OLDS — The Olds Grizzlys junior A hockey club paid tribute last weekend to two players who aged out this year.
Brendan McBride of Sundre and Sawer Senio of Red Deer both turned 20, the age limit for junior hockey players. Assistant coach Pete DeGraaf paid tribute to both during the team's end-of-season windup banquet in recent weeks at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105.
“Sens and Briter, our graduating players: we thank you for all the years of keeping your stick on the ice. We look forward to seeing where your future takes you. We wish you all the best in whatever life and sport has in store for you,” he said.
“Hockey’s a great community and we hope you continue a future in the game as a player, a coach, a volunteer or a mentor.”
At DeGraaf’s urging, the audience raised their glasses in a toast to the two Grizzlys veterans.
Their jerseys were also framed and presented to them as a sign of appreciation and “to recognize their contributions to the Grizzlys and their journeys as junior hockey players,” DeGraaf said to loud applause.
