Broncs Slice off a Piece of History

armchairsportsalberta

Published

7 years ago

4 minute read

The Ponoka Broncs bantam football team has been absent from the win column for the past four seasons but that all changed this year.

The Broncs put together a complete game against Springbank on the road in a playoff game to post a 20-6 win. The first ever for this team and it was a moment to embrace for these young athletes.

“We finally got the “W” and this group of kids absolutely deserved it and it was cathartic,” said second year head coach Todd Lewis.

Years of hard work on and off the field yielded steady improvement for the Broncs but the victory bubble still remained intact.

The Broncs were leading 14-0 at halftime after a touchdown with a second left on the clock before the break. There was reason for optimism but it was of the cautious variety.

The conversation at half time was to start the 3^rd quarter with a 0-0 score in mind.

Springbank came out with a little more intensity and blocked a Ponoka punt for their lone score but the defence shut the door with an interception with less than a minute to play sealing the ending. Mark one in the win column.

Second year quarterback Dylan Giles has been through a lot with his team mates over the two years and watched the level of talent increase. Breaking the goose egg was a moment he will remember for a long time.

“I guess at the moment it was a real rush,” he said.” We believe success is not just on the scoreboard but when that last whistle blew, seeing us in the lead on that scoreboard put a warm feeling in our hearts I think.”

Lewis says the win is huge for the program as kids want to play for a team which has success not only off the field but on it and now the Broncs can build on this win. The victory can be a recruiting tool for future players and will certainly work for the returning players.

“We burst a bubble. We know we can win a game and we crossed that mental barrier,” he said. “Next year who knows, maybe we can win two or three games. We can do it. We’re capable of it.”

All the hard work, the practices, the bumps and bruises were worth it in the end for the coach and the players.

“Even if the final score of that game was a loss for us I think it’s always worth it,” said Giles. “We’re there as a team and we finish as a team. I love playing with these guys and I’ve built a bond with my brothers.”

The culmination for players who have been there the past two years is a huge confidence boost for these young men.

“They should be proud of themselves. Our motto on the team is Broncs Pride, that’s how we break every huddle and they should be doing nothing but Broncs Pride always. They’ve earned it,” said Lewis.

Bring on 2017.

armchairsportsalberta

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Broncs Slice off a Piece of History

Local Sports

End of an era for Red Deer Minor baseball Braves

Published on December 6, 2023

Todayville

From Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors

Following many discussions within the Red Deer community, the baseball community, our association members, as well as our board of directors we have made the decision to move forward with rebranding our teams, currently known as the Braves. For our association the Braves name symbolized warrior strength, bravery and resilience, all qualities we were proud to align with; and although the initial moniker of our teams was never intended to carry a derogatory or disrespectful connotation, for some, it has. The topic of our rebrand has been polarizing and arguments both for and against have been passionately presented. We have made the decision to move forward in the direction we feel is best for our association.

In alignment with the membership majority vote, the Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors is excited to announce that we will now be known as the Red Deer Rangers.

The Red Deer Rangers will retain our current navy and crimson colors and will not adopt the colors or logo of the MLB, NHL, or any other Rangers franchise. We are looking forward to forging our own identity and embracing our own look.

As you can appreciate this is a complex initiative that will take time. We will remain the Braves for the 2024 season and aim to have our rebrand complete for the 2025 season.

All participants that submitted the Rangers name during our rebranding poll, will be entered into a draw to receive the first Red Deer Rangers jersey.

We hope you will join us in celebrating this positive endeavor as we create a new inclusive legacy for our association that all can be proud of.

RDMBA Board of Directors

Local Sports

Red Deer Minor Hockey is proud to announce our new General Manager Lane Moore

Published on December 1, 2023

Todayville

From Red Deer Minor Hockey

The Red Deer Minor Hockey Board of Directors is pleased & honored to announce, after an extensive search, that Lane Moore has accepted the position of General Manager of Red Deer Minor Hockey. Lane will start his new role early in the new year & is very excited about leading our organization into the future as we aim to provide a positive learning and maturing experience for all of our young athletes & coaches in a minor hockey setting.

Lane comes into the role of General Manager with an extensive resume, in both hockey and administration. Lane has led the Bentley school as principal for the last 17 years & was an educator prior to that. On the hockey side, Lane’s passion for coaching & engaging with young athletes, dates back to 2002. His most recent involvement as a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey saw Lane lead the U17AAA North Star Chiefs for 2 seasons (21-22, 22-23). Prior to his work with Red Deer Minor Hockey Lane served as President of Rimbey Minor Hockey for several seasons.

One of Lane’s biggest strengths is his ability to create highly effective teams by building a common mission & vision & then executing on those through visionary leadership. These attributes shone through during this General Manager search and we are thrilled for Lane to lead this organization now & into the future as we aim to be one of the premier Minor Hockey Associations in the province.

Lane, his wife Kathleen & their three children Easton, Cooper & Lexi call Red Deer home. His son Cooper is the captain of Red Deer U18AAA Optimist Chiefs & his older son Easton is pursuing his hockey career and post-secondary studies in Massachusetts. Please join us in congratulating Lane Moore as the new General Manager of the Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission, welcome Lane!