Red Deer
Dominating 11 and 1 record for RD Polytechnic Athletics over the weekend
Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics Weekend Recap
Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics had a great weekend that saw all teams go undefeated on Friday night with just one loss on the schedule on Saturday evening. At the end of the week, the teams totaled a record of 11-1. A few teams even went the distance with Queens Hockey needing a shootout, Kings Hockey needing overtime and Kings Volleyball needing five sets to find a winner.
Basketball
Queens (12-6) vs Olds College Broncos (7-11)
The impressive streak continues. The Queens Basketball team extended their win streak to nine games after two hard-fought matches against their Central Alberta rivals, the Olds College Broncos. On Friday night, the Queens exploded in the first quarter but would lose it in the second and third frames. This did not
stop them from coming back in the fourth quarter which resulted in an impressive 79-71 comeback victory. Guard Amy Szymanek (Bachelor of Education) was named the player of the game with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
The game on Saturday night in Olds was much different as they were able to win all four quarters on the score sheet and route the Broncos 87-49. Guard Heena Sidhu (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science) had 13 points and six assists on the night and was named the player of the game.

Kings (11-7) vs Olds College Broncos (3-15)
Regardless of the record of the Olds College Broncos, the Kings were put to the test on Friday and Saturday as the Broncos are a team that is full of adversity. The Kings were able to figure things out on Friday night early on and managed to have a much better second half which led to an 88-56 victory, which was a good
stepping stone after falling to the SAIT Trojans last week in heartbreaking fashion. With all nine of his points coming off the long-range shot, Guard MacGregor Manyluk (Business Administration General) was named the player of the game.
But the Broncos did not go down so easily on Saturday night in their own gym. They fought right until the final whistle blew in what was a much closer game than the night before. Late in the fourth, the Kings managed to get multiple stops which led to points on the board and an 85-77 victory. Guard Eduardo Crespo was named the player of the game after completing his night with a double-double, 29 points and 15 rebounds.
Hockey

Queens (10-3-1) vs Lakeland College Rustlers (7-4-2)
The Queens came into this weekend facing a Rustlers team that won back-to-back games against the NAIT Ooks the previous weekend. It was not going to be easy. After the Queens gave up the opening goal, they battled back with two straight goals. But the Rustlers tied it and forced it to go to overtime, which solved
nothing. They ended up in a shootout. The Queens scored twice and drove home with a 3-2 victory. Forward Madison Sansom (Social Work) had a goal on the night to extend her point streak to six games. Forward Alli Soyko (Bachelor of Education) was named the player of the game with a goal and an assist on the night.
To cap off the weekend, the Queens managed to shut out the Rustlers 2-0 in their own barn. Goaltender Tanya Disotell-Dunsmore had an 18-save shutout. Sansom had a goal and an assist to complete her weekend with a player of the game honour. She also extended her point streak to seven games. Forward Jailyn Bablitz (Bachelor of Education) got the other marker on Saturday night.
Kings (14-6-1) at Briercrest College Clippers (8-8-2)
The Kings hit the road and pulled off a feat that is pretty rare as they were able to defeat the Briercrest College Clippers in back-to-back games. This usually does not happen in all sports. Earlier on in the year, the Kings and Queens Volleyball won on Friday night and would lose the match the following afternoon. On
Friday, the Kings would score three straight goals after falling behind 1-0 to win it 3-2. The Clippers added a late marker with the goaltender pulled. Forward Chance Longjohn (Bachelor of Education) scored the first goal of the night for the Kings and was awarded the player of the game. The other goals were scored by forward’s Hayden Clayton (Open Studies) and Nolan Doell (Bachelor of Education).
It was a very gritty game on Saturday afternoon with both teams getting multiple 10-minute misconducts. But this game needed overtime. After going down 2-0 early, the Kings would score three straight goals to take the lead. But the Clippers battled back and tied it up at three. Later in the game, they tied it at four. Five
minutes into overtime, forward Jacob Wozney was on an odd-man rush and finished it top-shelf to win 5-4. The player of the game went to Jaxon Steele (Bachelor of Kinesiology), who finished his afternoon with two assists.
Volleyball

Queens (10-7) vs Olds College Broncos (0-15)
As the Queens continued to improve and look at peaking near championships, they were able to come away with a sweep of the Olds College Broncos. But it was definitely a slow start on Friday night for the Queens. They managed to pick things up when they needed to and find the set victories. After winning the first two
sets, the Queens dropped the third set but were able to win the fourth set and take the match. With 12 digs in the match, libero Frankie Sandini (Justice Studies) was named the player of the game.
On Saturday night, it was a whole different story as the Queens managed to make quick work of the Broncos in a match that was just over an hour long. The women’s volleyball team came out of the gate fast and ready to play. Outside-hitter Vanessa Loos (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) was named the player of the game, who had an all-around effort. She had five kills, seven aces and nine digs.

Kings (15-2) vs Olds College Broncos (11-6)
It was a tough blow for the Kings this past weekend as they dropped their first match since the beginning of the season in a five-set thriller against the Olds College Broncos. But the weekend did not start all bad as they were able to sweep the Broncos in three-straight sets in Olds for the victory. Setter Maddux Greves (Business Administration) was named the player of the game after finishing with 25 assists, eight digs and two blocks.
But it was a whole different story on Saturday night. The Kings would drop the first and third set 25-23. They managed to pick up the second set victory with a score of 25-21. With the game on the line in the fourth set, they blew out the Broncos with a score of 25-12. After a hard-fought fifth set, the Kings would lose 15-13 and their winning streak ended at 14 matches. Outside-hitter Noah Carlson (Open Studies) had 13 assists and five blocks and was named the player of the game.
Health
SPARC Kindness Tree: A Growing Tradition in Capstone
Since 2021, thousands of wooden ornaments painted with messages of kindness and hope by local youth have adorned multiple trees in Capstone during the holiday season.
One of SPARC Red Deer’s Paint the Town Positive initiative, these kindness ornaments are created by youth from various schools, clubs and community groups.
Beginning on November 27th, area residents are encouraged to visit Canada 150 Square in Capstone to select an ornament to take home – and gift another to someone in their community. This year, SPARC is continuing its partnership with the City, and is thrilled to expand its presence in Red Deer by sharing Kindness Ornaments in recreation facilities across the community.
Sharing kindness plays a meaningful role in supporting our mental well-being. It gives us hope, warms the heart, and fosters a sense of purpose. Acts of kindness can also inspire others to pay it forward – creating a ripple effect of positivity.
SPARC Red Deer is a local non-profit coalition dedicated to strengthening positive assets and resilience in communities. Paint the Town Positive – the youth-driven chapter – collaborated with Capstone to launch the Kindness Tree with the goal of giving back and spreading kindness throughout the community.
To learn more about SPARC, visit sparcreddeer.ca.
Alberta
Edmonton and Red Deer to Host 2027 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship
News release from the Red Deer Rebels and Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), has announced that the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship will be played in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027.
The successful bid represents a partnership between OEG Sports & Entertainment, the Red Deer Rebels, Hockey Alberta, the Cities of Edmonton and Red Deer, and the Province of Alberta, which made an $11 million commitment in February 2024 to host events in communities throughout the province.
“We are excited to bring the IIHF World Junior Championship back to Edmonton and Red Deer, and to give hockey fans in Alberta and across the country the opportunity to watch the top under-20 players compete for a gold medal right here in Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact with Hockey Canada. “Both cities have been successful hosts of IIHF and other high-profile international events, and we know our partners in Edmonton and Red Deer will host a world-class event for players, teams, fans and volunteers alike.”
The 18,500-seat Rogers Place, home of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers and Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, will serve as the primary competition venue and host 17 games, including both semifinals and the medal games. The additional 14 games are set for the 7,050-seat Marchant Crane Centrium, home of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels.
“Alberta is ready to welcome visitors from around the world for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship,” said Andrew Boitchenko, minister of tourism and sport for Alberta. “This event celebrates the spirit of international competition and our province’s passion for hockey, while showcasing Alberta as a world-class destination for sporting events.”
“Edmonton is thrilled to co-host the IIHF World Junior Championship. This tournament is a fantastic opportunity to watch the world’s best junior hockey players right here in our community, showcasing emerging talent and inspiring a new generation of athletes,” said Andrew Knack, mayor of Edmonton. “Hosting world-calibre events like this also injects vital tourism dollars into our local economy, boosts our city’s vibrancy, and solidifies Edmonton’s reputation as a premiere sports tourism destination.”
Edmonton last hosted the IIHF World Junior Championship in August 2022, which was rescheduled from its traditional winter slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gold medal game at the 2022 event was an instant classic, with Mason McTavish making a game-saving play in overtime and Kent Johnson netting the game-winner just over a minute later to give Canada its 19th World Juniors gold medal. The city also hosted in 2021 without fans, and was a co-host with Calgary for the 2012 edition of the event. Red Deer was a co-host for the cancelled 2022 World Juniors, and first hosted the annual under-20 tournament in 1995.
“We are proud to welcome the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship back to our region,” said Jesse Smith, chief executive officer of Tourism Red Deer. “Red Deer’s love for the game and our hospitality will ensure an unforgettable experience for every athlete and fan.”
“The World Juniors give Edmonton an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our city on the world stage,” said Arlindo Gomes, vice-president of business development and venues management with Explore Edmonton. “This event strengthens our global reputation as a premier international sport destination while delivering more than $90 million in total economic impact to our community and inspiring the next generation of hockey players and fans. Edmonton loves hockey and we cannot wait to welcome global athletes and fans.”
Pre-tournament games for the 2027 World Juniors are expected to take place throughout Alberta, allowing fans across the province to watch the best junior hockey players from 10 countries before the puck officially drops in Edmonton and Red Deer on Boxing Day.
With demand for tickets expected to exceed availability, more information about a priority ticket draw and tournament ticket packages will be announced in the coming months. Fans looking to receive updates about the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship as soon as they become available can sign up to become a Hockey Canada Insider today.
“On behalf of all of us at OEG Sports & Entertainment, we are proud to once again be hosting the IIHF World Junior Championship and the best young stars on the planet,” said Stu Ballantyne, president and chief operating officer of Rogers Place and ICE District. “The World Juniors is one of the most celebrated tournaments in hockey, and bringing it back to Edmonton is an honour for our city, our fans and our entire organization. ICE District and Rogers Place were built to facilitate and showcase the very best in sport and entertainment, and we look forward to working closely with Hockey Canada and other partners to deliver an unforgettable experience for the athletes, fans and the global hockey community.”
“We are beyond excited for our fans, partners and community to once again welcome the hockey world to Red Deer,” said Merrick Sutter, senior vice-president of the Red Deer Rebels. “This is a community that loves events, and we know their passion will be on full display once again next December.”
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
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