Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader

The Slave Lake U18 Thunder hockey team hosted the Alberta Tier 4 provincials April 1 to 3. They made it into the semi finals, but lost to the Thorsby-Warburg Mustangs.

The Thunder kicked off their three-game, round robin on Friday against the Beaverlodge Blades. They beat them a cool 6 – 3. That evening they tied Onion Lake Chiefs 4 – 4.

On Saturday, they had their biggest win 10 – 2. It was against the Innisfail Flyers. This put them at the top of Pool A, going into the semi finals.

The semi finals were close, with the Thunder losing to the Mustangs, 3 – 2.

Game 1
In the first game on Friday, Thunder player, Jethro Green scored in the first period. He was assisted by Levi Ridley. At the end of the period, the Thunder led the game, 1 – 0.

There was more give and take in the second. For the Thunder, Kristopher Courtorielle scored twice, and Nathan Hartman (captain) and Cole De Champlain scored once. Courtorielle, Josh Dumaresque, Hartman, Skylar Hill, and Paul Houle all got assists. This brought the game score up to 5 – 1, for the Thunder.

In the third, Darren Gladue got the Thunder’s final goal. Hartman and Courtorielle assisted. The Thunder won 6 – 3.

Game 2
Friday evening, the Thunder took on the Onion Lake Chiefs. The game got off to a quick start with Green and Hartman scoring for the Thunder. They were assisted by Gladue, Hill, and Mitchell Laboucan (assistant captain). The Chiefs also scored once, bringing the period to a close at 2 – 1 for Slave Lake.

In the second, Onion Lake tied it up with two to Slave Lake’s one goal. Green scored for Slave Lake, assisted by Houle.

In the third, each team scored, maintaining the tie, for a final of 4 – 4. Green, assisted by Herman Derksen, scored the Slave Lake goal.

Game 3
On Saturday, the Thunder took on the Flyers. The Thunder dominated in the first period. They ended it, 3 – 0. Houle, Cohen Foster (assistant captain) and Hartman scored. De Champlain had two assists. Green, Ridley, Ethan Brideau, and Hill each had one.

In the second, they extended the lead by five and only gave up one to the Flyers. Thunder scorers were De Champlain, Green, Courtorielle, Hartman, and Gladue. Courtorielle got two assists, with nine other team mates getting one. The others were Hartman, Foster, Houle, Hill, Gladue, Laboucan, and de Champlain.

In the third period, de Champlain and Courtorielle scored for the Thunder. Dumaresque assisted with both goals and Brideau assisted on the first.

Slave Lake Thunder won 10 – 2.

Semi Finals
The semi finals were a close match, with de Champlain scoring the first goal nine minutes into the game. He was assisted by Foster and Laboucan. At almost 14 minutes, the Mustangs tied the game. The period ended, 1 – 1.

In the third, the Mustangs scored, gaining the lead 2 – 1.

The third looked like it was going to be a shut out, but at 18:56 the Mustangs extended their lead by one. With one second to go, Gladue scored for the Thunder, assisted by Courtorielle. The Thunder lost 3 – 2.

The Thorsby-Warburg Mustangs are the provincial champions. They beat the Chiefs in the final 5 – 1.