A bright spot in a 9-4 loss to the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Saturday, September 26th for the Olds Grizzlys was the debut for the 2025-2026 season of a promising young forward from Airdrie.
16-year-old centre Jordin St. Louis (2009) potted his first career goal in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and he did it in his first ever home game for the Grizzlys.
St. Louis was called up from the Airdrie CFR Bisons U18 of the Alberta Elite Hockey League for a total of three games with Olds during the 2024-2025 AJHL regular season but they were all on the road. He notched his first AJHL point in his first game with an assist versus the Kodiaks in Camrose on February 8th. St. Louis ended last year with one point in those three road games. Mitch Visser, Assistant Coach for the Olds Grizzlys, says “it was good for him to get in those games (last season). From what I saw, for being a 15-year-old and coming up – he was just making plays. He got on the board there and just a ton of skill. He’s got a lot of potential and it is going to be exciting to kind of see where he ends up in the next couple years. So, yeah, really excited for Jordin.”
Another rookie for Olds that got on the scoresheet was 17-year-old defenceman Koray Bozkaya (2008). The product of Maple Ridge, B.C. was credited with a pair of assists in his first ever AJHL contest. Forward Braeden Veldhuizen (2006) from Calgary also had two assists against the Pontiacs (2-1-0).
Big forward Riley Pederson (2007) from Smithers, B.C. picked up his first AJHL point in his second game with Olds thanks to an assist. Grizzlys Captain Hunter Motley (2005) from Czar lit the lamp for the first time this season. Centre Sam Giangualano (2006) from Calgary scored his third of the new season, while blueliner Ryland Molde (2007) from Morlach, Saskatchewan also tallied and he has two goals now for the Grizzlys since being acquired last week from the Camrose Kodiaks in trade for defenceman Quinn Abbott (2005) from North Vancouver, B.C.
Bonnyville jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the end of the first period. The ‘Yaks made it 6-0 before Olds would get one back in the second period. The Pontiacs pushed a total of three goals across the line in period two and they cashed in two more in the third to round out the scoring. Olds has given up a total of 26 goals during the three losses on this homestand so far (8-4 loss to Camrose on September 20th, 9-4 to Canmore on September 23rd).
The Grizzlys (0-4-0) will host the Drayton Valley Thunder (1-2-0) on Sunday, September 28th at 3pm at the Sportsplex. It is National Drink Beer Day and all beer at the rink will be 2 for $8. See what else the local AJHL club has in store for fans on the Olds Grizzlys Facebook page. Tickets are available at tickets.oldsgrizzlys.ca.
96.5 The Ranch had this conversation with Mitch Visser prior to Saturday’s game.
The Ranch also spoke before the game with Chad Mercier, Head Coach of the Bonnyville Pontiacs.
