Overtime magic was needed for the U18 AA Olds Grizzlys to capture the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s South Conference championship series over the weekend.
Following a 2-all tie in Game 1 on Thursday, March 13th in High River, the Foothills Bisons traveled to the SportsComplex in Olds on Saturday. The Black & Gold were led by Beau van Vlaanderen as they triumphed 5-1. van Vlaanderen netted a hat trick in front of a packed Grizzlys den. Nate Smith and Ayren Henry chipped in with two assists each..
The best-of-three conference championship series featured a bit of a different format with the first team to four points winning the series. Game 3 was played on Sunday, March 16th in Nanton and it saw the Bisons shut out Olds 1-0. So with both teams having 3 points after the 3 games, overtime was required to crown the South Conf champ.
In the overtime, the U18 AA Grizzlys managed to kill off a Foothills power play. Olds would then be awarded a man advantage when Nate Smith drew a hooking call. Smith and Sawyer Campbell set up the skate away play – the series game winning goal by Paxton Overwater.
The conference banner celebrations will continue for a couple days and then Olds will get ready to head to Spruce Grove for the U18 AA Provincials which are being hosted by the Parkland Athletic Club at the Grant Fuhr Arena. The tournament from March 27-30 will include Olds, plus the host PAC Saints, along with the other 3 league champions.
