Former local hockey players succeeding elsewhere

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Former Wheatland Athletic Association hockey players are having strong showings at higher levels around the Calgary region.
The Rockyview Raiders of the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League are tearing apart the competition at a 17-2-1 clip helped out by a pair of former bantam Warriors.
Kage Yellowfly captained the Warriors last season and was their best player with 24 goals and 15 assists in 34 games. He was named the team’s most valuable player as their leading scorer.
Those leadership qualities and scoring ability have carried over into the M15 world.
“He’s super skilled and a fun hockey player to watch. He is one of our more dangerous players when the puck in on his stick,” said Raiders Head Coach Ken Plaquin.
This season, through 20 games, Yellowfly has seven goals and 10 assists.
“We use him as a centre and on the right wing. All our players play in every situation, but we definitely try and stick him out there when we need an offensive punch,” said Plaquin.
Yellowfly’s teammate last season on the Warriors shares a locker room with him again with the Raiders. Logan Grant makes up half of the top goaltending tandem in the AMMHL. This year he is 8-1 with a .922 save percentage and a dazzling 1.89 goals against average to go with a pair of shutouts.
“Logan had a fantastic tryout with us and hasn’t stopped performing. He’s not the most technically sound goalie, but if he has a chance to stop the puck, you better believe he’s going to make the save,” said Plaquin.
The Raiders are one point out of the top spot in the AMMHL with 16 games remaining in the regular season.
There’s another program that has benefited from a large contribution from former Wheatland Athletic Association players this season.
The bantam AAA Okotoks Oilers have produced great teams and outstanding players over the past few seasons, but are going through a rebuilding phase this year with an entirely new roster.
Nine players who suited up for the Warriors and peewee Braves last season now play in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
“From what I hear, the roster is usually a 50-50 split between players from the Wheatland area and Okotoks. We have been pleasantly impressed with the former Warrior players this season,” said Oilers Head Coach Mike Glawson.
Of the former Strathmore crew, Kobe Gosling is leading the way with 11 points, followed by Matthew Quebec with eight, with Trey Gillis and Adam Kirkpatrick each recording seven points.
“We’ve also had quite a few injuries this year that has slowed some kids down and the team in general. Quebec is missing time these days with a neck injury and Kirkpatrick was having a great year but then broke his arm. He’s likely done for the season, which is unfortunate,” said Glawson.
Four defencemen are starting to find their way onto the score sheet as well, which has helped out the Oilers, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
Cyle Clayton has a pair of assists this season, Chase Tweit has recorded three helpers, and Kegan Law and Zach Stangness each have four assists.
“Cyle has been really impressive with us. He’s playing above his age and what we expected out of a first year player. We didn’t think we were going to rely on him back there, but he’s been a great addition,” said Glawson.
Clayton probably picked up a few pointers from his older brother Clay, who was an alternate captain on the Foothills CFR Chemicals Bisons last season, and is playing his first season for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League this year.
Goaltender Corey Ross is also listed as an affiliated player for the Oilers, who currently occupy the final playoff spot in the Ram South division with a 7-12-4 record.
“We put a lot of expectations on ourselves, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be a playoff team and at worst the fourth seed by the end of the season,” said Glawson.
The Oilers, formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Raiders, will take on the Grande Peace Athletic Club Storm Jan. 7 in Okotoks as they have 13 games remaining in their regular season.