Local Sports

In the end, hockey player Justin Dowling didn’t have to wait long at all for the call he’s been waiting for since he was a teenager. “It’s been a long time coming.

It’s Monday morning, and coach Jo-anne Paulgaard helps client Don Mytrash into a pair of black and white boxing gloves. She steadies a heavy bag as Mytrash starts to jab with as much effort as he can, as Paulgaard encourages him along the way.

The Cochrane Generals are down – but far from out – after the team’s thrilling unbeaten streak came to an inevitable end last weekend with a crushing 9-3 loss against the Coaldale Copperheads.

With wind-whipped cheeks, reddened knees and a whole lot of heart, the Bow Valley senior girls ended a soccer empire last week by edging out Cochrane High School for the first time since 2009.

The George McDougall Mustangs let their emotions get the best of them last weekend as they watched their play-off dreams get crushed by the mighty Cochrane Cobras football team.

The unexpected death of a fellow teen gave new meaning to the St. Timothy High School senior girls city play-offs last weekend. “It kind of puts things in perspective, ” said coach Kevin McLennan.

Ironman competitor John Clubb knows what it takes to outrun cancer. “The whole race is just about the individual – like cancer,” the elite athlete said last week. “You’re going through it with people’s support, but ultimately, it’s your fight.

Four Cochrane Lions will travel to Shouldice Athletic Park next month to try out for a coveted spot on the Calgary Bantam Football Association Selects team. “It’s such a legacy of football,” said a proud coach Paul Vaillancourt.

Firefighter Chris Chyka still loves the good ol’ hockey game as much as he did when he was a kid. “I’m 40 years old – I still get just as excited to go to the rink, play hockey, the camaraderie, the teasing …,” he said this week.

The Cochrane Cobras were decked out in their finest fuchsia last weekend – but their message goes a lot further than just pretty in pink. Each year, the football team dresses up and raises money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.