Bantam tidbits

The AMBHL or Albert Major Bantam Hockey League got underway this weekend.



The Calgary Bisons, who are the early season favorites to come out of the province flexed their muscle with a 7-6 win over the Calgary Bronks. Tanner Macmaster who we have ranked to go in the top two rounds of the WHL bantam draft scored twice, as did 6'2 power forward Earl Webb. Brycen Martin chipped in with 3 assists in the winning effort. Sam Young led the way for the Bronks with a pair of goals and one assist in the losing cause.



Elsewhere in the AMBHL, perennial favorites, Airdrie Xtreme walked past Okotoks 7-3. Leading the way for the Xtreme was Kyle Pauls with 3 goals, while first round talent Tyler Wong had a goal and 2 assists.



The Bisons and Xtreme will face each other in an early season clash of favorites in the south portion of the AMBHL on Wednesday. The north won't get underway until Thursday when Camrose will visit Spruce Grove.



Speaking of Spruce Grove, Thomas Foster has shown very well in the pre-season. His skating is very strong, see's the ice well and by all accounts has been the best player on the team so far.

Leduc has looked very strong through the pre-season and many feel they could be the best team in the division. To nobodies surprise SSAC has looked tremendous thus far, they beat KofC 5-3 and rolled four lines. However, their top line played 25+ minutes and are said to be top heavy in terms of talent up front with Quennville, Simpson and Ortynski who are all top round talents. Defence looks to be led by Patterson and Donald. Of course, Jordan Papirny in net will give them the best goaltending in the north. As you remember, Papirny was named a first team all-star as a first year bantam player last year.

Keenan Shaw is a man amongst boys so far in the early going. He has been putting up points and really laying the body hard. Shaw's team mate from KofC, Nicholas Jones is leaving defenders mesmerized so far and could lead the league in scoring. It is expected that he will be named team captain. A tough break though for KofC in that 97 born first year talent Joseph Nardi cracked a collar bone and will miss 4-6 week. It was reported from camp that he was looking like the teams #2 forward behind Jones.

Looks as though MLAC could be in for a long season. If presiniuk and first year talent Simon Goodall don't step up their game a few notches, many feel they will likely end up near the bottom. Something to watch anyway...

Of note in the BC bantam ranks is news that Joey Gatenby has made the POE Division 1 team. He will be the lone 1997 born on the roster this season. POE looks to have a very strong team and the 5'6 125 lb youngster is definitely someone to watch early on.

In other news, Cloverdale beat favorite to win the PCAHA bantam tier 1 Abbotsford Hawks 6-5 despite being out shot 50-25. It should be noted that Abbotsford was missing several key players which included Mitch Skapski, Malik Kaila and Matt Revel. For Cloverdale, Riley Stadel was a pure force in the game all night long scoring a goal and assisting on 3 others.