Picture Butte Blades settle for silver in U13 hockey provincials

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Sunny South News

By Garrett Simmons
Sunny South News

Picture Butte settled for silver at the Hockey Alberta U13 D Provincial Championships.

After a stellar run to the final, the Blades ran into a hot Stettler Storm team in the final, and came out on the wrong end of a 10-4 result.

But after 20, it was a 2-2 game, as Brock Van Raay made it 1-0 for the Blades on a goal set up by Kailey Price and Kashin French.

The Storm made it 2-1 before Nicholas Madsen tied things up, as Lucas Loewen and Rhys Mitchell drew the assists.

Things fell apart in the middle frame, as Stettler scored six times, as the Storm carried a big 8-2 lead into the third.

Picture Butte made it interesting in the final 20, as French scored to make it 8-3 and Brance Van Nistelrooy scored to make it 8-4, on a goal assisted by Mitchell and Arie Groenenboom. Humberto Garza Guerra was in goal for Butte.

The Blades put up a perfect 4-0 record in Pool A, as Picture Butte scored 26 times and only gave up six.

Picture Butte opened play with a 12-0 win over the Southwest Cougars, as Groenenboom led the way with six goals and a helper. French had three goals and two assists, while Brance Van Nistelrooy and Brock Van Raay had a goal and an assist each.

Lucas Loewen and Ryder Vandendool both had two assists and Pike had a goal. Madsen, MItchell and Julian Loewen all had one assist each. Garza Guerra made 18 saves for the shutout.

The Blades earned a 3-1 win over Viking, thanks to 29 saves from Garza Guerra and one goal and one assist performances from French and Groenenboom. Madsen scored once and a single assist came off the stick of Brance Van Nistelrooy.

Picture Butte defeated Strathcona 4-1, as Brance Van Nistelrooy scored twice and assisted on another. Mitchell had a goal and a helper and French also scored. Garza Guerra stopped 18 Strathcona shots.

Sunday morning, the Blades capped off a perfect round robin with a 7-4 win over Sturgeon, thanks to four points (three goals, one assist) from Brance Van Nistelrooy. Groenenboom scored twice and Mitchell assisted on two goals. Madsen and French also scored, as Xaviour Omeasoo-McCloud added one assist. Garza Guerra made 22 saves and picked up the win in goal.