Some of the most rewarding times I鈥檝e spent in the stands have been when I have parked amongst the real granddaddies of the game. The banter with Neil and Nick, Edi and Arvon, Ron, Ernie and John is always fun and informative, insightful and inspiring, and has given me a perspective on sport that I could never have hoped for without the benefit of their many trips around the sun.
Last weekend, under the wise eye of granddads past and present, the Jasper Atom Bears spent their weekend in Hinton at the 鈥淕rinch Who Stole Hockey鈥� tournament.
The Bears played four games against teams from Drayton Valley, Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton and the tournament host, Hinton.
Their toughest opponent was to emerge on day two of the tourney. On Saturday, the Drayton Valley Stars turned out to be the biggest challenge the Jasper Atoms have faced to date.
Due to outstanding play between the pipes by Donovan Fawcett, breakout performances by rookies Ty Crozier and Dylan Skinner, plus a goal scoring touch from the veteran line of Sebastian Golla, Dylan Dekker and Baden Koss, the Bears were able to not only keep pace, but dominate play. Although Jasper led 4鈥�2 midway through the third period, the game ended in a 4鈥�4 tie.
Game two was against the scrambly Fort Saskatchewan Rangers. Although Jasper should have been very competitive against this group, the Bears never seemed to get their offensive act together. Lucas Oeggerli, making Grossaeti Edi proud, got his line鈥檚 first goal of the tournament and the only Bears鈥� goal in the game, which ended in a 5鈥�1 loss.
Game 3 on Sunday morning was against a disciplined Edmonton Terminators team, for whom Jasper had few answers. Edi鈥檚 grandson Lucas scored again as did Ron鈥檚 boy鈥檚 boy, Sebastian Golla, but Jasper鈥檚 two goals did not stand up to Edmonton鈥檚 nine, despite Fawcett鈥檚 goaltending acrobatics.
In the fourth and final game of the tournament, Jasper played their league rivals, the Hinton Nuggets. Seeking to make an impact on the win column, the Bears had something to prove. This was evident the moment they took to the ice.
Dekker, this time in the net, repeatedly robbed the Nuggets鈥� prolific first line centre and Jasper鈥檚 offence kicked into gear with seven players scoring.
Arvon鈥檚 grandson, Nash Hilworth, scored a beauty off a behind-the-net pass from Crozier to start the game, followed by Oeggerli鈥檚 third goal on the weekend, off a shot from the point. Apollo Hardman stepped into one from the hash-marks, then Liam picked up his own rebound and stuffed in Jasper鈥檚 fourth goal. Michael Hayashi found paydirt for number five, then John Koss鈥� talented grandson Baden took a Golla faceoff win to the net and made no mistake. Golla finished out
Jasper鈥檚 scoring in the third period with a top shelf wrister that would have lit up Grampy鈥檚 smile, were he there to see it.
The final score was 7鈥�3 and the Bears finished the tournament with a 1-2-1 record.
There is little that is more special for a parent then to watch their kids display their talents on the ice, on the slopes, in the gym or on the pitch. However, when I sit with the granddads, I can feel the emotions welling when their grandkids emerge onto their field of play.
The Jasper Atom Bears will have more chances to make their grandpas proud next weekend with a home game against Hinton on Saturday (9:45 a.m. start) and against Edson in Edson on Sunday.
Look for the grey hair in the stands if you need a place to sit.
John Wilmshurst
Special to the 51暗网
