Living in Jasper National Park, we’ve become used to, although never dismissive of, the beauty of our marvellous surroundings.
I think we sometimes forget that our close neighbours to the north in Grande Cache are equally blessed. And while the drive up Highway 40 on Friday evening was not so pleasant, past the sad battery of caribou crossing signs in the blinding snow, waking up to the blue sunny sky over the frozen Rockies was a stunning way to greet the day.
As the Jasper Bears filed into the newly-renovated Grande Cache Activity Centre to take on the hometown Rockies for the annual Grande Cache tournament B-Final, how could they be anything but inspired by the setting?
The Bears did not come home with the banner, but the team’s play was inspired in this fun, four-game tournament.
The goal scorers for the Bears should already be familiar.
Dylan Dekker, Dana Angebrandt, Kelan Polard and Sebastian Golla all scored early and often in this whole team effort.
However, in a fleet, but not unexpected, breakthrough Adrian Torres emerged as a marksman, scoring his first ever career goal, followed by four more on the weekend.
In the round robin games, goaltenders Aidan Deagle and Lucas Prud’homme, along with winger Liam Crozier were deserving Heart and Hustle award winners. Sudden sniper Torres, Jacob Bartziokas and Angebrandt all walked away with Player of the Game honours, while purple hearts went to Polard, Connor Wright, Josh Howes and Dekker who all left the ice with one or more injuries during the weekend’s matches.
Honorary mention in this category should go to Golla who was hauled down numerous times as he fought through the opposition’s defence. All were thankfully able to return to the fray after a shift or two of recovery.
And while Bear victories were rare enough to be listed as species at risk, team spirit was hyper-abundant.
Hats off to coach John Polard for guiding our Atoms in Grande Cache and to the organizers there who know how to throw a party.
The festivities continue with a home and home playoff series against league leaders, the Fox Creek Bulldogs. If all goes well, we’ll be in Jasper on Sunday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m.
See you at the rink.
 John Wilmshurst
Special to the 51°µÍø
