The Golden Rams Novice Divison has seen a busy and fun start to 2011. On January 22 the Cochrane Cougars came to Golden to play an exhibition game at the Arena. The Cochrane Cougars won the morning game with 4-2 and the afternoon game with 8-1. Despite the losses, team morale was high and goalies Isabella Palumbo and Jessie Dimaulo gave it all in their first games against an out-of-town team. Team Manager Caroline Carl-Osborne organized several more exhibition games the following month. February 12 was scheduled for one game against the Invermere Novice team and February 13 against the Banff Bears. Invermere kept our Novice team on their toes and won the game. The day was a great success, with several 50/50 draws, a bake table and a prize table, organized by Tim and Dawn Durning. Sponsors were Off the Wall, Bizarre Entertainment, Summit Cycle, Macleods True Value, The Medicine Centre, Home Hardware, Snowpeak Rentals, Golden Rim, Turning Point and Moon River.Due to highway closures that Sunday, the Banff Bears unfortunately could not make it to Golden. Instead, several players from the Golden Rams Atoms division, and one player from Initiation A/B, came to the Arena and gave the Novice team a great workout. The teams took turns playing ‘home’ and ‘visitors’ and the more experienced Atoms players played a fantastic supporting role. Goalies Thorin Malaka (Novice) and Matthew Cable (Atoms) made many saves and the end result was a win of 5-4 for the ‘home’ team. Afterwards, all Novice players received a medal for ‘Most Improved’.Coaches Pavi Khunkhun, Mike Palumbo, Dan Veselic and Leo Mitzell are looking forward to another great show of sportsmanship at the upcoming Windermere Valley Novice Tournament. On March 5 and 6 the Golden Rams Novice team will play against Invermere, Banff and Cranbrook at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena in Invermere.-Submitted
