Four Strathmore hockey players will be playing for the first time this season in their hometown.
Cash Colpoys, Carter Radford, Donovan Kautz, and Kade Jensen all grew up playing hockey together in Strathmore and currently play for the U15 AAA Okotoks Oilers.
This Saturday (Feb 10), they will play their first game at the Family Centre Arena against the Calgary Bisons at 7:30 p.m.
There is no AAA U15 team in the town of Strathmore, so the boys joined the Okotoks team.
To play AAA for U15, all eligible players living in Blackie, Chestermere, High Country, Hussar, Foothills, Indus, Nanton, Okotoks, Rockyford, Siksika, Strathmore, Standard, and Vulcan are able to try out for the team.
“The purpose of this game is so locals can come see their Strathmore boys playing hockey; it is to showcase the local talent for those in the community who may not be able to drive to Okotoks or elsewhere to watch our games,” Colpoys said.
Each of the Strathmore boys have been playing hockey for 10 or more years.
Kautz, Radford, and Colpoys have all been playing on the same hockey teams since they were in Timbits. Jensen joined the boys during Atom.
In the past, the four of them have won three banners together and are hoping to keep their winning streak.
“I think, like most people on our team, our goal this year will be to win provincials,” Jensen said.
The boys are expecting lots of their family members and friends to attend the game and are encouraging the people of Strathmore to come out and watch.
“Everyone should come out and watch our game on Saturday. We will be playing against a good team, one of our biggest rivals, so it will be a great game,” Radford said.
Right now, the team is fifth in the league.
“We are fifth in the south. We are close to some of the teams trying to get a higher spot in the playoffs,” Colpoys said.
The team had to work hard to get to their current standing and they are dedicated to make it to provincials.
“Our season started off a little rough, but we have picked it up now. We had some issues with injuries, but since the New Year, we’ve been doing a lot better and are excited to play this game,” Kautz said.
If you are planning to attend the game on Saturday, look out for the Strathmore boys: defense #6 Kautz, forward #17 Radford, forward #22 Colpoys, and forward #21 Jensen.
“We are excited for our game. It's going to be a special opportunity for us to come back to our hometown," the group said.
The Okotoks Oilers will face off against the Calgary Bisons at the Strathmore Family Centre Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 10.
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