Saturday night, your Drumheller Dragons played host to the Whitecourt Wolverines. The evening was recognized as the “Field of Dreams” game as the team recognized their partners involved in the growing and harvesting of the Dragons canola crop that was grown in a field adjacent to the golf course in Drumheller.
Prior to the game, a number of partners were invited for the ceremonial face off and the financial results of the harvest were announce. This year, the Field of Dreams brought in to the Dragons a whopping $46,500. This was the fourth year of the harvest of the field and over those four years, over $200,000 has been brought in to support the Drumheller Dragons. Most of the funds go towards the billeting program for the team.
Also, during the first intermission, there was a special presentation to former Dragon, Easton Daneault. Daneault, who now is playing the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, was recognized last year as the CJHL Rookie of the Year.
Easton Daneault receiving his CJHL Rookie of the Year award from Kevin Hasselberg (l) and Kenton Levesque (r); image courtesy of K4 Kreative Beauty and Photography.
He is the first Dragons player to ever be a winner of a CJHL award in the team’s 23 year history. Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Hasselberg, along with Associate Coach Kenton Levesque presented Daneault with the award. The team also was on the ice to congratulate the former Dragons forward.
As for the hockey game, the Dragons knew it was going to be a good battle against the Wolverines as Whitecourt has the best record in the AJHL, two points ahead of the Dragons going into the hockey game. It would be a back and forth battle in the first with Whitecourt scoring the first goal, on the powerplay. Top AJHL goal scorer, Jalen Bianchet scored his 14th of the year with 4:01 left in the first period, giving the Wolverines the 1-0 lead.
Whitecourt increased their lead early in the second, when Jager Gugyelka scored at 6:27, making it 2-0. The Dragons would answer when captain Nick McLennan scored his first of the season, from Bradley Gallo and new Dragon Brayden Ryan-McKay at 8:59, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Drumheller would have their chances but could not get the equalizer. Late in the third period, Whitecourt would again be on the man advantage and would capitalize when Tristan Slywka scored with 1:49 left in the game, giving Whitecourt the 3-1 lead. Drumheller would pull goaltender Sean Cootes for the extra attacker but the Wolverines would find the empty net with 1:36 left to make the final 4-1.
No rest for the Dragons as they hit the road to Calgary for an afternoon affair on Sunday, against the Canucks. You can listen to all the action from the Ken Bracko Arena starting with the Fountain Tire Drumheller Pregame Show with Jason Blanke and Boedy Shields on New Country 92.5, starting at 1:45 PM.
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