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RDP Queens Basketball team roll over Augustana in gold medal triumph

Published

3 years ago

5 minute read

The Queens send the Vikings sailing back home, and win their 2nd championship in program history

And the winning streak continues. The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens picked up their first gold medal in women’s basketball in 31 years as they defeated the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings 69-44.

A lot of basketball has been played since these two teams faced off back in November. The Vikings would defeat the Queens 71-68 in what was a nail-biting game.

The Queens defeated the Keyano College Huskies in the quarterfinals and the Briercrest College Clippers in the semi-finals. The Vikings defeated the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks in their first match and would follow it up with a win against the St. Mary’s University Lightning to make the finals a battle of the number two-seeded teams in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

Red Deer started the gold medal game out on fire as they held the Vikings pointless for the first five minutes and scored nine straight points. Augustana would finally end their point drought with a deep-two-pointer. It was quite an intense first quarter with both fanbases making their presence known inside the Val Matteotti Gymnasium. The Queens would earn themselves an early 17-7 lead as they went into the second quarter.

The Vikings would take an early timeout in the second quarter as they were down 19-7 with seven minutes left to go in the half but have not scored in six minutes. Centre Peighton Melton (General Studies) was having an impressive game under the net in the early goings picking up six points and five rebounds. Once again after the Queens jumped out to a big lead, the Vikings called a timeout as they were looking quite startled on the court and were not playing in tune. The Queens would hold a 31-17 lead as went into the second half. Guard Sandra Garcia-Bernal (Educational Assistant) would lead her team with nine points but guard Sophie Melin (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) was right behind the Spanish student-athlete with eight points. Melton had seven rebounds in the first half to lead her team in the category.

In the early goings of the quarter, both teams came out of the gate with a lot of energy. With under five minutes, to go this championship turned into quite the battle with the Vikings and Queens going back and forth down the court, putting their best effort forward with a championship banner on the line. The Polytechnic would take a 44-34 lead into the final quarter with 10 minutes to play.

In the opening two minutes of the quarter, the Vikings and Queens would go tit-for-tat with each other and match whatever the other team would score to keep it a ten-point game. Augustana would call a timeout as they fell behind by 13 after the Queens came up with multiple stops in their defensive zone and transitioned this into the offensive game. With some huge steals in their own zone, the Queens would jump out to an impressive 20-point lead with four minutes left to go and would take home the banner to Red Deer with a final score of 69-44.

Centre Peighton Melton took home the player of the game award with 13 points, eight rebounds and a perfect three-for-three from the field.

After Melton accepted her award, guard Heena Sidhu was named to the All-Tournament team and guard Sandra Garcia-Bernal earned herself the Most Valuable Player at the championship.

This is the first time in 31 years the Queens were crowned champions. Assistant coach Nadine Cunningham played for Red Deer the last time they won the championship and now has a gold medal as a coach.

Both these teams will represent the ACAC at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Basketball National Championship hosted by Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON from March 15-18.

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Health

SPARC Kindness Tree: A Growing Tradition in Capstone

Published on November 19, 2025

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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.

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Alberta

Edmonton and Red Deer to Host 2027 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship

Published on November 18, 2025

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 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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