RDP Athletes of the Week: Hockey champions edition

Mar 28, 2023 | 10:15 AM

Red Deer Polytechnic’s Athletes of the Week for the week starting March 21 are…

Avery Lajeunnesse
Hometown: Red Deer, AB
Bachelor of Education in Elementary (3rd year)

What a week it was for Avery Lajeunnesse and the Queens Hockey team. Not only did Lajeunnesse score the game-winning goal 45 seconds into overtime, but it also was the championship-clinching goal that helped the Queens to their second consecutive championship title. It was a tight game from start to finish with the Queens opening the scoring in the first period with less than a minute to go but the Ooks would bounce back and tie it up at one in the second. The third period would go scoreless which meant the game was going to be decided in overtime. A win for the Ooks would keep their playoff hopes alive and send the series back to Red Deer for Game 4. But Lajeunnesse secured the sweep And gold medal less than a minute into overtime, sending her team flying onto the ice and swarming the Red Deer native as they won back-to-back championships. On a delay penalty call, Lajeunnesse picked up the loose puck behind the net, wrapped it around and snuck it between the post and the pad of the Ooks goaltender for her second goal of the post-season. This was also her sixth point of the playoffs, placing her tied for the lead with her teammate Alli Soyko. The refs would need to deliberate as the whistle was blown but after a few minutes it was ruled a good goal and the Queens could continue to celebrate. Congratulations Avery and the Queens on a job well done this past weekend.

(RDP Athletics)

Erik Miller
Hometown: Sherwood Park, AB
Business Administration (2nd year)

Ongoing bridge construction

Portion of Gaetz Avenue to be closed for four weeks beginning this Sunday

14h ago

2026-27 fiscal year

RDP suspends intake into three programs amidst budget planning

15h ago

Employment boost

Care for Newcomers launches newcomer employment initiative

19h ago

It was a week to remember for Erik Miller and the Kings Hockey team as they finally ended a 29-year drought of not winning a championship as they swept the NAIT Ooks in the best-of-five-game championship series. The 1993/1994 season was the last time the Kings won the men’s hockey gold medal. But Miller was a huge part in ending this as he scored the game and championship-winning goal just over a minute into the third period. The game started with a tight first period with no goals scored but the Ooks would open the scoring two minutes into the second period and it looked like the Kings would go to the dressing room down by a goal until forward Holden Knights tied it up with a minute-and-a-half left to go before the period ended. Just over a minute into the third period, defenseman Brennan Davis sauced over the puck to Miller, where he would enter the Ooks zone, beat one player, move into the slot and tuck it underneath the NAIT goaltender for the 2-1 lead which ended up being the final score. This was the Sherwood Park native’s second goal and seventh point of the post-season which placed him atop of the points category in the playoffs alongside his teammate Jacob Wozney who also had seven points. Congratulations to Erik on the championship-winning goal and the Kings on winning their ninth championship in program history.

(RDP Athletics)

(RDP Athletics media release)

Two RDP track athletes earn annual honours

by RDP Athletics

RDP Athletes of the Week: Hockey champions edition

What's Trending