The Olds Grizzlys will have a long stretch of road games coming up, starting with a weekend in Fort McMurray to battle the Oil Barons, before making the short trip to Red Deer to play the Lloydminster Bobcats in the AJHL Showcase!
January 16-17th Vs. Fort McMurray:
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are currently 2nd in the North Division and 2nd in the league standings with a record of 19-12-6, and have been 2-3 since coming back from Christmas break, losing 3 straight when up in Grande Prairie for a 3 game stand against the Storm. This will be the return to Fort Mac for newly acquired Grizzlys player Noah Kelly who was traded to the Grizzlys at this past deadline. Fort Mac was busy at the trade deadline acquiring 3 big pieces for a playoff push. Bradley Schmidt was signed from the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL where the 2007-born forward scored 2 goals in 18 games, and has since had an assist in 2 games with his new squad, while the MOB also signed 2007-born defenceman Jayden Lazare from the Newfoundland Regiment of the QMJHL. Lazare, a right-shot defenceman played all of last season in the QMJHL and jumped ship to the AJHL this season after putting up 3 assists in 24 games. Since coming out west, in 2 games Lazare has had an assist along with dropping the gloves in GP with veteran forward Zachary Wilson. Their final piece was trading for 20 year old forward Stefan Serediak from the Devon Xtreme, who is coming off a suspension for cross-checking Grizzlys defenceman Brody Martin in the face after the Grizzlys beat the Xtreme on home ice. In the 2 games that the Grizzlys and Barons have faced off, the Barons have come out on top both times, winning 6-3 and 5-4. Players to watch for the Grizzlys are the line of Hoy-St. Louis-Riedel, and Noah Kelly. The line of Hoy-St. Louis-Riedel has been phenomenal for the Grizz, putting up a combined 11 points in the latest win Vs. the Devon Xtreme. When not scoring, the line is playing with grittiness and 100% effort doing absolutely everything they can to get the puck, making every hit and making passing plays with better chemistry than any other line on the team. Noah Kelly, has been hot for the Grizzlys playing 2 games since being traded and scoring 2 goals, both of which came against the Camrose Kodiaks in a high effort to beat the other Bears. The 2008 born forward will be hungry for revenge against his former team!
January 19th Vs. Lloydminster Bobcats
For the opening matchup of the AJHL Showcase the Grizzlys will take on the Lloydminster Bobcats, who are 2-2 since the Christmas break, but place 4th in the North Division and in league standings with a record of 19-10-4. The Bobcats were also busy at the trade deadline picking up 4 big pieces. Alex Levasseur was signed from the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, where the 2007-born forward had 1 assist in 9 games, and has since scored 1 goal in his 2 games with the Bobcats. Also signed was Landen Ward from the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, where the 2006-born huge power-forward had 3 goals and 8 assists along with 101 PIMs in 25 games. Prior to the BCHL, Ward played 2 seasons in the WHL for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Moose Jaw Warriors. Bobcats made two moves bringing in defencemen Oakley Mcllwain and Ryder Ellis from the SJHL. Mcllwain, a 20-year old Lloydminster native has scored 1 goal and 17 assists in 27 games for the Humboldt Broncos before going home for the final stretch of his junior career. Ellis, standing at 6’6 200 pounds has scored 1 goal and 2 assists in 26 games before he was traded west. In the 2 games that the Bobcats and Grizzlys have battled, the season series is split 1-1 where the Bobcats took the first win winning 6-3, and the Grizz took the second game winning 5-4. The two players to watch for the Grizzlys are Jordan Wales and Jordin St. Louis. Wales has had success this season against the Bobcats with a goal in the first game and a pair of assists in the win against Lloydminster. While St. Louis had a pair of goals in the first matchup, along with an assist during the win against the Northern competitor.
The Grizzlys will back on home ice on the Sportsplex on February 13th when the Bonnyville Pontiacs are in town for the final time this season.
Skip the line and secure your seats today: tickets.oldsgrizzlys.ca
