Coach Of The Month - November

Curtis has dedicated many years to coaching in Bowden Minor Hockey. Most years, he is the head coach for one team and assistant coach on a second team. Last year he stepped up as the head coach for two teams, which means there are times he almost has to be in two places at one time.

With the players, Curtis focuses on teamwork, and having them encourage each other throughout games and practices, no matter what happens. With the parents, Curtis is respectful, extremely approachable, and open and available to talk anytime. Curtis also sits on the Bowden Minor Hockey Association board as the referee assignor, a stressful job on its own — but he always takes everything in stride and remains positive.

For more details on Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month, click here.

Communities and host committees across the province will now start working on organizing their respective tournaments, including coordinating scheduling, accommodations, volunteers, sponsorship and appearances by local dignitaries. As well, beginning in January, playdowns will be held in various divisions across the province to decide which teams earn the right to compete for a provincial championship.

More than 40 provincial champions will be crowned during the months of March and April. More than 30 of those provincial championships will be held on the weekends of March 12-15 and March 19-22.

The following locations have been confirmed as of December 15:

March 12-15

Atom AA Major — Hockey Calgary (Bow Valley)

Atom AA Minor — Hockey Edmonton (Knights of Columbus)

Atom A - Edson

Atom B — Thunderstars (Daysland)

Atom C — Bow Island

Atom D — Caroline

Bantam AA Major — Sherwood Park

Bantam A - Stettler

Bantam B - Devon

Bantam C — Viking

Bantam D — Mayerthorpe

Bantam Female A — Hockey Calgary (Girls Hockey Calgary)

Bantam Female B — Lacombe

March 19-22

Atom Female - Camrose

Peewee AA Major — Olds

Peewee AA Minor — Hockey Edmonton (Federation Hockey Council)

Peewee A — Lac La Biche

Peewee B — Sexsmith

Peewee C — Tofield

Peewee D — Big Valley

Peewee Female B — Warburg

Bantam AA Minor - Lethbridge

Midget AA Major — Red Deer

Midget AA Minor — Hockey Calgary (Trails West)

Midget A — Hockey Calgary (Calgary Saints Hockey Club)

Midget B — Ponoka

Midget C — Kneehill

Midget D — Beaverlodge

Midget A Female — Hockey Edmonton (Edmonton Girls Hockey)

Midget B Female — Vermilion

March 27-29

Junior C — Hockey Calgary

Senior AA — Daysland (in Camrose)

April 2-5

Junior B — Stony Plain

“Congratulations to the local associations, host committees and communities who have stepped forward to host a Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship event,” said Michelle Skilnick, Hockey Alberta’s Manager Hockey Operations who oversees the provincial championships. “The host selection process is based on volunteer support, marketing plans, financial goals and other criteria submitted in application bid packages, all of which the selection committee evaluates before making final decisions. The quality of the bid submissions this year in every division made for some very difficult decisions.”

The rosters for the ATB Team Alberta Female (Under-18) and Team Alberta Male (Under-16) squads were announced on December 3rd at the Scotiabank Calgary Saddledome.

Several of the selected players were able to attend the announcements in person, and they were joined by Team Alberta Honourary Captains Joe Colborne, Megan Mikkelson and Carla MacLeod. Each Honourary Captain represented Alberta at the Canada Winter Games: Colborne in 2007, Mikkelson in 2003, and MacLeod in 1995 and 1999.

“The coaches and scouts for both squads were faced with some extremely difficult decisions in selecting the Team Alberta squads for the 2015 Canada Winter Games,” said Tim Leer, Hockey Alberta’s senior manager for Team Alberta. “Alberta is fortunate to have so many leagues, teams, and dedicated coaches who have worked with these players to help prepare them to represent the province against the best in their age groups from across Canada. We anticipate strong performances from both squads in Prince George.”

In 2011, Team Alberta won Gold in the Female division, and Bronze in the Male Division. Alberta female teams have earned three medals since Female hockey was added to the Games in 1991, while Alberta male teams have earned nine medals since 1967.

Named to the Under-18 Female team roster are (hometown in brackets):

Goaltenders: Jolene Debruyn (Grande Prairie), Dayna Owen (Calgary).

Defence: Channia Alexander (Calgary), Abigail Benning (St. Albert), Codie Cross (Airdrie), Cayle Dillon (Edmonton), Emma Keenan (Calgary), Abbigail Niewchas (Cochrane), Daria O’Neill (Cochrane).

Forwards: Lauren Bowman (Calgary), Erinn Baddock (Vermilion), Kennedy Ganser (Provost), Shae Labbe (Calgary), Sarah Lecavalier (Strathmore), Amanda McLeod (Okotoks), Alexandra Poznikoff (Edmonton), Elizabeth Salyn (Edmonton), Taylor Sawka (Cochrane), Malia Schneider (Millarville), Regan Wright (Calgary).

“I would like to extend my congratulations to the 20 athletes who have accepted the challenge to represent Alberta at the Canada Winter Games. We had some very tough decisions to make, but we are confident that we have assembled the best possible group of athletes,” said head coach Howie Draper. “Over the next couple of months, our goal is to work hard to come together as a team, so that we can produce our best possible performance in Prince George.”

Named to the Under-16 Male team roster are (hometown in brackets):

Goaltenders: Dane Dow (Rivercourse), Ian Scott (Calgary).

Defence: Jarrod Gourley (Calgary), Jantzen Leslie (Lloydminster), Ian Mitchell (Calahoo), Dylan Plouffe (Sherwood Park), Dominic Schmiemann (James River Bridge), Ty Smith (Lloydminster).

Forwards: Ryan Anderson (Edmonton), Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Calgary), Zane Franklin (Marwayne), James Hamblin (Edmonton), Jeremy Klessens (Red Deer County), Brett Leason (Calgary), Logan Mazerolle (Grande Prairie), Ethan McIndoe (Camrose), Kobe Mohr (Lloydminster), Kyle Olson (Calgary), Josh Paterson (Edmonton), Ryan Peckford (Stony Plain).

“An individual assumes a large responsibility when he agrees to wear the Team Alberta logo, especially at a national event such as the Canada Winter Games,” said Mike Dyck, the head coach of the Team Alberta Male squad. “I firmly believe that the 20 young men we have selected are up to the challenge, and will work hard, not only during the Games, but in their preparation during the weeks leading up to the Games.”

The 2015 Canada Winter Games are being held in Prince George, BC in February. Female Hockey will be held from February 14 - 20, 2015. Male Hockey will be held February 22 - March 1, 2015. All games will be played at the CN Centre and Kin II Centre arenas.