Registration now open for 2018 Power Edge Pro Skill Development Camps

RED DEER - Male and female players across the province can now take their skill development to the next level with Hockey Alberta’s 2018 Power Edge Pro (PEP) Skill Development Camps.

Hockey Alberta, in partnership with PEP, is offering six skill development camps in April and May in Calgary (two), Grande Prairie, Lloydminster, Red Deer and St. Albert.

Power Edge Pro Skill Development Camps >

Each camp features Power Edge Pro’s Reactive Countering Trainingâ„¢, a uniquely designed on-ice player development system that focuses on engaging multiple motor skills simultaneously to develop a player’s small area game performance. All patterns are completed while maintaining puck control and are designed to provide five times as many repetitions as standard drill based practices, leading to faster development of elite skills.

Athletes who train with Power Edge Pro include Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Matt Duchene, Jason Spezza, Aaron Ekblad, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Brayden Schenn, Nathan MacKinnon, Morgan Rielly, Sam Steel. PEP has also trained four of the past five WHL draft first overall selections, all of whom have hailed from Alberta.

FORT MCMURRAY - Zone 2 swept the gold medals in the hockey competition, as the 2018 Alberta Winter Games wrapped up in Fort McMurray on Monday.

In the Female Division, Zone 2 eked out a 3-2 victory over Zone 6 in the gold medal game. Meanwhile, in the Male Division, Zone 2 blanked Zone 3, 2-0, to capture the gold.

In the bronze medal games, it was also a sweep, as Zone 7 captured third place honours in both divisions. On the Female side, Zone 7 defeated Zone 3, 3-1. In the Male Division, Zone 7 defeated Zone 6, 7-2.

Action started on Saturday, with round-robin pool play for the eight male teams and six female teams.

In the Male Division, Zone 7 finished first and Zone 3 second in Pool A, while Zone 6 and Zone 2 were tied atop Pool B, with Zone 6 being awarded top spot. In the semi-finals, both first-place finishers were upset, as Zone 2 defeated Zone 7, 8-1, and Zone 3 defeated Zone 6, 5-2.

In the Female Division, Zone 2 finished first and Zone 3 second in Pool A, while all three teams in Pool B tied with 2 points. Zone 7 was awarded first, and Zone 6 second. In the semi-finals, Zones 2 and 6 emerged victorious with identical 3-1 wins, to advance to the gold medal game.

For all the scores and complete standings:

MALE DIVISION >

FEMALE DIVISION >

BONNYVILLE - For the second time in three years, Bonnyville will host the World Junior A Challenge.

The annual showcase of Canadian and international Junior A talent returns to Alberta December 9-15, 2018.

The 2018 World Junior A Challenge represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), and Hockey Alberta, as well as the local host committee and NHL Central Scouting. Similar to previous years, two Canadian teams – Canada East and Canada West – will compete with four international entries for a gold medal in Bonnyville.

“Bonnyville was an excellent host to teams, fans, and our partners at the 2016 World Junior A Challenge, and it’s great to be returning there in 2018,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties with Hockey Canada. “Its previous success and strong community support in 2016 resulted in a strong legacy for the community, and we look forward to continuing to support the growth of and development of hockey, and the positive financial impact to the area, with this year’s tournament.”

The World Junior A Challenge host committee will look to emulate the success of the 2016 event, which was staged by nearly 150 community volunteers.

“The level of support we received in 2016 from the region, funding partners, and volunteers was truly incredible,” said Robb Hunter, co-chair of the local host committee. “This support is the reason our group has the opportunity to bring the elite competition of the World Junior A Challenge back to Bonnyville so quickly, and we are excited to create another memorable event for all participating teams through the continued passion for junior hockey in our community.”

Team Canada West claimed its fifth gold medal at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., defeating the United States 5-1 in front of a sell-out crowd at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.

FORT MCMURRAY - After months of preparation, the battle for provincial hockey supremacy heats up as the 2018 Alberta Winter Games take place in the region of Wood Buffalo this weekend.

The opening ceremonies are set for today (Friday) with hockey running from February 17-19. Global News will live-stream the opening ceremonies on globalnews.ca, beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Eight teams will compete on the male side, comprised of 2005-born players from across the province, while six teams will compete on the female side, comprised of 2003 and 2004-born players.

Male Rosters > | Female Rosters >

A full schedule for both the male and female competition can be found on the Alberta Winter Games section of the Hockey Alberta website:

Male Schedule & Results > | Female Schedule & Results >

For more information on the 2018 Alberta Winter Games, visit albertasport.ca/alberta-games/winter-games.

Hockey Alberta coordinates the ice hockey portion of the Winter Games, as a core segment of its Development Program. The Winter Games provide players, coaches, trainers and referees an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey starting with the zone camp and selection process, through to competing in the Games.

RED DEER - A unique skill development opportunity is available to 2004-born male hockey players in Alberta, as Hockey Alberta and the Western Hockey League are co-hosting the fourth annual WHL Skills Camp.

The camp, for U15 players, is set to run June 8-10, 2018 in Calgary. The cost of the camp is $300.

REGISTER >

The WHL Skills Camp provides athletes with the opportunity to learn from an impressive array of instructors, including instructors from the WHL. Participants will be divided into eight teams for the weekend, and participate in a variety of activities, including:

• Friday: On and Off-Ice Combine testing
• Saturday: Team Alberta/WHL presentation, Yoga, and two skill sessions.
• Sunday: one skill session, a dry land session and the event will wrap up with a game officiated by the WHL Officials Development Camp.
• Goaltenders will also participate in an on and off-ice goaltender session.

The camp will focus on skill development and proper training techniques, and provides athletes with information about the Team Alberta process, information on the WHL, while challenging players to excel on and off the ice.

The maximum capacity for the camp is 160 athletes. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

EDMONTON - The 2018 Alberta Female Hockey League Prospects Games were a huge success, with the Midget Elite North and Bantam Elite South teams coming out on top in their respective games.

Both games took place at the NAIT Arena in Edmonton, complete with on-ice goalie and skills sessions, team-building activities, and a fitting booth with one of the day’s sponsors, CCM, giving players the chance to try out various pieces of equipment throughout the day.

In the Midget Elite All-Star game, the North team edged the South 3-2, with goals from Reagan Korber, Madison Porter and Brooklyn Schroeder. Madison Black and Brooke Palin scored for the South.

Midget Elite Prospects Rosters >

It was a tight match-up in the Bantam Elite Prospects Game as well, with the South coming out on top 4-3. Claire Hobbs, Megan Yakiwchuk, Hailey Wiltshire, and Sarah Gaiser scored for the South team, while North got goals from Ardyn Hawryshko (2) and Jenna Goodwin.

Bantam Elite Prospects Rosters >

Two forwards and one defence from each AFHL team were selected to their respective rosters by AFHL coaches, while goaltenders were selected based on their statistical ranking as of January 10. The coaches chosen to represent the North and South teams in each league are from the first and second place teams within each division.

Photos >

The Alberta Female Hockey League would like to thank all the parents, players and coaches for making the AFHL Prospects games such a success. The AFHL would also like to thank all of the event sponsors: Gatorade Canada, CCM, Two Point Photography and Skate to Excel.