As heard on 96.5. CKFM, a big 20-year-old forward from Red Deer came up huge for the Olds Grizzlys as they began 2025 with a thrilling victory over the Bonnyville Pontiacs.
Aiden Knutson (2004) – who is 6 foot 5 – had an assist, a game tying power play goal in the third period, and he was the only player from either team to light the lamp in the shootout as Olds won 5-4 over the Pontiacs (11-14-1-3) at the SportsComplex on Friday, January 3rd. Â Knutson has been with the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League since 2022. Here is what his first AJHL goal sounded like in his 4th game for the Grizzlys.
Goaltender Ben Dardis (2004) continues to be an nearly unbeatable force for the Black & Gold in between the pipes when games go to a shootout. The 20-year-old from Minnesota stopped all three Pontiacs players last night and overall he has allowed just one goal on 21 opportunities from the opposition in shootouts this season. Olds is the only team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League yet to lose in extra time during the 2024-2025 campaign. The Grizzlys are 3-0 in overtime, and 3-0 in shootouts for a combined 6-0 record. They have an overall record of 12 and 18 through 30 games of the 54 game regular season – so half of their wins have come in extra time and all of those have been at the SportsComplex in Olds.
The Grizzlys will host the Devon Xtreme (6-21-2-1) tonight at 7pm and 96.5 CKFM will have live play-by-play coverage.
96.5 CKFM welcomed Grizzlys Captain Connor Seeley in for a live interview at the first intermission of Friday’s game.
CKFM had this conversation with Braeden Veldhuizen following Friday’s shootout win.
Hear more post-game audio with Aiden Knutson.
