Chase Nielson of Fort Macleod in goal for the U13 AA Lethbridge Hurricanes.
A Fort Macleod Minor Hockey product was named the top goalie in the South Central Alberta U13 AA Hockey League.
Thirteen-year-old Chase Nielson had a record of 14 wins, one loss and one tie, with a .937 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average playing for Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“I was surprised and overwhelmed,” Chase said of the award. “It meant everything to receive the award from the opposing coaches in the league.”
Chase was voted top goalie out of the 26 registered netminders in the league, which has teams in Lacombe, Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, Olds, Airdrie, Cochrane, Strathmore, High River, Taber and Medicine Hat.
The five foot five, 125-pound Chase shared the net with Oliver Skog, who was from Fort Macleod but now lives in Lethbridge.
Oliver had a record of 15 wins and five losses with a save percentage of .935 and a goals against average of 1.76.
Together they led the Hurricanes to a record of 26 wins, five losses and one tie in regular season.
Chase, who is in Grade 7 at F.P. Walshe school, said he and Oliver have a good working relationship, encouraging each other while engaged in friendly competition.
“We both strive to be the league’s top goalies and in the end we were the top two goalies in the league,” Chase said.
Chase started playing hockey in the 2016-’17 season with the U7 Fort Macleod Mavericks.
When he moved up to U9 for the 2017-’18 season Chase became the Mavericks goalie, leading the team to the Central Alberta Tier 4 Hockey League championship.
Chase’s hockey career continued in Fort Macleod through the 2019-’20 season, with the Mavericks holding down first place in the Tier 3 U11 division when the COVID-19 pandemic shut the season down.
There was no season in 2020-’21 due to the pandemic, so players had to find alternative ways to train and sharpen their skills.
Chase tried out for the U13 AA Hurricanes in 2021-’22, making the team along with Oliver Skog as Lethbridge coaches made the unique decision to go with two rookie goaltenders.
Chase set goals this season of achieving a 2.00 goals against average this season with a .900 save percentage and to be among the top three goalies in the league.
He was able to reach those goals, thanks in large part to his teammates who committed this season to outwork opponents to the final buzzer.
The Hurricanes are strong defensively, not allowing the opposition to have third and fourth chances to score.
Hockey season keeps Chase busy, with dryland training on Monday, practice at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday, with video sessions as 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Hurricanes usually play two games on weekend.
Chase receives strong support from family and friends in chasing his hockey dream.
“They have taught me how to have dignity whether I win or lose and how to never give up no matter the circumstances,” Chase said. “They help me push through even when I am in a low.”
The Lethbridge Hurricanes will represent the South Central Alberta Hockey League at the U13 AA provincial tournament March 30 to April 2 at Olds.
