The Sept. 23-25 weekend was a busy one for Airdrie's various sports teams, some of whom were kicking off their respective seasons.
Thunder go 0-2 in HJHL
In hockey, the junior B Airdrie Techmation Thunder started their 2022-23 Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) regular season with two defeats. On Sept. 23, the Thunder lost 2-1 at home to the Mountainview Colts. Airdrie suffered the same scoreline in their ensuing game against the Sylvan Lake Wranglers to move 0-2-0 on the season. Having played fewer games than the league's other teams, the Thunder currently sit bottom of the HJHL's north division standings.
They'll be back on home ice this Friday to face the Three Hill Thrashers, with puck-drop slated for 8 p.m., to round out their September schedule.
AAA hockey
The city's AAA minor hockey teams are set to begin their respective campaigns in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL). The Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA squad will host the Calgary Northstars this Saturday, Oct. 1 at 4:30 p.m. The Xtreme have had a stellar preseason this month, winning six of their seven exhibition games in September and out-scoring opponents 45-19.
The Airdrie CFR Chemicals Bisons U18 AAA team will also begin their season on Oct. 1, when they travel south to take on the Calgary Flames at 6:15 p.m. at Father Bauer Arena. The Bisons' home-opener will take place the following day, when they host the St. Albert Nektar Raiders at 1:30 p.m. at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
AA hockey
The upcoming weekend will be a busy one for Airdrie's top AA hockey teams, as well.
In the Alberta Female Hockey League, (AFHL), the Airdrie Lightning U18 AA girls' hockey team will head south to challenge the Calgary Fire (White). The 2022-23 season-opener will get underway at 1:15 p.m. at the Great Plains Recreational Centre in southeast Calgary.
The U18 AA Lightning boys' team will begin their 2022-23 season in the South Central Alberta Hockey League that afternoon with a match-up against the Bow Valley Timberwolves, of Cochrane. Puck drop is at 1:30 p.m. at the Ron Ebbesen Arena.
The banner-defending U15 AA Lightning boys' team has already played two games in the SCAHL this season, losing to the Bow Valley Timberwolves and Wheatland Warriors last weekend. The Airdronians will seek their first win when they take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Oct. 1.
High school football
The W.H. Croxford Cavaliers are still riding an unbeaten start to the 2022 high-school football season, recently defeating the Strathmore Spartans in an exhibition game. The Cavaliers are 5-0 this year, and have won their four division games as well in the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA). As a result of their unbeaten season, Croxford is ranked second in the province among Alberta's Tier II teams.
The Cavaliers have a bye this weekend, meaning their next RVSA game isn't until Oct. 7, when they face the Bert Church Chargers in the annual 'Turkey Bowl' game at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park.
The Chargers are currently sporting a 2-2 record in the RVSA, having beaten the Springbank Phoenix 30-8 in their most recent outing on Sept. 24. Bert Church also has a bye this weekend.
The George McDougall Mustangs lost 35-21 to the Cochrane Cobras on Sept. 23. George McDougall will host the struggling Bow Valley Bobcats (who are still seeking their first win of 2022) this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park. Despite their recent loss to the Cobras, the Mustangs are still ranked eighth in the province among Tier II teams by Football Alberta.
Minor football teams still unbeaten
Airdrie's minor football teams are still undefeated in their respective Calgary-based leagues. The Airdrie Raiders bantam team are 5-0 in the Calgary Bantam Football Association after shutting out the Calgary Hilltoppers 38-0 last Saturday.
The peewee Storm is 4-0 after beating the Calgary Mavericks 46-16 on the same day.
High school girls' soccer
The George McDougall and Bert Church girls' soccer teams will take each other on in a cross-city clash this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Monklands Park. The two teams are both seeking their first wins of the 2022 RVSA season, which got underway two weeks ago.
Croxford, meanwhile, will face the Bow Valley Bobcats in exhibition play. The Cavaliers are
In the Calgary Senior High School Athletics Association, the St. Martin de Porres Kodiaks girls' soccer team is enjoying a strong start to their season. They currently have a 4-1-0 record, having outscored their Calgary-based opposition 23-4 in their five games. The Kodiaks will play their next game at home against Lord Beaverbrook on Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m.
High school volleyball
After a few weekend tournaments, the 2022-23 high-school volleyball regular season is officially up and running.
In the RVSA, the George McDougall Mustangs senior boys' team opened their season with a three-set sweep over their local rivals, the Bert Church Chargers, on Sept. 21. Five days later, the Chargers fell again, this time in four sets to the Cochrane Cobras.
W.H. Croxford, meanwhile, lost their season-opener against the Springbank Phoenix in three sets on Sept. 26.
The boys' results were mirrored in the RVSA's senior girls' volleyball division. George McDougall overcame Bert Church in three sets on Sept. 21, while the Chargers followed up with a loss to Cochrane five days later. Also on Sept. 26, the Cavaliers were beaten by the Phoenix in three sets.
RVSA senior volleyball games tend to be held on Wednesday evenings.
For more public high-school sports information, visit rvsa.rockyview.ab.ca
