By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Alberta defeats Optimist Chiefs in Canada Games tune-up

Dec 20, 2018 | 8:58 AM

About 500 people turned out to the Enmax Centrium Wednesday night to get a sneak peek at Alberta’s male hockey team for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

The U16 squad made up of players from across the province defeated the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs of the Alberta Midget Hockey League by a score of 4-2.

Sean Michalevich opened the scoring for Red Deer just under five minutes into the first period before Tyson Laventure and Colton Dach replied for Team Alberta.

Dylan Guenther and Matt Savoie added second period tallies for Team Alberta while Ben Perreault scored for Red Deer. Neither team found the back of the net in the third period as Alberta held on for the win.  

Goalies Drew Sim and Lochlon Gordon split the game for Team Alberta while Bretton Park and Logan Breen tended the twine for Red Deer.

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“We have a lot of guys on this team that can play a lot of different roles. I think we can accomplish a lot if we all buy into the system,” said Team Alberta forward and Red Deer Rebels prospect Kyle Masters.

Jacob Grubbe, another Rebels prospect, is also on Team Alberta. Both Grubbe and Master were selected by the club in the first round of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft in Red Deer.

Admission to Wednesday’s game was free with donations being collected for the Red Deer Food Bank. The Hockey Alberta Foundation also raised $1000 through a silent auction.

Team Alberta U16 plays again Friday in St. Albert.

Team Alberta U18 Female plays the Red Deer Bantam AAA Rebels tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. and the Leduc Bantam AAA Oil Kings at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Meantime, the Optimist Chiefs learned Wednesday who they will be playing in round-robin action at the 2018 edition of the Mac’s Tournament in Calgary. 

The Chiefs will be in Pool 2 along with the Calgary Northstars, Beardy’s Blackhawks, Fraser Valley Thunderbirds and Notre Dabe Hounds. Red Deer will play its first game of the tournament on Boxing Day versus the Blackhawks. 

(With file from Ted Emmett – Hockey Alberta)