A trio of local players had their fingerprints all over the first win of 2026 for the Olds Grizzlys.
Forwards Ryder Riedel (2007) from Didsbury and Jordin St. Louis (2009) from Airdrie both had the first four point games of their AJHL careers as Olds (10-19-2-1) got past the Devon Xtreme 6-5 at the Sportsplex on Tuesday, January 6th.
Riedel had a hat trick plus one assist, while St. Louis had three assists and scored what turned out to be the game winning goal in the third period. Their linemate David Hoy (2007) from Fort St. James, B.C. had his first 3 point game in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as he chimed in with 3 assists.
Another local player was in the crease and Corbin Sanderman (2007) from Three Hills made 35 saves to backstop the Black & Gold to their first win since a 5-4 victory over the visiting Lloydminster Bobcats on December 6th. The Grizzlys had been 0-6-1 in their last 7 games.
Forwards Finn Bagley (2008) from Airdrie and Sean Richards (2006) from Vancouver also scored in the win. Bagley has now scored in back-to-back games after striking for his first AJHL goal last Sunday in the loss to Drumheller.
Olds went 2 for 5 on the power play (Riedel, Richards), while Devon was 1 for 5. The Xtreme (12-17-1-1) have now lost five straight.
The Grizzlys homestand continues on Saturday at 6pm when the Canmore Eagles (17-13-1-0) swoop into town. Olds will also be at home to host the Camrose Kodiaks (17-12-2-0) on Sunday at 3 o’clock.
96.5 The Ranch had this pre-game conversation on Tuesday with Tyson Soloski, Head Coach of the Olds Grizzlys.
