Two games for the Dragons to kick off the final two months of the regular season, both at home. Wednesday Olds was here, Friday the Calgary Canucks.

Wednesday the Olds Grizzlys thumped the Dragons 5-1 in a lackluster game to begin the 2012 portion of the AJHL season. The Dragons trailed 2-1 after one period, but could not mount enough offense in the second or third periods to effect a comeback. The lone goal was scored by Brennan Baxandall ( his 5th of the year ) on the powerplay from Brodie Jamieson and Sam Lawson....good to see #9 Sam Lawson back in the line-up. Sam missed 19 games with a knee injury. This was his first action since November 04....he got carried away late in the game and was assessed a gross misconduct, resulting in a one-game suspension which prevented him from suiting up Friday....Braden Gamble made the start against Olds, but left after two periods. Chris Wray shut the Grizzlys out in the third period....player of the game for the Dragons was Doug Jones.

Friday the Canucks were at the Memorial Arena, and once again the Dragons could not muster nearly enough offense, scoring just one goal in dropping a 3-1 decision...a better effort for the Dragons, who generated 32 shots at Michael Matyas. The Canucks 'keeper was solid, and really controlled his rebounds well, making those second and third chances hard to come by....a late powerplay goal by defenceman Davin Stener (his 1st goal of the season) broke up the shutout, but it was too little, too late for the Dragons....Chris Wray got the start and went all the way in goal. He played very well, making 31 saves, several of them of the spectacular variety. Good effort for #34, and he was rewarded by being named the player of the game for the Dragons....Sam Lawson sat out a one-game suspension. He will return Wednesday in Brooks....Mitch Owsley also returned to the line-up after missing the last two games. He played his regular shift and got time on the powerplay. Good to see #14 back on the ice. Mitch leads the Dragons with 12 goals this season....another one of those 4-point games that the Dragons failed to capitalize on. They now trail the Canucks by 6 points in the standings.... It is important to not lose contact with the group ahead of them as the Dragons battle for that final playoff spot in the AJHL South division. This week's two losses are a real set-back for the team....no easy task ahead of them next week, either. A home and home set with Brooks Wednesday (at Brooks) and Friday (at the Memorial Arena.) The final two games of the regular season between these two.

January 10 is trade deadline day in the AJHL,  so it will be interesting to see if the Dragons make any moves. They have room to bring in some players, and with their current problems scoring goals, something may be in the works....defenceman Jeffrey Noble is no longer with the team. After suffering a concussion early in the year, Noble is just now getting back on the ice. Everyone wishes Jeff a full recovery and good luck as he continues his hockey career.

trivia:  Three Dragons have scored 50 or more career goals. Do you know them?

            The answer at the bottom of the page.

This Week in Dragon's History

 (January 08-14)

Our look back this week begins January 09, 2005. On that date Kevin Hunter became the first Dragon to play 100 regular season games. Hunter reached the milestone in a 3-1 loss to the Royals at the Memorial Arena. He was held scoreless in the game.

Fans will remember the game of January 09, 2010 at the Arena for a potentially career-threatening injury suffered by rookie Kevin McMillan during a match with Canmore. Eagles captain Adam Stephen rammed K-Mac into the boards, the resulting injury ended Kevin's rookie season, but thankfully he did not sustain any lasting effects of the injury and returned to the blue-line the next season for the Dragons. K-Mac is now in his third year with the Dragons, and shares the captaincy of the club. A scary moment, though, from two years ago.

One day later, on January 10th the Dragons met Drayton Valley on a Sunday afternoon, and proceeded to fill the opposition net like never before (or since.) That afternoon the Dragons beat Drayton Valley 11-4, setting a team record which still stands for goals in a game. Evan Warner led the way offensively. "Scrap-Iron" had a goal and 4 assists. Pat Turville (with his first goal in the AJHL) and "the Toye Cannon", Marcus Toye each recorded 2-2=4. Affiliate player Dillon Houghton also scored his first AJHL goal against the Thunder, January 10, 2010.

January 10, 2011 saw a Western Hockey League trade impact the roster of the Dragons. Kootenay made a deal with Swift Current which saw the rights of Ryan Bloom go to the Broncos. They then called Bloom up to the WHL where he finished the season. Bloom was cooking along at a point-per-game pace for the Dragons when he was called up, recording 21 points in the 20 games he played as a Dragon. He finished last season in Swift Current, then came back to the Dragons in September this season.

and on January 14, 2011 newcomer Riley Spraggs scored his first AJHL goal (from Sean Sanford and Matt Brown) on Jan Obernesser in a 5-1 loss to the Bandits in Brooks. Spraggs had joined the Dragons days earlier from Revelstoke of the KIJHL. Riley started this season with the club, but was traded to Winkler December 1st at the roster deadline.

Six ex-Dragons celebrate birthdays during this week.

Derek Lewis and Lee Morrow share January 9 as their birth date. Lewis will be 26 years old, Morrow 22.

January 11 Hanna's Dru Hickle turns 18; January 12 former Dragon Spencer Copp will be 22. Spencer is currently playing in the CIS with the University of Calgary Dinos; January 13 Lethbridge native Patrick Bartoshyk will turn 22; and January 13 recently traded Keenan Martens will be 19. Keenan is currently playing with Nipawin in Saskatchewan after a December 1st deal sent him to the SJHL.

And finally, my apologies to Brody Robinson and his family. Somehow I overlooked Brody's birthday in this spot last week. #12, Brody Robinson celebrated his 19th birthday on January 2nd. Congratulations, and sorry about the omission.

trivia: Three Dragons have scored 50 or more career goals. Can you name them?

They are: Derek Werenka (65), Jeff Young (53) and Kevin Bui (51)

Rounding out the top five are:

Cam Lamoureux (45) and Trevor Smyth (42)       

2012 just about set to get underway for the Dragons and the rest of the AJHL. January is a busy month for the Dragons as they play 11 times to begin the final two months of the season.

Of the eleven games, ten are 4-pointers against South division rivals. Six of them involve the Grizzlys and Canucks. The Dragons face Olds 3 times, twice up in Olds in January. They also have 3 dates with the Canucks, two of them at the Memorial Arena. Huge games against teams in a tight battle for the final playoff spot.

The Dragons face Brooks twice, a home and home set January 11th and 13th. They also have two games with the Mustangs, both on the big ice surface at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.

The only non-divisional game for the Dragons in January is an encounter with St. Albert at the Memorial Arena on the 21st.

A real make-or-break month for the Dragons in January 2012!

trivia:  Joel Chisholm holds the Dragons team record       with 7 points in a game. Which former Dragon is   second with a 6 point game?  

            The answer at the bottom of the page.

This Week in Dragon's History

 (January 01--07)

This is a very busy time-frame for our look back at the history of the Drumheller Dragons. A lot of plateaus achieved, and a flurry of early January birthdays.

Our look back begins January 3, 2006. On that date against the Fort Saskatchewan Traders, # 1, Jonathan LaRose made 38 saves to record his first career AJHL shutout in a 4-0 victory at the Memorial Arena. Quite a day for JLR. He celebrated his birthday and shutout his former team the same day. Storybook stuff.

Three days later in 2006, on January 6, St. Albert native Kyle Teague, who wore #27 for 32 games as a Dragon in 2005-06, scored his first goal in the orange and black after coming over in a trade with Spruce Grove. Teague beat Jimmy Bernier of Fort McMurray during a 4-2 win at the Thickwood Heights Arena. Teague scored 4-16=20 for the Dragons in that '05-06 season.

Derek Werenka passed former Dragon Braden Desmet to become the club's all-time scoring leader January 7, 2006. #11 scored his 27th goal of the season on Kai Saimbhi during a 5-4 overtime loss at Sherwood Park. That point gave him 95 as a Dragon, eclipsing Desmet's previous mark of 94.

JLR attained yet another plateau January 4, 2007. Jonathan LaRose played his 100th game as a Dragon against Okotoks that night. Unfortunately the Oilers nipped the Dragons 4-3 in overtime to spoil the night. Derek Lewis set a goal-scoring mark for defensemen during this game. Lewis scored his 7th goal of the season to break Kaylan Wiancko's team mark of 6 set during the 2004-05 season. Lewis beat Bradley Eidsness to register a powerplay goal, from Adam Gialet and Kevin Bui in that o.t. loss.

January 7th, 2007 another Dragon reached the 100 games played mark. Kyle Hanson became the 14th Dragon to play at least 100 games during a 5-4 overtime loss against Camrose at the Memorial Arena. Hanson wore #5 on defense for the Dragons for two seasons, 2005-06, 2006-07, playing 116 games, scoring 10-32=42. The Calgary native was a rugged customer, amassing 263 penalty minutes during his time with the Dragons. He was a leader on the team, and wore the Captain's "C" during the 2006-07 season.

Yet another entry into the record books for #19, Kevin Bui. January 5, 2008 he scored his 4th shorthanded goal of the season, setting a new team record. The former mark of three had been shared by Kevin Hunter, Jeff Young and Trevor Smyth. Bui scored his 17th goal of the season from Trevor Smyth on Travis Rolheiser in a 5-2 victory over Canmore at the Memorial Arena.

On January 8, 2008 Cluny, Alberta native Ryan Corbiell scored his first AJHL goal, on Matthieu LaRochelle of Camrose. Corbiell wore #5 for the Dragons for parts of two seasons (2007-08 and 2008-09), playing 58 games, scoring 2-9=11 before a trade sent him out to the BCHL.

The Dragons defeated the Camrose Kodiaks 3-2 in Camrose on January 3, 2009. In the 349th regular season game for the franchise, the victory was #150 for the club.

Quite a list of birthdays in the early part of January.

Two former Dragons goaltenders share a January 3rd birth date: Andrew Arklie from Dugald, Manitoba and Boyle, Alberta's Jonathan LaRose. Arklie played 34 games for the Dragons in 2004-05, JLR appeared in 114 games from 2004-2007. Andrew Arklie turns 28 years old January 3rd, 2012. Jonathan LaRose celebrates number 26.

January 4th another former Dragon goaltender has a birthday. Lake Parsippany, New Jersey's Garrett Beckwith turns 22 years old.

Also on January 4th, Dion Knelsen from Three Hills has a birthday. Dion will be 23 years old.

And happy birthday to current Dragon Davin Stener on January 7th. #6 is a second year Dragon from Fort Saskatchewan. He turns 18 years old January 7.

trivia:  Joel Chisholm holds the Dragons team record       with 7 points in a game. Which former Dragon is   second with a 6 point game?

            If you knew Scott Kennedy, take a bow!! #26 had a 6 point game (2 goals, 4 assists) in a 7-5 win over the Calgary Royals during a game at the AJHL Showcase weekend on October 02, 2009.

The line of Colin Bergman, Kennedy, and Justin Morello lit up the Royals that night, combining for 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 scoring points.  

Xmas re-cap,  2011

The Christmas break is upon us, time for the Drumheller Dragons and other AJHL teams to get a few days away from the rigors of a busy schedule. Time to relax, rest up, recharge for the playoff push which begins early in 2012. 41 games in the books. 19 very important games for the Dragons remain. A busy four months pre-Christmas, two more hectic months to come.

Things got off to a great start in 2011-12, beginning in Lloydminster where the Dragons whipped the Bobcats 6-2 in the season opener. Kevin McMillan and Kenton Levesque, earlier named co-captain's for the Dragons, led the way with two goals each to lead the team to the win. James D'Andrea kicked out 30 shots to record his first victory as a Dragon.

Many Dragons recorded career first's pre-Christmas. Mitch Owsley, Trevor Tracy and Josh Peters all got their first AJHL goals September 15th; Brody Robinson got his first September 18; Gio Bombini on September 20. Local product Spencer Samuel notched his first goal October 29; Coda Engbar November 08; Josh McKissock and Tristan Reimer on November 25; Brodie Jamieson December 02; and Justin Cintas December 18. Logan Sceviour, who came over in an off-season trade with Bonnyville scored his first as a Dragon up in Lloyd in the season-opener.

Goaltender Christopher Wray got his first start September 28 in Sherwood Park. He made 31 saves to post his first AJHL victory.

The Dragons went through two long losing streaks in the 2011 portion of the season, a team-record 10-game skid from October 06 through 28, then another 7-game streak from November 05-23. Those two skids have relegated the Dragons to the basement in the AJHL South division. It's a close battle for the final playoff spot, with plenty of available points for the Dragons to move up the standings and earn a playoff berth.

The losing streaks cost head coach Dan Price his job at the end of October. Dragons management decided it was time for a change, relieving Price and his assistant coaches of their duties. New head coach and g.m. Barry Wolff took over October 31, and the club responded with a victory in his first game behind the bench, nipping the Canucks 2-1 at the Memorial Arena on November 4th.

The only constant in junior hockey is change, and there have been many since the start of the season. These players are no longer with the Dragons: James D'Andrea, Keenan Martens, Trevor Tracy, Dylan Schellenberg, Keith Csizmadia, Riley Spraggs, Graham Zagrodney, Zach Baba, Josh Peters, Marcus Cheng, Julian Fraser and Dylan Meier.

Replacing them as Dragons are: Braden Gamble and Ryan Bloom, who both came back to the Dragons from the WHL, Coda Engbar, Josh McKissock, Simon Horlick, Justin Cintas, Tye Hand and Brodie Jamieson.

All the newcomers have contributed since their arrival, but none in more spectacular fashion than Brodie Jamieson. Jamieson had THE game of any Dragon in a very long time December 22nd at the Memorial Arena. #10 led the Dragons to a 7-4 win over the Calgary Mustangs, scoring a team-record 5 goals in the game. That broke the record of 4 goals in a game set by Joey Martini, way back on October 09, 2004. Remarkable!

The Dragons franchise also reached a couple of notable milestones in the first part of the season. On October 08 versus Sherwood Park, the Dragons played their 500th regular season game in the AJHL in this their ninth season.

On October 29, the Dragons posted their 200th regular season franchise victory, downing Camrose 5-3 at the Memorial Arena.

The AJHL implemented the shoot-out format prior to the 2010-11 season, and after 5 unsuccessful shoot-outs, the Dragons got their first win by that format December 02 in Okotoks. After Braden Gamble stopped the 5th Oiler shooter, rookie Gio Bombini rifled one past Jared D'Amico to give the Dragons a 3-2 win and their first shoot-out bonus point.  Good stuff. That's a goal Gio will remember for a long time.

Josh McKissock will also remember his first goal in the AJHL. It came November 25 at the Memorial Arena, and what made it extra-special was the occassion. This was the "teddy-bear toss" game, and when McKissock scored just 2.10 into the first period, the ice surface was littered with hundreds of stuffed toys.

Braden Gamble is known for making saves, but he showed another aspect of his game during an 8-7 overtime win in Canmore just before Christmas. Braden recieved an assist on a 3rd period goal by Josh Kluck, becoming only the 4th Dragon 'tender to register a scoring point. The last was Garrett Beckwith, who earned an assist in the final game of the 2010-11 season against the Mustangs. Garrett Sheehan (with two career assists) and Jonathan LaRose are the other Dragons goalkeepers who have scored an assist in an AJHL regular season game.

Two third year Dragons reached the 100 games played plateau in the first portion of the season. Doug Jones became the 33rd Dragon to play 100 games up in Fort McMurray on October 15. Kenton Levesque became number 34 November 4th against the Canucks at the Memorial Arena. Dougie "the Jet" leads the Dragons with 28 points at the break, built on 11 goals and 17 assists. He is starting to climb the Dragons all-time scoring list, now with 27 career goals to tie former captain Trent Colberg for 16th in goals scored. His 35 career assists have him tied for 21st with Dion Knelsen and Robbie Nocera all-time. And his 62 career points is good for 18th place all-time, one better than former Dragon Erik Slemp. "the Jet" is also credited with 5 career game-winning goals, which places him in a tie for 5th all-time with Mitch Jaffray, Colin Bergman, Justin Faryna, Cam Lamoureux and Rob Geddes. If he stays healthy, expect #23 to pass several more players as he ascends the Dragons all-time career scoring charts.

"the North Star Wizard" returned to the Dragons from the WHL in October. Braden Gamble came in and has played all but a couple of games since that point. He is also moving up the all-time lists of Dragon goaltenders, having passed Steven Legatto into third place in games played, minutes played, goals allowed and goaltender wins. At his current pace, "the Wiz" could catch Garrett Sheehan in some of these categories and move into 2nd place all-time before season's end. 

After the New Year, 19 games left in the regular season for the Dragons. They will play 10 games at home, 9 on the road. Only three games will be versus North division teams, giving the Dragons 16 chances against South division opponents as they push for a playoff spot in the South. Right now the club is in a tight battle with the Canucks, Canmore, and Olds. Three of the four teams will advance to the post-season, so head-to-head match-ups will be crucial. The Dragons face these three teams a total of 8 times in 2012. Olds and the Dragons will meet 4 times (2 at each rink), the Dragons face the Canucks 3 more times (2 of them at the Memorial Arena), and they have one home date left with the Eagles.

The "post-season push" begins January 4th at the Memorial Arena. 7.30 is game time when the Olds Grizzlys come in to kick off the 2012 portion of the season.

Two games in the last week to conclude the 2011 portion of this year's schedule. Wednesday Okotoks was here, Thursday the Calgary Mustangs.

On Wednesday, the Oilers came in and blanked the Dragons 5-0. A slow start got the Dragons down 2-0 after one period, 4-0 after two. Despite 37 shots on goal, they had no success against Jared D'Amico in goal for Okotoks, as he posted his first AJHL shutout. Newcomer Tyler Krause scored the natural hat-trick for the Oilers, the last three goals of the game.

It was a different story Thursday against the Mustangs. The energy level was 100% better, as the Dragons came out with plenty of jump and carried the high tempo throughout the entire sixty minutes. A back and forth type game, three times the Dragons got a one goal lead only to have the Mustangs equalize. Leading 4-3 going into the third period, the Dragons were sparked to the win by the finishing ability of #10, Brodie Jamieson. Jamieson scored three third period goals to lift the Dragons to a 7-4 victory. He also had a goal in both the first and second periods, giving him 5 goals on the night, establishing a new Dragons team record for goals in a game, topping the old mark of four set by Joey Martini back in October of 2004. An amazing night for the 19 year old North Vancouver native. Playing his 9th game as a Dragon (2-3=5 in his first 8), Jamieson had one of those magical games where all the pieces fall into place.

game notes.....Wednesday against Okotoks the Dragons ripped 37 shots at Jared D'Amico, but most were from well out and presented no major problem for an AJHL goaltender. The Dragons outshot Okotoks 37-36 but that is misleading. The Oilers created many quality scoring chances, the Dragons just had shots on goal....the powerplay didn't contribute, going 0-5. The Oilers were lethal with the extra man, they were 3-5....Caylen Walls of Lyalta suited up for the Oilers. He came over in a December 1st trade from Grande Prairie. Dragons fans will remember Walls from the 2008-09 season when he played 6 games for the Dragons in the regular season and 5 more in the playoffs against Olds....Josh Kluck took a hard hit along the right wing boards in the second period on a good old-fashioned hip check that sent #13 head-over-heels....Christopher Wray got the start in goal. I thought #34 played a solid game. He looked calm and composed, controlled his rebounds pretty well.....Thursday the Dragons showed everyone in attendance the team they have the capability to be when they are firing on all cylinders. They attacked with speed, were making better decisions with the puck in their own zone, did more in the way of finishing checks. And when needed (which is often against a real good offensive club in the Mustangs) the "North Star Wizard", Braden Gamble was in fine form turning aside 44 shots in goal. A real team effort. A huge win....when the game was very much up for grabs in the third period, Brodie Jamieson was in the right place at the right time. Not once or twice, but three times! Jamieson got the natural hat-trick in the third, being willing to go to the difficult areas of the ice for rebounds and showing great strength and perseverance. His reward was a team-record 5 goal outing, giving him 7 in just 9 games as a Dragon....it's been a while, a really long while, since any Dragon had scored three goals in a game. The last hat-trick by a Dragon was Colin Bergman, 141 games ago! You have to go back to October 24, 2009 and a 5-4 win versus the Royals for that feat. Long overdue....Doug Jones (11th) and Kenton Levesque (8th) also scored for the Dragons. They both played great games, "the Jet" was in full flight, especially in the first two periods. His snap-shot goal from off the left wing came just ten seconds after the Mustangs tied things 1-1 early in the second. Huge goal for the Dragons. "Haywire" gave the Dragons a 4-3 lead after two with a late second period tally. He also threw his body about recklessly (as usual) and was a constant pain in the *** to the visitors. Kenton has been moved back to defense the last few games, and he will jump into the play if the opportunity is there, creating odd man rushes for the Dragons...Mitch Owsley (upper body injury) and Josh Kluck (charley horse in thigh) did not play versus Calgary. Hopefully both will be back in the new year....Sam Lawson also sat out, with luck he will be ready in 2012as well....we'll cross our fingers that "the Horse", Brennan Baxandall will be okay after the break. Bax laid a big hit on Bryan Arneson in the seond period, then went to the bench in obvious discomfort. He then went to the dressing room and did not return....plenty of Dragon alumni in attendance. Justin Tateson, Rob Geddes, Cole Cheveldave, and Dylan Schellenberg were all at the game. There may have also been more that I did not see. Good to see the boys back in the valley....the Dragons are now idle until January 04, 2012. They get to enjoy some time at home with family and friends before the schedule resumes. Here's hoping everyone gets rested up and healthy for that playoff push starting early in the New Year....19 games left in the regular season, 10 home, 9 away. Most are against South division teams, 16 of the 19. The Dragons in a battle with Olds, Canmore and the Canucks for the final playoff spot and there are 8 games left against those teams, 5 of them at home.

trivia:  Only once have the Dragons swept a season series from a South division opponent. Do you know which team?           

            The answer at the bottom of the page.

This Week in Dragon's History

 (December 19--25)

Derek Werenka made Dragons history this week back in 2005. On December 21 Werenka scored his 24th goal of the season, breaking the mark of 23 goals in a season he set the previous season. His unassisted goal on Kyle Richter helped the Dragons to a 5-4 win over the Brooks Bandits.

December 21, 2006 Jonathan LaRose made 24 saves to shutout the Bandits in Brooks. It was his 3rd whitewash of the season, breaking his own mark he established the previous season. It was also the second of back-to-back shutouts over the Bandits in a Wednesday-Thursday home and home set. This is the only time a Dragons goaltender has recorded back to back shutouts. (His record scoreless string was broken at 134 minutes 19 seconds January 06, 2007 in a game in Okotoks.)

Cam Lamoureux reached the 100 game plateau on December 20, 2007. He was held off the scoresheet in a 5-3 loss versus Olds.

One year later, December 19, 2008 Lethbridge native Patrick Bartoshyk hit the century mark in games played. He also was held scoreless in Olds during a 4-2 loss to the Grizzlys.

and who can ever forget the "Christmas Miracle" of December 20, 2010? Trailing the Brooks Bandits 4-0 after two periods, the Dragons roared back on markers by Cass Mappin and Ryan Bloom 29 seconds apart early in the period, a goal by Rob Geddes at 18.30 to cut the deficit to one, and the seeing-eye shot from the point by Justin "the Train" Tateson at 19.59 to tie the game at 4-4!! Unbelievable, and the miracle was completed just 42 seconds into overtime when the captain, Robert Geddes, "the Little Lion",  snuck one in the shortside on Jan Obernesser to give the Dragons an improbable 5-4 victory.  One of the great games of all time at the Arena. December 20, 2010. "the Christmas Miracle."

A trio of former Dragons celebrate birthdays this week. Cass Mappin, who wore #21 last season for the Dragons turns 21 on December 20;  Calgary native Tyler Swanson, who played 55 games for the Dragons in 2003-04 and 2004-05, will be 26 on December 22;  and former Dragon captain, Linden native Kevin Hunter will be 27 on December 24. Hunter played the first two seasons with the Dragons, wearing the captain's "C" during the 2004-05 campaign. He was the first player to reach the 100 game mark as a Dragon, and totaled 116 games with the team, scoring 24 goals, 22 assists for 46 points. He scored 3 power-play goals, and 5 short-handed goals. He also received 213 minutes in penalties. Those 5 shorties were the team record when he graduated, and still are good for 3rd in team rankings.

trivia:   Only once have the Dragons swept a season series from a South division opponent. Do you know which team ?

            It was the Calgary Royals, now the Mustangs. In 2008-09 the Dragons were a perfect 6-0 against the Royals, outscoring them 39-11.  

Support your Dragons!! Get out and watch exciting AJHL action at the Arena.