Braves players have silver finish

SP4F26

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

For four Wheatland Braves hockey players Tristan Zandee, Trey Gillis, Adam Kirkpatrick and Matthew Quebec, the Alberta Winter Games experience in Medicine Hat last week was an unforgettable experience as members of the Zone 2 team. The team went undefeated all the way through to the final, where they suffered a 10-4 loss to a strong Edmonton Zone 6 team and came away with the silver medal.
Strathmore’s Kirkpatrick said to win silver reminded him that they’re one of the best teams in Alberta.
“It was really good,” said Kirkpatrick.
“Just meeting kids from other zones and other sports. You’re always with your team for the four days. Lots of fun happening and your sleeping on the floor in the school with your team every night.”
Zandee said he had a blast playing with players you don’t normally get to play with, while the team was able to play well as a collective group with selfless acts, blocking shots and getting pucks deep.
“It was a great experience I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Zandee.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. The coach taught me a lot (about) different systems.”
Quebec said the tournament was better than he expected because he got to create a stronger bond with his teammates.
“We just outworked them,” said Quebec.
“We just did simple plays that led to goals and then we won.”
The tournament was Gillis’s first with a different team other than his own but had the opportunity to have Kirkpatrick and Zandee as linemates, making the transition easier.
He added that the pace of play was a lot faster than what he was used to but other than that the most important thing to him was the friendships he was able to make with 19 other players.
Other local Zone 2 results included Langdon’s Kaia Borbandy and the girls hockey team finishing fifth, while the ringette team that included locals Taneil Kalbhen, McKenna Blades, Hailey Kenney, Ashley Lecavalier, Anne Sauve, Grace Olson and Daylen and Tatum Wathen finished fourth.