The thoughts of a perfect preseason for the Olds Grizzlys were dashed on Wednesday, September 4th by the visiting Drumheller Dragons.
16-year-old forward Easton Daneault (2008) from Red Deer had a whale of a AJHL exhibition debut netting a pair of goals and setting up two more as Drumheller rolled 10-zip over Olds at the SportsComplex.
Daneault is following in the footsteps of his older brother Ty who moved on to play NCAA hockey at Merrimack College after posting 57 goals and 105 points in 107 career Alberta Junior Hockey League regular season games for the Dragons between 2021-2023. Ty Daneault also had the chance this summer to attend the NHL Development Camp of the Winnipeg Jets this summer.
16-year-old netminder Mathew Kondro (2007) from St. Albert turned aside all 17 shots he faced to earn the shutout for Drumheller.
20-year-old goalie Thomas Popa (2004) from Calgary started in net for the Grizzlys and made 13 saves on 16 shots. 18-year-old goaltender Thomas Samborski (2005) from Okotoks played the second half of the game for Olds and saw 7 of the 37 shots he faced get by him.
The Grizzlys (3-1-0-0) will finish up the preseason with a stop in Canmore on Friday and then a rematch with the Eagles (0-0-0-0) on Saturday at 7pm in Olds.
The Dragons (2-1-1-1) wind up their exhibition action with a home and home this weekend against the defending AJHL champions – the Calgary Canucks (0-0-0-0).
Both the Canmore Eagles and the Calgary Canucks have yet to play an AJHL preseason game, and both squads will hit the ice for only two exhibition contests ahead of the regular season.
The 2024-2025 AJHL regular season is set to begin with the Dragons at the SportsComplex for the home opener for the Black and Gold at 7pm on Friday, September 13th. Drumheller’s home opener is the next night when Olds travels to the badlands on Saturday, September 14th.
Listen to 96.5 CKFM’s pre-game conversation with the new Assistant Coach for the Olds Grizzlys – Colten Hayes.
CKFM also caught up before the game with Drumheller’s Director of Operations Boedy Sheilds from Didsbury.
