Norman Grier Memorial goes to Kainai Braves

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The Kanai Braves from the Blood Reserve continued their strong, aggressive play early in the hockey season as they won the Norman Grier Memorial Hockey Tournament here on Dec. 8. The annual tourney attracted a dozen teams in a double-knock-out format.

The Braves, after losing their first game by default, came back through the 'B' section to win the championship by a narrow margin over the Peigan Cowboys.

The Cowboys had jumped into a 2-1 first-period lead on goals by Clint Caytain and Willis Beebe. Maynard Wells replied for the Braves.

The outstanding goaltending by Cowboys' Chad Asteil (who eventually won the top goalie award) and the Braves' Lorne Healy continued in the second period, as only one goal was scored by Wade Wells to even matter at 2-2 after 40 minutes of play.

The third period belonged to the Braves, as they outscored the Cowboys 3-1. Chubby Creighton put Kanai ahead at 10:45 AND Clayton Gabriel got the winning goal at the 12:46 mark. Rusty Welk made it 4-3 when he replied for the Cowboys with 2:49 left in the period.

The Cowboys pulled their goalie for an extra attacked with just over a minute left, and came close on a couple of occasions, but Lynel Tailfeathers ended the threat with an empty netter at the 19:51 mark.

Kanai also defeated Blood Bullhorn 10-1 and the Peigan Eagles 10-3 to advance to the finals.

Besides Asteil's top goalie award, other awards went to the Braves' Russell Wells and Chubby Creighton, the Cowboys' Charles First Rider, Bullhorn's Basil Divine and the Eagles' Wade Plain Eagle.

The Braves, playing their third season in the Ranchland Hockey League, currently hold a 13-4 won-lost record for 26 points and are in first place in the eight-team league.

The Siksika Buffalos are in third place, with 21 points while the Peigan Cowboys, the other Native team in the league, are in seventh place with eight points. Siksika is in its second year in the league, while the Cowboys are in their first.

Braves' captain Chubby Creighton is the top sniper in the league with 21 goals and 15 assists for 36 points. Wade and Russell Wells, Danny Many Fingers, and Dan Mistaken Chief, all of Kainai, are also in the top-10 scorers.