Local Sports

The Athabasca Aces have the Legal Vipers on the ropes in their North Central Hockey League first round playoff series.

The atmosphere was electric at the seventh annual EPC Cheerfest at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex last Saturday. The Rotary Fieldhouse was filled with raucous cheer fans and 20 talented teams from around the province.

When one thinks of sports that are featured at winter games, what usually comes to mind are skiing, hockey, curling and other sports that need cold temperatures.

After splitting their two games over the weekend, the Barrhead midget ‘AA’ Steelers remain in top spot in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League.

Westlock-area athletes competing in the 2012 Alberta Winter Games skiing events will get some top-level competition in their own backyard this weekend.

The St. Mary Sharks put up a good effort, but could not defeat their rivals from Parkland in the gold-medal match of the W.J. Kallal tournament at the Shark Tank last weekend.

The Alberta Snowmobile Association Jamboree will go ahead this coming weekend, Feb. 3-5, despite an uncooperative weather pattern that has seen more freezing rain than snow.

A third period comeback not only netted Westlock’s Midget Sabres a win, but returned the club to top spot in Tier 3 of the 1660 Hockey League.

Sometimes the games that look easiest on paper are the most difficult. Motivation goes AWOL. So too discipline. And teamwork disintegrates as players see a chance of personal glory.

The senior boys Gryphons have once again done Barrhead proud. They shone at a weekend basketball tournament in Edson, returning home with silver medals after losing 58-53 to the host team in a pulsating final.