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Vegreville News Advertiser - February 12, 2020
Vegreville Rangers Fan Appreciation Night Doesn’t Disappoint
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
The excitement was palpable throughout the Wally Fedun Arena Friday evening during the Vegreville Rangers Fan Appreciation Night.
Easton Tkachuk was the Junior Ranger of the night, and got to warm up alongside the players and stand with them during the singing of O Canada. Every home game one player from the Adam level age group is selected for this honour. Vegreville Rangers Team Manager Pete Ling said the Junior Ranger Program has been successful, and some have gone on to play for the team.
“The kids are ecstatic,” said Ling, while surveying the Vegreville Wranglers novice players who were lined up along the edge of the rink and sitting in the stands before the puck dropped at centre ice around 8 p.m.
The players’ excitement could hardly be contained as they waited and watched until they were called into the dressing rooms prior to the end of the first intermission. Then they filed onto the ice for the ceremonial puck drop by Vegreville Mayor Tim MacPhee. Then it was time for the ‘future prospects’ time to shine before the enthusiastic crowd.
Tina Warawa, President of the Vegreville Minor Hockey Association, was in the stands to support and cheer on the local youth. Warawa said the young players look up to the Jr. B boys and were so excited to see them. There were many fist pumps from the Wranglers as the Rangers came and went through the corridor leading to and from the dressing rooms onto the ice surface.
The action was end to end, and turned into a raucous affair as there were several skirmishes between the Vegreville Rangers and Lloydminster Bandits. At the end of the second period the score was tied 1-1. Part way through the third period one of the pane’s of plexiglass was shattered during a hard body check, and caused a delay of game. When the teams came back on the ice it was business as usual, but the Bandit’s managed to add two more goals and the Rangers could not catch up, with the final score 3-1.
