It was an action-packed weekend of hockey as the Jasper Atom/PeeWee Grizzlies hosted a girls’ tournament Jan. 14 and 15.

For several of the local players it was their first-ever competitive hockey experience. And an amazing experience it was!

Jasper faced off against the Canmore Eagles in game one. The home team would not be intimidated by Canmore’s experience or stature. Julianna Czorny scored Jasper’s first goal of the tourney, setting the tone for the weekend and boosting the team’s confidence.

Despite dropping a 9-1 decision, the Grizzlies played with great fortitude, skating with the Eagles for the majority of the game. Goaltender Teagan “The Wall” Lee earned the Heart and Hustle Award for her awesome effort against the tough opponents. 

Jasper’s second game saw the Grizzlies take on the Onoway Icebreakers in an excellent matchup. Rookies Maeve Campbell and Jessa Czorny fought extremely hard to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Alexandra Fengler-Wood blasted in Jasper’s first goal of the game, followed by a marker from Julianna Czorny.

Eila Lombard snuck the puck past the Onoway netminder to record her first career goal. Kiersten Polard rounded out the scoring in the 4-2 win. The Heart and Hustle Award was presented to Fengler-Wood for her relentless grinding.

In their third outing the Grizzlies battled the Grande Prairie Knights. It was a back-to-back contest for the short Jasper bench. Avery Thomas and teammates played with guts and determination throughout the game. Nicole Hayashi clinched the Heart and Hustle trophy for her exceptional defensive play. Although the final score was 11-0, it was a positive experience for the young Jasper squad as they didn’t give up and continued to jell as a team.

The action continued off the ice Saturday night at a banquet at the Jasper Curling Club. Players, coaches and their families enjoyed a wonderful spaghetti dinner prepared by Shirley Dorin and her staff. A fun evening of games, songs, and door prizes followed.

Playoff action on Sunday saw Grande Prairie and Canmore fight a fierce battle for the gold medal. It was a 1-1 tie after regulation and a best-of-three shootout. The Knights finally edged out the Eagles in a sudden-death shootout.

Jasper challenged Onoway in the bronze medal game. Dana Angebrandt and her fellow defenders didn’t let up, shutting down the Icebreakers’ offence early on. Olivia Fonger notched her first of two goals on the game to start the scoring. Eila Lombard added a pair and Kiersten Polard fired a first-time hat trick. It was a thrilling 7-0 victory for Jasper!

The win gave Teagan Lee her first career shutout. Julianna Czorny took home the Heart and Hustle honours for her determined play. The Jasper Atom/PeeWee Grizzlies wore their medals with pride at the end of an exciting weekend that each and every player will not soon forget. 

The tournament would not have been possible without the support from generous sponsors, dedicated volunteers and tireless team managers Ana Lea and Peter Hayashi who made it all happen.

Any girls interested in trying this great sport are encouraged to call Ana Lea or Peter at 780-852-1947 for further information on upcoming bring-a-friend practices.