Playing together at a provincial level

Times Contributor 

 

The 2012 Alberta Summer Games is underway and four of Strathmore’s own inline hockey players will be attending at Lethbridge, July 26-29.

Athletes Tyson Ramsey (13), Austin Drummond (14), Tate Barnett (13) and goalie Cody Kozma (12) will be competing together on the same team from Zone #2, along with eight other players. 

The Summer Games are Alberta’s foremost multi-level sporting event with over 2,800 participants coming from eight zones across the province, ages ranging from 11-17. There is a predetermined number of players allowed to compete from each zone creating an equal representation from across Alberta. 

The boys are excited for the games as they have never attended before. The four are also excited because in addition to being inline hockey teammates in Strathmore, they will also get to be teammates at a provincial level.

In addition to being new to the summer games, it is both Drummond’s and Ramsey’s first year of playing inline hockey, but both began playing ice hockey at a young age.

“It’s on wheels and it’s harder to stop. You can’t stop like you usually do,” explained Drummond.

The boys were notified about the tryouts, which took place on June 2-3, through Hockey Alberta.  There were 14 kids in total who attended tryouts with the results of two having to get cut.

“(The tryouts) were challenging, it was really hard,” said Ramsey.

In preparation to the games, Drummond has been trying to increase his level of running.

“I’m working out, running from my house to the mailbox which is like two miles. I am running lots and working hard for it,” said Drummond. 

According to Ramsey, the group of four are, “very excited.”

“It’s going to be fun, we’ll have a great time.”

The boys will be having a bottle drive on the 23rd, to help pay for the cost to attend the games, which is around $460 per player. The public is welcome to leave bottles outside or email wheatlandinlinehockey@gmail.com to organize bottle pickup from a residence.