The Ponoka Ford Funtimers hockey team won the 26th Annual Border Cup March 30 to April 1 in Lloydminster. The team went 3-0 defending their title, which they have won three times in 2000, 2003 and 2007.
The tournament was accredited by the Canadian Adult Recreation Hockey association and saw 30 teams compete in three different divisions, the Funtimers competed in the 35 plus division.
“It was a lot of fun. There was some really good hockey because of the division that we played in,” said Larry Henkelman. “It’s for the exercise and for the friendships. We played some really competitive teams. Even though the last game was not close it was still a good game.”
In their first game on March 28, they defeated the Drayton Valley Force 8-2. Brad Gosseye led the way with four goals and an assist. Also scoring for the Funtimers were Curtis Emes, Roger Arcand, Chris McLean and Shannon Archibald.
In their next game they faced off against the Sherwood Park Gators winning 5-3, on March 29. Goals for the Funtimers were supplied by Henkelman, Emes, Mark Sieben with two and Brad Olesksyn.
The final saw the Funtimers face the Wrainwright Army Traning Centre Coyotes. The Funtimers came out on top easily defeating the Coyotes 9-3. The Funtimers were led by Gosseye with two goals, Arcand with two, Emes with two, Henkelman added one as well as Orion Donison and McLean who each had one.
The Funtimers have been playing since 1979 and play a 34 game schedule competing against teams such as Red Deer, Bently, Clive, Lacombe, Alix, Rimbey, Bashaw and Camrose.