HighRiver

The Heritage Junior B (HJHL) opened the 2024-2025 season Friday night (Sept. 20) with the Carstar Okotoks Bisons taking the first meeting against the High River Flyers 5-3 at Murray Arena.

With the Flyers' home rink at Bob Snodgrass Rec Plex getting renovations, High River who already played four pre-season games on the road, will continue to play on the road for the next month and a half. Many players will tell you, however, that the strongest bonds are built on road trips so it could be a blessing in disguise for the Flyers.

The Okotoks Oilers opened up their first full season in the BCHL Friday night (Sept. 20) at the newly named Viking Rentals Centre with a 5-0 loss to the Brooks Bandits.

To start the game the Green and Gold introduced the 2024-2025 roster to the 1,074 fans in attendance. Only six returning players were announced in the new team captain Jackson Rowland, new assistant captain Brett Wilson, Ryder De Nys, Hunter Sawka, Kade Duell, and Brennan Hocher.

In a haunting message from beyond the grave, Métis Elder Sonny James MacDonald recounted being incarcerated for more than two years at an Indian Hospital in Edmonton in the 1940s for tuberculosis treatment, suffering abuse and isolation as a child.

"After the surgery … they took it upon themselves … that they should take my pajama bottoms off to prevent me from walking around," MacDonald, a renowned carver who died in 2021, said in a video clip taken from a documentary released that same year. 

The Okotoks Oilers have named their captains for the year just prior to their home opener against the Brooks Bandits tonight (Sept. 20).

It will be a historic night, being the opener for the Oilers' first full regular season since joining the BCHL.

A ceremonial puck drop is also being held to recognize the renaming of the Centennial Arena to the Viking Rentals Centre.

Player introductions will start at 7:05 p.m. with remarks from Okotoks Town Councillor Gord Lang and owner and president of Viking Rentals, Lars Petterson, before the puck drop.

The banks of the Sheep River were packed with spectators on Saturday (Sept. 15).

It was the Simpora Foundation's second annual Rubber Duck Race & Family Carnival, and given the turnout, it seems word got around after its debut last year.

The Simpora Foundation's Director, Roanne Bodnarchuk, says the number of spectators wasn't the only thing that grew compared to last year.

If it wasn't already apparent that summer is coming to an end, the recently-issued Frost Advisory is a sure sign.

Environment Canada issued the advisory for the Foothills County area on Friday afternoon (Sept. 20).

Temperatures are expected to drop down to freezing levels, so it's recommended that anyone with plants or trees susceptible to frost damage takes the necessary precautions.

The 'Battle of Okotoks' was on last night with the HTA Knights hosting the Foothills Falcons for their annual clash.

The Knights, who have been on a complete tear on anyone they have faced, continued their undefeated streak, beating the Falcons 60-7.

In the first half, the Falcons defence was coming up strong as they limited chances for the Knights, but by the end of the game, it was all HTA.

Farmers now have 63 per cent of the provincial crop in the bin, up from the five and ten-year averages of 43 and 38 per cent.

Harvest progress varies from 80 per cent complete in the South to 73 per cent in the Central Region, while the other areas are now 50 per cent complete.

There are two $1 million Lotto Max winning tickets somewhere in rural Alberta.

Two winners from Ontario and Quebec split the record-breaking $80 million lottery on Tuesday, September 17 with 12 more Maxmillion winners across Canada.

Two of those $1-million-dollar tickets were sold in Alberta, outside of Edmonton or Calgary.

The numbers are: 

• 2, 14, 20, 21, 28, 31 and 42
• 8, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 39

Winners do have one year to claim their prize.

St. Mary's School in Okotoks is getting a new inclusive playground next summer.

The Friends of St. Mary's School Okotoks Association have fundraised for nearly five years to raise money to install an inclusive playground at St. Mary's School that will help to support those who have mobility challenges and promote play for all.