Olds Grizzlys Player from Didsbury Three-Peats as Rookie of the Week This Season

Key Points

• Ryder Riedel, a forward from Didsbury, Alberta, for the Olds Grizzlys, has been named the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season, achieving a three-peat in recent honours.​
• His latest award covers the week of January 5-11, 2026, where he scored a hat trick, posted a career-high four-point game (4 goals, 1 assist for five points total), including a shorthanded game-tying goal.​
• Specific performances: Hat trick and four points in a 6-5 win over the Devon Xtreme on January 6 (named Bunge AJHL Player of the Game); shorthanded goal against Camrose Kodiaks on January 11 in a 5-4 loss.​
• Riedel is tied for third in AJHL rookie scoring with 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 22 games.​
• Previous wins: November 3-9 and November 10-16, 2025 (back-to-back, five points in two games including overtime winner vs Drumheller Dragons); December 8-14, 2025 (three points in two games, extending point streak).​
• Last November, Riedel was named Rookie of the Week twice in a row after points in all six games played.​
• He was also named the Olds Grizzlys’ Player of the Month for December 2025.​
• Other weekly awards for January 5-11, 2026: Canalta Hotels AJHL Player of the Week to Devon Xtreme rookie forward Ben Deacon (six points: 3G, 3A in three games); Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week to Connor Frost of Grande Prairie Storm (five points: 1G, 4A in three wins).​
• Riedel, born 2007, played last season in Coquitlam (BCHL & JPHL).​

Olds, Alberta (Olds Grizzlys Times) January 14, 2026 – Ryder Riedel, the Didsbury native playing forward for the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), has earned the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week honour for the fourth time this season, marking a remarkable three-peat in recent weeks. The 18-year-old achieved this latest accolade for his stellar performance from January 5-11, 2026, where he notched a hat trick and five points (4G, 1A). This recognition underscores his rapid rise as one of the league’s top rookies, tying him for third in rookie scoring with 23 points in 22 games.​

Who is Ryder Riedel and What Makes Him Stand Out?

Ryder Riedel, an 18-year-old forward from Didsbury, Alberta, born in 2007, joined the Olds Grizzlys after playing last season in Coquitlam with the BCHL and JPHL. As reported by the official Olds Grizzlys site, “After posting a 4 point game and a hat trick against the Devon Xtreme, and a shorthanded game-tying goal against the Kodiaks, Ryder Riedel has won the Rookie Of The Week once again!” The AJHL official announcement stated:

“For the fourth time this season, Olds Grizzlys forward Ryder Riedel has been selected as the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week. The Didsbury, AB rookie scored a hat trick and collected five points from January 5th-11th, 2026.”​

Riedel’s consistency shines through his multiple awards. In November 2025, as detailed by Rocky View News staff in RDNewsNOW, “The Didsbury native, who played in Coquitlam (BCHL & JPHL) last season, has recorded points in all six games he’s played, including five points (2G, 3A) in two games last week. Riedel earned player of the game honours after posting two assists and scoring the overtime game winner in a 5-4 win versus the visiting Drumheller Dragons on Nov. 14.” This back-to-back honour for November 10-16 followed his first win for November 3-9.​

Further, for December 8-14, 2025, RDNewsNOW reported: “Olds Grizzlys Ryder Riedel has been named the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s (AJHL) Rookie of the Week for his outstanding performance through two games last week. From December 8-14, Riedel extended his point streak to four games with three points in two games… The Didsbury product notched two assists on Dec. 12 in a 7-3 loss to the Xtreme, followed by his 13th assist of the season in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Whitecourt Wolverines the next night.” He was third in team scoring with five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 15 games at that point.​

What Did Ryder Riedel Achieve in His Latest Award-Winning Week?

During January 5-11, 2026, Riedel delivered standout performances. On January 6, he scored a hat trick and a career-high four points in a 6-5 victory over the visiting Devon Xtreme, earning Bunge AJHL Player of the Game honours. Then, on January 11, he added a shorthanded game-tying goal in a 5-4 loss to the Camrose Kodiaks. The AJHL noted: “Riedel (2007) was selected as the Bunge AJHL Player of the Game on January 6th after scoring a hat trick and career-high four-point game in a 6-5 win over the visiting Devon Xtreme. On January 11th, he recorded his first short-handed goal of the season in a 5-4 loss to the Camrose Kodiaks.”​

This effort propelled his season stats to 23 points (9G, 14A) in 22 games, tying for third among AJHL rookies. As per Town and Country Today coverage, this three-peat includes honours for Dec. 8-14 after extending a four-game point streak with three points in two games.​

How Many Times Has Ryder Riedel Won Rookie of the Week This Season?

Riedel has secured the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week award four times in the 2025-2026 season. The instances are: November 3-9, 2025; November 10-16, 2025 (second straight); December 8-14, 2025; and January 5-11, 2026 (fourth overall). AJHL records confirm: November 3rd-9th: Ryder Riedel, Olds Grizzlys; November 10th-16th: Ryder Riedel, Olds Grizzlys; December 8th-14th: Ryder Riedel, Olds Grizzlys; January 5th-11th: Ryder Riedel, Olds Grizzlys.​

Additionally, he earned the Grizzlys’ Player of the Month for December 2025, highlighting his monthly dominance. Airdrie City View’s Doug Collie reported: “Ryder Riedel of Didsbury received the AJHL honour for scoring a hat trick and accumulating five points from Jan. 5-11.”​

Who Else Received AJHL Weekly Awards for January 5-11?

Alongside Riedel, other players shone. Devon Xtreme rookie forward Ben Deacon claimed Canalta Hotels AJHL Player of the Week with a league-leading six points (3G, 3A) in three games. The AJHL detailed: “Deacon (St Albert, AB) scored a goal in a comeback effort on January 6th but the Xtreme would fall 6-5 to the Olds Grizzlys. He scored two goals and an assist on January 9th to upset the Camrose Kodiaks 6-3, then added two assists in a narrow 5-4 overtime loss to the visiting Drayton Valley Thunder on January 11th. Deacon is second in rookie scoring with 29 points (17G, 12A) in 27 games.”​

Connor Frost of the Grande Prairie Storm received Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week for five points (1G, 4A) in three wins. Frost (DeWinton, AB, 2006-born) contributed two assists in a 4-1 win on January 8, an assist in a 6-3 win on January 10, and a goal plus assist in a 4-3 win on January 11. The Storm hold the fourth-best goals-against record (108 GA) and are 7-3-0-0 in their last 10 games.​

What is the Context of AJHL Rookie Awards This Season?

The AJHL has recognised numerous rookies weekly. Full list includes: September 19-21, 2025: Colson Ganser (Drayton Valley Thunder); … up to January 5-11, 2026: Ryder Riedel (Olds Grizzlys). Riedel’s four wins lead all rookies, with Ben Deacon having two prior (October 20-26, November 24-30). This positions Riedel as a frontrunner for season-long rookie honours.​

What Lies Ahead for Ryder Riedel and the Grizzlys?

Riedel’s form suggests potential for higher accolades, building on his Player of the Month award. The Grizzlys benefit from his scoring prowess amid a competitive AJHL season. As a Didsbury product excelling locally, his story inspires Alberta junior hockey fans. Coverage from Lakeland Today notes: “OLDS — Didsbury native and Olds Grizzlys rookie Ryder Riedel has been named Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week for the second week in a row.” St. Albert Gazette echoed this for his November streak.