BOYLE – Boyle’s U15 Blazers came blazing out of the gate into 2022-23 North Eastern Alberta Hockey League season, earning two big wins and a high scoring tie in their first three games, and averaging more than 10 goals per game against their rivals.
On Saturday Nov. 26, the Blazers faced off against the Edgerton/Chauvin Avalanche and defeated the visitors handily by a 14-4 score at the Millview Recreational Complex. Brody Maloney and Brayden Wellon led the team with five and goals respectively and tallied 18 points together, with many assists to one another playing together on the same line. Marah Tkachuk added two of her own, while Leighton Grant, Damon Young and Brauc Bourque added singles in the to the winning effort.
The Blazers started their season the previous weekend with a visit to their rival Plamondon Cougars to open their season, skating to an 8-8 tie Nov. 19 in their season opener, then dominating Bonnyville in their home opener Nov. 20 against the Pontiacs, which they wrapped up easily with a 9-2 win, with contributions from across the roster.
Boyle Minor Hockey president Dan Maloney told Village of Boyle councillors at their Nov. 16 regular meeting the association was considering applying to host provincials at the U15 level this year but decided against it for a couple reasons.
“We were looking at maybe hosting provincials here this year, but we haven't good enough U15 team, I think, to make it all the way, so we kind of hesitated on that this year. We're just not quite ready,” he said, adding that a couple new additions have made the team a lot stronger this year. “We were thinking of doing that, but I do think the U15 team will be strong enough to go all the way.”
The U15s will play in Tier 4 of the NEAHL this year with teams from Plamondon, Bonnyville, Edgerton/Chauvin, Wainwright and Kitscoty, along with two others from Lloydminster.
There are also three other Blazers teams in Boyle for this hockey season with a U11, U9 and U7 team sharing the ice with the U15s.
The U15s will play three games at home over the next two weekends, hosting Kitscoty Dec. 3, and then each of the Lloydminster teams in their tier Dec. 17-18.
The concession is also officially open as of Sunday, Nov. 27 and is being operated by minor hockey parents this year.
