Top 10 stories from year in local sports (Part 2/2)

It seems the volleyball court is never too far away from North Battleford local, Abbey Neufeld. Neufeld has been playing club volleyball since age 10, in addition to thriving on the court for her high school team. This summer Neufeld announced her commitment to the University of Waterloo. Read more here.

Athletics have always played a big role in the life of Taryn Hannah. In December the North Battleford Comprehensive High School senior announced she has committed to Brandon University for the fall of 2021 on a volleyball scholarship. Read more here.

#4. Many sports cut short

The Battlefords Minor Hockey Association (BMHA) saw their season cut short in mid-March, as the hockey world came to a screeching halt in the spring. Not long into their fall season, the local minor hockey organization then once again had to hit pause on activities. Read more here.

The high school athletics season was also greatly impacted by the ongoing pandemic, as to date there have still been no post-secondary athletics this fall season, with the postponement only getting pushed back further into the New Year. Read more here.

#3. Former Stars/Barons shine

A number of players who cut their teeth in the Battlefords hockey ranks, celebrated memorable accomplishments at advanced levels of the sport this year.

Adam Beckman, who played two seasons with the Battlefords Stars U18 AAA team from 2016-17 to 2017-18, was named WHL Player of the Year, and Western Conference Player of the Year. Beckman led the WHL in scoring with 48 goals and 107 points during the 2019-20 season. Read more here.

Luke Reid was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Reid played two seasons with the U18 AAA Stars, from 2015-16 to 2016-17. Read more here.

Battlefords Barons’ captain, Ryan Taylor was drafted in the fourth round of the annual Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft, #75 overall. A hometown product, Taylor grew up in the local minor hockey program. Read more here.

#2. Big Year for Beavers

It was a year to remember both on the ice and on the diamond, for the local Beavers senior sports teams.

The Battlefords Beaver Blues senior men’s hockey team advanced to the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League (SPHL) final, in search of their second-straight league championship.

Cody Danberg and Brent Salzl, sat tied atop the playoff scoring race with 15 points apiece through six games to lead the team offensively. Read more here.

The North Battleford Beavers senior men’s baseball team also made a run to the league finals in the North Sask. River Baseball League (NSRBL), for the first time in over two decades.

Entering the post-season as the fifth seed versus the fourth place Battlefords Trappers, the Beavers blanked their cross-town rival 4-0 win in the quarter-finals, before then edging out top-seeded Standard Hill 13-9 to clinch their trip to the league final. Read more here.

#1. Local legend passes away

Battlefords local, Colby Cave’s impact reached far beyond the hockey rink.

A true example that hard work pays off, and a role model for youth in the community, Cave died last April at the age of 25 after suffering a brain bleed. Read more here.

Cave played parts of three seasons in the NHL, split between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins. He also played an additional six years at the pro level with the Bakersfield Condors and Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Cave’s impact will remain to be felt in the community for years to come. Thousands of people lined the highway at his funeral procession to pay their respects to the family. Read more here.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Top 10 stories from year in local sports (Part 2/2)

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