The following are just some of the highlights from the last year in local sports. (battlefordsNOW photos)

By Martin Martinson

Top 5

Year in Review: Highlights in local sports (Pt. 2)

Dec 30, 2021 | 5:00 AM

During the Christmas season, our team at Pattison Media is once again producing positive stories based around holiday traditions and accomplishments for the region.

Marking an exciting return and the rejuvenation of many sports programs coming off of the COVID shutdown, this is part 2/2 in the battlefordsNOW series counting down some of the top stories from the past year in the world of local sports. For part 1, click here.

#5 — Colby’s Kids honours Cave’s legacy as ambassador for hockey in community

The Edmonton Oilers and Battlefords Minor Hockey partnered together for Colby’s Kids, a program designed to give youth hockey players in the community a chance to experience the game and learn from Oilers alumni and Battlefords Minor Hockey instructors.

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Named in honour of the late, Colby Cave, the program is just another way the local legend’s legacy continues to positively impact the next generation. Read more here.

#4 — Local Hilltops lead team to seventh straight PFC title

Three Battlefords locals played a key part in the Saskatoon Hilltops continued dominance on the gridiron this season.

Quarterback Damon Dutton, receiver Presley Peterson, and center Luciano Jolly all started for the team as veterans of the program helping lead the organization to their seventh straight PFC title. Read what the three had to say heading into the Conference Championship Game here.

#3 — Albers shines in Olympic qualifiers; makes return to Major Leagues

It was a big year for Battlefords local and pro baseball player, Andrew Albers.

After signing a two-way deal with the minor-league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, Albers would go on to find all kinds of success, both at the national and pro level. Albers started for Canada at the Olympic qualifiers before making his return to the big leagues in Minnesota for the first time in four years.

#2 — Big Year for BMHA, as minor hockey standouts recognized

AAA Stars standouts, Dawson Gerwing and Treycen Wuttunee, were both selected in the WHL Prospects Draft this year, as Gerwing was selected in the third round by the Swift Current Broncos, while Wuttunee was selected in the 10^th round by the Edmonton Oil Kings.

In the local female hockey ranks, Keyra Buziak and Kiana McNinch, were named to Team Sask for the 2021 Western Regional Women’s U18 Championship in Manitoba, while AAA Sharks forwards, Madison Glynn and Mykayla Pylypow, announced their commitments to post-secondary programs at Liberty University and Lakeland College for next fall.

#1 — Local talent shines in CPCA return

The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) made a triumphant return to the region this year, with a season filled with both local and organizational highlights.

Meadow Lake’s Logan Gorst won the championship dash in Lloydminster to cap the season atop the podium, just edging out the Baptiste brothers (Todd and Ryan Baptiste) from Cando, and St. Walburg’s Jamie Laboucane, who won the aggregate at the first-ever North American Chuckwagon Championships (read more here).

This wraps the battlefordsNOW reflection on some of the top moments in local sports from 2021. Not exclusive to those mentioned, the year saw many highlights, with many more in store to come in 2022.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1