Local Sports

It came down to a few inches here and a few inches there.The Fort St. John Flyers took advantage of a goal that came just seconds before the net came off, then watched the Stony Plain Eagles graze the post three times in the late going, to pull out a 3-2 victory in the opening game of the Allan Cup before a near full house at the Arena Monday.

FREDERICTION, N.B. — Rob Armitage and Team Canada wanted a close game at the World Seniors Curling Championships. They got it against a familiar face on Monday night at the Grant-Harvey Centre.Armitage’s Red Deer squad — third Keith Glover, second Randy Ponich, lead Wilf Edgar, alternate Lyle Treiber and coach Bill Tschirhart — won a battle of unbeatens in the senior men’s competition, beating former Canadian mixed champ Hugh Millikin and Team Australia 6-4.

After months of preparation, the Allan Cup tournament opens today at the Red Deer Arena.The Bentley Generals, the host team, are ready and raring to go.“Yeah, it’s finally here. We’ve waited a long time for it,” Generals head coach Brandin Cote said Sunday, as the coaching staff and players enjoyed a team meal. “We just finished our last formal skate and a good, intense 45-minute practice. The guys are feeling good and they’re anxious to start.”

FREDERICTON, N.B. — The Red Deer freight train is rolling right along at the world senior men’s curling championship.Rob Armitage and his Red Deer rink ran their record to 3-0 Sunday with a 7-3 win over England’s Michael Sutherland, who fell to 1-2. The Armitage foursome, consisting also of third Keith Glover, second Randy Ponich and lead Wilf Edgar, scored three in each of the second and sixth ends on open draws by the skip.

When the Rosetown Redwings lost 4-1 to the South East Prairie Thunder of Manitoba in the Allan Cup final last year it didn’t sit well with them.By the time they left Lloydminster they were looking forward to this season.

If this year was a bit of a learning experience for Nathaniel Johnson he has a lot to look forward to.Moving up from the junior ranks Johnson found himself up against the top open epee fencers in the province, but he wasn’t about to take a backseat.

VANCOUVER — One of the strengths of any Doug Quinn coached team is a never say die attitude.The Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs are a perfect example of that. Last year they overcame a 5-1 second-period deficit to beat Phénix du College du Esther-Blondin of Quebec in overtime in the Telus Cup final.

Three members of the Red Deer Exelta Gymnastics Club finished in the top seven in the P3 tyro division in the Southern Alberta Zones at the Collicutt Centre during the weekend,Casey Patsula placed third with Keara Slimmon in a tie for fourth and Ruby Butler seventh.

Two years ago the Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs weren’t in the right frame of mind when they faced the Northwest Giants in Vancouver for the Pacific Region midget AAA hockey championship.

Two years ago the Red Deer Optimist Rebels Chiefs weren’t in the right frame of mind when they faced the Northwest Giants in Vancouver for the Pacific Region midget AAA hockey championship.As a result the Rebels lost the best-of-three.