Skip to content

Central Alberta has successful final weekend at Canada Winter Games

Overall Alberta finished with 90 medals
32062482_web1_230307-RDA-Canada-Winter-games-wrap_1
Central Alberta’s Brody Andrie and Joey Bayliss, alongside coach Trevor McKinnon, pose for a photo at the Canada Winter Games in PEI following the event’s conclusion. (Photo bt The ShadowBox/ Facebook)

A pair of central Alberta boxers had the experience of a lifetime at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in P.E.I.

Joey Bayliss and Brody Andrie from The ShadowBox club in Lacombe, who are both 16 years old, were two of six members that traveled to the east coast with Team Alberta to compete in boxing.

Bayliss lost his first fight in the 63.5 kg quarterfinal but picked up a win in the consolation before losing in the consolation semi-final 2-1 to British Columbia’s William Veroni.

Andrie, who’s from Red Deer won his first two bouts in the 57 kg class to advance to the gold medal final on Saturday. He put up a good fight but lost 2-1 to Quebec’s Jeremy Drapeau to capture the silver medal.

The owner and coach of The ShadowBox, Trevor MacKinnon said the competition at the event was top-tier.

“It’s quite the accomplishment. Coming out of there with a medal is probably one of the greatest honours to be at the Canada Winter Games,” he said.

“Team Alberta went down there with six kids from Alberta and they left with two gold and two silver.”

In 1991, MacKinnon also competed in the Games as a boxer and won the bronze medal. This time around he got to hand the silver medal to Andrie.

Central Alberta curler wins mixed curling gold

The mixed curling team of Delburne’s Kaylee Raniseth and Calgary’s Evan Crough made history at the games.

They became the first mixed duo to win gold at the Games after a 6-5 victory over Ontario Saturday night in Prince Edward Island.

“We really have fun playing together and we know how to help each other when situations come down on us and it just works,” Raniseth said.

Both played solid throughout the tournament and developed chemistry from the moment they stepped on the ice for their first game.

“Ever since the first time we were on the ice, it has been instant chemistry. It has been really good,” Crough added.

“We haven’t skipped a beat and we know how to pick each other up. It has been a blast the entire time.”

Fencing athletes see success

Red Deer’s Michelle Ostrikoff, who led Team Alberta’s fencing team as a coach, reported plenty of medal finishes for her squad.

Despite having no athletes on the team from central Alberta, Leon Wujastyk won gold in men’s foil, William Robinson took home bronze in men’s sabre, and Augusta De Silva won bronze in women’s sabre.

They also placed fifth in the team event. After they lost to Quebec they went on a run beating Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

“Watching the team really come together for the last event was amazing. From the Team cheer to the intensity on the strip, every athlete brought their best game and were unstoppable in the final matches. What a tremendous opportunity to be here and have this experience,” Ostrikoff said in an email.



Ian Gustafson

About the Author: Ian Gustafson

Ian began his journalism career as a reporter in Prince Albert, Sask. for the last three years, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.
Read more