CARLYLE - Before a good crowd last Saturday, the Carlyle Sports Arena hosted a home game for the Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins.
Although based in the Energy City, the team only has a handful of players that reside there. The team is comprised of athletes living in towns which include Alameda, Arcola, Bienfait, Carlyle, Carnduff, Manor, Redvers, Torquay and Wawota.
Koby Wotta, 15, lives in Arcola.
“Koby loves the team and enjoys playing AA hockey,” said his father Marius. “The team is well organized and Koby really looks forward to coming to the rink every day.”
Turner Knockaert, 17, is a defenceman who hails from Arcola.
“The Apex Bruins are a fantastic organization, and all the coaches, players, and parents get along like one big happy family,” said his mother Deica. “The team is strong and has a great attitude. Hopefully we can go a long way in league playoffs.”
The Apex Bruins lost 4-2 in the game played in Carlyle. They have now completed regular season play in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League’s South Division. They finished first, compiling an impressive with a 28–5-3 record. Carter Beck of Carnduff was the team’s leading scorer with 36 goals and 36 assists for 72 points. He played all 36 regular season games and finished second in league scoring.
Ryan Curzon is the head coach of the U18 AA squad and has been with the team the past four years. Like many, he realizes there wouldn’t be a team without the small-town support of southeast Saskatchewan.
“A few weeks ago, we had an ‘away-home’ home game in Carnduff which attracted a great crowd. Saturday’s game in Carlyle was also well-attended. With the recent curling events held in Estevan, ice is sometimes hard to find. We appreciate being able to play some of our home games in towns where we attract the players from.”
Curzon was also modest in his assessment of the team and its excellent winning percentage.
“We have a good cohesive group of guys who always battle for each other. We have had very few injuries this season and a lot of our players haven’t missed a game. And always remember, coaches do the coaching. It is the players that do the winning.”
Strahn Douglas, 17, is one of the team’s few injured players but should be ready for round two of the playoffs. He lives in Carnduff and plays defence.
“We have a great team and all of us really want to win a league championship. I do what I have to do to make the team better,” said Douglas.
Ty Fehrenbach, 16, of Carlyle splits the team’s goaltending duties with Carnduff’s Keagan Carley. Tyler Fehrenbach is his dad who also helps with the team.
“This is Ty’s second year on the Apex Bruins and he and our entire family is thoroughly enjoying the regular season. We have had a great year and hope we can continue our strong play deep into the playoffs,” said Tyler.
The team now faces the Lumsden/Bethune Lions in a best of five quarterfinal series. Game one goes Feb. 17 in Estevan at 8:30 p.m.
