opener followed by a 7-3 loss to the Airdrie CFR Bisons on the road Saturday.
Against the Rangers, Damian Hill scored the Chiefs' lone goal late in the third period after Jaden Kokosha and Miller Komarniski scored for Fort Saskatchewan. In addition, Alex Letourneau scored a pair of goals for the Rangers.
On Saturday, George Monaghan, Crew Martinson, and Tavish Beagle found the back of the net in Airdrie. Bisons' players Tyler Deakos, Jordin St. Louis, Blake Rose, and Kaden Skrenek all scored in the victory over the Chiefs.
Up next for Red Deer, they'll head up to Edmonton for the U18 AAA AEHL showcase where they'll face the St. Albert Raiders on Saturday, Oct. 5 and the Sherwood Park Kings on Sunday.
In other news, the U15 AAA Red Deer Rebels began the season on a high note with a pair of wins over the Airdrie Xtreme and the South East Tigers last weekend.
Hudson Lloyd, Madden Daneault, Jaxon Jaffray (two goals), and Noah Ullry all scored for the Rebels in a 5-2 win in Airdrie on Saturday.
In the home opener on Sunday, Daneault, Jaffray, Calden Fraser, Jevin Morrison, Easton Kelahear, and Hudson Lloyd scored in the first two periods to seal the deal on a 6-2 win against the Tigers at Servus Arena.
The Rebels will head to Calgary this weekend to take on the Flames on Sunday at Winsport at 2 p.m.
