The Olds Grizzlys wrap up their 2024-2025 Alberta Junior Hockey League campaign this weekend.
Their season finale is set for Saturday, March 15th at 5 o’clock in Calgary versus the Canucks.
The Grizzlys boosted their win total from 10 last season to 15 this time around, but they will still miss the playoffs. Overall this season, Olds has a record of 15-37-1 to sit last in the South Division.
Last night, the Black & Gold put forth a determined effort in their final home game to try and upset the top team in the AJHL but in the end the Canmore Eagles (35-12-5-2) escaped from the SportsComplex with a 5-4 win. Canmore scored twice in the final three minutes of the third period to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 victory.
The Eagles have played out their 54 game slate and they are one point up on both the Calgary Canucks and the Whitecourt Wolverines for first place overall. As mentioned earlier in the story, Calgary’s regular season finale is at home on Saturday versus Olds. Whitecourt concludes the campaign at home tomorrow night when the Camrose Kodiaks arrive at JDA Place.
The Grizzlys have a pair of 2004 born graduating players. 21-year-old forward Aiden Knutson from Red Deer notched one assist in the loss to Canmore as part of the last home game of his junior career, while 21-year-old goaltender Ben Dardis from Minnesota missed the game due to injury.
96.5 The Ranch spoke with Ben Dardis before Friday’s game.
Dardis was named the Most Valuable Player as part of the Grizzlys annual awards banquet last month.
The Ranch also caught up with AJHL Coach of the Year finalist for this season, Andrew Milne of the Canmore Eagles ahead of their regular season finale in Olds.
