AAA, AA, Tiered league games concluded for 2020-21 season

Hockey Alberta, in conjunction with its Leagues that oversee Tiered, AAA and AA hockey, has concluded regular league play for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. The decision was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

While youth leagues play is concluded for this season, Hockey Alberta continues to focus on working with our Members to explore all options that could comprise a spring development season when Step 2 of the Government of Alberta’s “A Path Forward” (announced on Friday) comes into effect. Hockey Alberta will be working closely with those organizations that have access to facilities and/or have players interested in playing to ensure that those who are interested in playing can have that opportunity, when our sport is allowed back on the ice.

The Government’s announcement provided a four-step timeline for when business and other activities – such as hockey and other team/ youth sports – could be allowed to return to operations. Transition from one step to another will be based on provincial hospitalization numbers. Step 1 starts on February 8. The earliest hockey could return would be March 1.

Hockey Alberta is disappointed by the Government’s announcement. Our senior leadership team has been involved in ongoing discussions on what a safe and inclusive relaunch plan could look like for our sport. Hockey Alberta will continue working with government and health officials to develop a relaunch plan that allows for hockey activities and keeps our youth active for their physical and mental well-being.
The Minor leagues decision applies to the following leagues:

• Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL)
• North East Alberta Hockey League (NEAHL)
• Northern Alberta Interlock (NAI)
• All Peace Hockey League (APHL)
• Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League (RMFHL)
• East Central Alberta Female Hockey League (ECAFHL)
• South Central Alberta Hockey League (SCAHL)
• Northern Alberta Hockey League (NAHL)
• Hockey Calgary
• Edmonton Federation Hockey League (EFHL)
• Rural & Edmonton Minor Hockey League (REMHL)
• Rockies Hockey League (RHL)
• Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL)
• Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL)

Junior B, C, and Female and Senior leagues have set February 8 as their target for determining if continuing to plan league play is sustainable.

RED DEER - Do you have a coach that has had a positive impact on your team through the 2020-21 season? Hockey Alberta is still accepting nominations for the Coach of the Month program, sponsored by Players Bench Team Apparel.

Hockey Alberta is looking to celebrate coaches who showed exceptional leadership, initiative, and innovation during the difficult 2020-21 season. In a year with a long pause, and increased guidelines and responsibilities, coaches have been even more important to the minor hockey experience. Their countless hours and dedication provide the opportunity for over 60,000 kids in Alberta to experience hockey in a safe and fun environment.

Help us recognize a coach in your community by nominating him or her for the Hockey Alberta Coach of the Month, presented by Players Bench Team Apparel.

Nominate a Coach of the Month ›

Selected coaches will receive a coaching package valued at over $500.

Get your nominations in soon! The deadline is Monday, March 22 at 11:59pm.

CANMORE – Less than a week remains for Alberta’s hockey community to cast online votes in support of the Canmore Eagles U13A team.

The Rockies Hockey League squad is Alberta’s regional finalist in the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup. And if Alberta casts enough votes, the Eagles will earn the $100,000 first prize in support of their selected charitable group – Rocky Mountain Adaptive Program.

WATCH THE VIDEO > | VOTE NOW >

The announcement of the 11 provincial finalists was made on Saturday by Alberta Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Maclean during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.

The team’s coach, Sean Kjemhus, said the players were obviously very excited when the announcement was made. Having the chance to win the Good Deeds Cup is something that would benefit the entire community because of the work that Rocky Mountain Adaptive does throughout the region.

“The charity was chosen through a vote by the players,” said Kjemhus. “They felt the Rocky Mountain Adaptive Program was a super cool initiative to give access to all sports for those who are disabled, and it was right here in our community.”

RMA offers over 20 different adaptive sport and recreational activities, catering to entry level participants, developing competitive athletes and everyone in between. RMA provides private lessons, supported experiences, multi-day programs and camps, equipment rentals, as well as programming to Disability Groups. During the winter season, they offer an elite training program to aspiring para-athletes. 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kjemhus noted that fundraising opportunities and grants have been limited for Rocky Mountain Adaptive. Winning the Good Deeds Cup would allow the Eagles to help with the purchase of new equipment such as sit skis, and hand trikes, and help reduce RMA’s costs of operating their individual and group programs.

The Good Deeds Cup is open to teams across Canada in the U11, U13 and U15 age divisions. In previous years, teams would submit a video of a good deed they had carried out involving a local charity. This season, due to COVID-19, teams were asked to submit a video via Twitter talking about their charitable group, and how they would spend $100,000 if they won the Good Deeds Cup.

Voting is open and continues until February 24. You can vote once a day. The winner will be announced on March 23.

For more information on the Canmore Eagles U13A team and Rocky Mountain Adaptive, check out the story in the Rocky Mountain Outlook, or follow on Twitter at Canmore Eagles or Rocky Mountain Adaptive.

Thanks again for the province wide support.  Please be sure to tag #GoodDeedsCup and us @CanmoreA and @RockyMtnAdaptiv when you can.

Step 1 of the Government of Alberta’s A Path Forward allows specific hockey activity to occur. Children and youth are allowed to participate in limited team sport activities, subject to mandatory restrictions as outlined by the Government of Alberta.

• All participants must be 18 years old or younger, except coaches/ instructors.
• Practices are allowed for indoor and outdoor training.
  • Games are not allowed.
• Physical distancing must be maintained at all times between all groups and all participants (players, coaches/ instructors) in each group at all times:
  • 3-metres physical distance for indoor activities
  • 2-metres physical distance for outdoor activities
• An indoor ice surface can be split (use physical dividers wherever possible), allowing for two groups of 10 to be active on the ice at the same time. See Children’s Sport and Performance Activities tab.

Full guidelines and requirements can be found in the updated version of Hockey Alberta’s Return to Hockey Plan - Hockey’s Path Forward.

HOCKEY’S PATH FORWARD PLAN >

RETURN TO HOCKEY PAGE >

Episode Seven of the Centre Ice Podcast is centred around Black History Month, and celebrating the Albertans who pushed through adversity to achieve success, featuring interviews with Team Alberta alumna Cassandra Vilgrain, and legendary goaltender Grant Fuhr.

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Episode Links: Hockey’s Path Forward > | The Story of John Utendale > | Female Hockey Day Sessions > | AEHL Rinkside >

More Episodes >

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Centre Ice is the brand-new Hockey Alberta podcast, featuring the latest news and views on amateur hockey across the province. Subscribe now on your favourite podcast app!

Hockey Alberta and its Senior and Junior leagues unanimously decided to conclude all regular league play for the remainder of the 2020-21 season during a meeting held on February 8.

While league play is concluded for this season, the opportunity for Teams to return to on-ice activity at some point remains a possibility. In the Government of Alberta’s “A Path Forward”, Step 3 outlines the potential return of ‘adult team sports’ which could potentially occur in mid to late March.

Hockey Alberta will continue to work closely with government representatives to explore all options that could allow players to return to on-ice activity.

The decision applies to the following leagues:

Senior Leagues

• North Peace Hockey League
• North Central Hockey League
• Sask-Alta Hockey League
• East Central Senior Hockey League
• Ranchland Hockey League

Junior Leagues

• North West Junior Hockey League
• North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
• Capital Junior Hockey League
• Heritage Junior Hockey League
• Hockey Calgary Junior B and C
• Noralta Junior Hockey League
• Alberta Junior Female Hockey League