Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships: Week One Results

RED DEER - Sixteen new champions will be crowned this weekend, as week two of the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial, gets underway across the province.

Provincial championships set for this weekend include: Junior C (Calgary), Minor Midget AAA (Grande Prairie - began March 22), Midget A (Strathmore), Midget B (Rocky Mountain House), Midget C (Slave Lake), Midget D (Elk Point), Midget Female Elite (Sherwood Park), Midget Female A (Edmonton), Midget Female B (High Prairie), Bantam Female A (Edmonton), Peewee A (Lloydminster), Peewee B (3Cs), Peewee C (Athabasca), Peewee D (Kneehill), Peewee Female A (Calgary) and Peewee Female B (Lacoka - Lacombe/Ponoka).

Seven more host communities will host a True Spirit of Hockey Day this week: 3Cs, Elk Point, High Prairie, Kneehill, Rocky Mountain House, Slave Lake, and Strathmore. True Spirit of Hockey Day aims celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport.

You can keep track of all this weekend’s tournaments at haprovincials.ca, by following along with the score ticker at hockeyalberta.ca, on Facebook, or onTwitter (using the hashtags #HAProvincials or #ATBProvincials).

You can also follow along with a number of individual tournaments on social media:

Midget Female Elite: Twitter
Peewee B: Facebook
Peewee C: Twitter
Peewee D: Twitter (For live streams of games in Trochu) | Facebook (For live streams of games in Three Hills)
Peewee Female B: Twitter

Previous Results

Week One Results >

2017 HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PLAYDOWN SERIES

Senior AAA - Stony Plain Eagles VS. Lacombe Generals
Best-of-seven series tied 2-2

Game One: Stony Plain 6, Lacombe 4
Game Two: Lacombe 4, Stony Plain 1
Game Three: Stony Plain 7, Lacombe 4
Game Four: Lacombe 8, Stony Plain 3
Game Five: Friday, March 24, 8:00 p.m. @ Lacombe
Game Six: Saturday, March 25, 7:30 p.m. @ Stony Plain
Game Seven (if necessary): Thursday, March 30, 8:00 p.m. @ Lacombe

Allan Cup - April 10-15 - Bouctouche, New Brunswick

Midget AAA - Foothills CFR Bisons vs Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings
Leduc leads best-of-five series 2-0

Game One: Leduc 3, Foothills 1
Game Two: Leduc 5, Foothills 4 (2OT)
Game Three: Friday, March 24, 8:00 p.m. @ Foothills
Game Four (if necessary): Sunday, March 25, 2:00 p.m. @ Leduc
Game Five (if necessary): Monday, March 27, 8:00 p.m. @ Foothills

Telus Cup - April 24-30 - Prince George, British Columbia

Bantam AAA - Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks vs. Fort Saskatchewan Rangers
Fort Saskatechewan Rangers wins series 3-2

Game One: Fort Saskatchewan 3, Lethbridge 2 (OT)
Game Two: Fort Saskatchewan 2, Lethbridge 1
Game Three: Lethbridge 7, Fort Saskatchewan 2
Game Four: Lethbridge 2, Fort Saskatchewan 1
Game Five: Fort Saskatchewan 2, Lethbridge 1

Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship - March 30 - April 2 - Warman/Martensville, Saskatchewan

RED DEER/CALGARY - Alberta was very well-represented when the Western Hockey League announced its 2016-17 Eastern and Western Conference award winners and All-Star teams on Wednesday.

Four Albertans took home major awards:

Sam Steel (Sherwood Park), Regina Pats - Eastern Conference Player of the Year, WHL Top Scorer
Zach Sawchenko (Calgary), Moose Jaw Warriors - Eastern Conference Top Goaltender
Carter Hart (Sherwood Park), Everett Silvertips - Western Conference Top Goaltender
Tyler Steenbergen (Sylvan Lake), Swift Current Broncos - Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player

All four players were also among the eight Albertans named to the WHL’s First and Second All-Star teams:

Eastern Conference First All-Star Team:
Goaltender - Zach Sawchenko (Calgary, AB), Moose Jaw Warriors
Defenceman - Kale Clague (Lloydminster, AB), Brandon Wheat Kings
Forward - Sam Steel (Sherwood Park, AB), Regina Pats
Forward - Tyler Wong (Cochrane, AB), Lethbridge Hurricanes

Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team:
Defenceman - Jake Bean (Calgary, AB), Calgary Hitmen
Forward - Tyler Steenbergen (Sylvan Lake, AB), Swift Current Broncos

Western Conference First All-Star Team:
Goaltender - Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, AB), Everett Silvertips
Forward - Matthew Phillips (Calgary, AB), Victoria Royals

WHL Award Winners > | WHL All-Star Teams >

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

EDMONTON - Twelve former Team Alberta players and three former staff are now U Sports national champions as members of the University of Alberta Pandas.

The sixth-seeded Pandas defeated the fourth-seeded McGill Martlets in double-overtime Sunday night in Napanee, Ontario to clinch the championship.

Taylor Kezama, Cayle Dillon, Ashley Morin, Deanna Morin, Amy Boucher, Alex Poznikoff, Hanna Olenyk, Regan Wright, Abby Benning, Kirsten Chamberlin, Dayna Owen, and Kennedy Ganser have all previously played in the Team Alberta U18 Female program.

Kezama netted the double-overtime winner for the Panadas, while Poznikoff, who was recently named to the Canada West All-Star team, was named one of the tournament all-stars.

Head Coach Howie Draper, Assistant Coach Leah Copeland, and Equipment Manager Wes Nystrom were also previously involved with the Team Alberta program.

About the Team Alberta U18 Female Program

The High Performance U18 program works towards identifying the top 20 female players in Alberta, who will comprise Team Alberta U18 representing the province at the National Women’s Under 18 Championship or the Canada Winter Games. Making this team is the pinnacle of female amateur hockey in Alberta, and a major lifetime highlight for the players.

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

RED DEER - The Alberta Female Hockey League’s Midget AAA regular season has officially come to a close, and the Provincial Championships for Bantam Elite and Midget AAA kick off on Thursday and Friday.

The Midget AAA Division wrapped up its inaugural season on March 5. The regular season standings finished up with St. Albert (27-2-1) taking home the regular season crown. The final standings are as follows:

1) St. Albert Slash (81 pts)
2) Rocky Mountain Raiders (55 pts)
3) Calgary Fire (36 pts)
4) Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs (35 pts)
5) Lloydminster PWM Steelers (34 pts)
6) Edmonton Pandas (29 pts)

St. Albert’s first year forward Madison Willan takes home the league scoring with 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points. Willan’s teammates Cassidy Maplethorpe and Tyra Meropoulis round out the top three point leaders with 46 and 45 respectively. Maplethorpe also finished the season leading the league in assists (29).

Two goaltenders tied for top save percentage of the seson, both with a .940; St. Albert’s Camryn Drever and Red Deer’s Chantelle Sandquist (Red Deer). Drever boasts a 1.38 goals against average and a 14-3-0 record, while Sandquist appeared in 11 games, posting a 6-3-1 record with a 1.60 goals against average.

AFHL Action heated up as the race to the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships kicked off last weekend. The regular season champion St. Albert received a bye into the tournament, as well as host association Rocky Mountain Raiders.

In the first round series, the third-place Calgary Fire faced off against the sixth-place Edmonton Pandas and won the two game, total point series by a score of 6-5. The other series featured the fourth-place Red Deer Chiefs and fifth-place Lloydminster in a low-scoring battle. Red Deer skated away victorious as Kaitlin Linnel scored on a rebound to seal the victory for Red Deer on Sunday afternoon.

The inaugural AFHL Midget AAA Provincial Championship will start on Friday morning, March 17 at Scott Seaman’s arena and will feature our top four teams from the regular season; (1) St. Albert, (2) Rocky Mountain Raiders, (3) Calgary, and (4) Lloydminster. If you are unable to make it Okotoks this weekend, you can still catch the games online! The live video and audio streams, as well as updates on scores will be provided on the AAA Provincial website.

The Bantam Elite Provincial Championships kick off this weekend as well in Olds March 16-19. The five-team tournament features the Calgary Fire White, Calgary Fire Red, St. Albert Raiders, Sherwood Park Royals, and Olds Grizzlys. Tournament information and scores can be found on the Bantam Elite Provincial website.

RED DEER - Five outstanding individuals, and perhaps one of the most celebrated families in all of hockey comprise the 2017 Induction Class for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF).

Hockey Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation announced on Wednesday the 2017 inductees who will be recognized at the AHHF Awards Gala in Canmore:

• Mel Davidson, three-time Olympic gold medalist (Head Coach, Canadian Women’s national team).
• Bill Hay, Stanley Cup champion, and former head of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Tony Kollman, one of the most noteable senior hockey players of the 1960s
• Perry Pearn, second-winningest coach in ACAC history, including six ACAC championships.
• Glen Sather, former coach, general manager and president of the 5-time Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers
• The Sutter family - Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Gary, Rich, Ron, Grace and Louis.

Inductee Bios >

CALGARY - The Canadian Tire First Shift is pleased to announce the launch of the 2017-2018 application process to become a host Minor Hockey Association for The First Shift program. Minor Hockey Associations are encouraged to review the application criteria and submit an online application.

Application Forms >

The Canadian Tire First Shift Program is designed to ease kids and their families into the sport of hockey in a fun and welcoming environment. It is open to boys and girls ages 6-10 years old, who have never registered to play hockey. The registration fee is $199 for each participant and includes:

• A Welcome Event - information, education, and an equipment fitting session
• 6 "learn to play on-ice sessions, implemented by MHA
• A complete set of Bauer equipment including: Helmet with facemask, neck guard, gloves, jersey & socks, shoulder & elbow pads, pants, skates, shin pads, jock/jill shorts, stick and a bag.

For more program information, visit thefirstshift.ca. Additional questions and inquiries can be sent to [email protected]

RED DEER - The Alberta Female Hockey League’s Bantam Elite division wrapped up its inaugural season on February 26.

The Calgary Fire White (21-2-2) are taking home not South Division crown, but the league’s regular season title as well, although the Northern Division-leading St. Albert Raiders (21-3-4) gave them a run for their money.

The regular season Bantam Elite standings are:

North Division:

1) St. Albert Raiders (61 pts)
2) Lloydminster Junior Steelers (55 pts)
3) Sherwood Park Royals (47 pts)
4) Edmonton Pandas (41 pts)
5) North Central Impact (26 pts)
6) Peace Country Bonnett’s Storm (9 pts)

South Division:
1) Calgary Fire White (65 pts)
2) Olds Grizzlys (57 pts)
3) Calgary Fire Red (33 pts)
4) Lethbridge Cyclones (29 pts)
5) Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs (27 pts)
6) Rocky Mountain Raiders (18 pts)

Olds’ Sarah Wozniewicz claimed the league scoring title, finishing with 27 goales and seven assists for 34 points. goals (23) and points (28). Calgary Red’s Emily Straw and North Central’s Chloe Reid round out the top three in points with 31 and 30, respectively.

Another Grizzly topped the regular season leaderboard, as netminder Jocelynn Pearce ended the regular season with a league-best .950 save percentage, to go allong with an 11-2-0 record and five shutouts.

The road to the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial, is now laid out, as the first-round playoff matchups are set. In the North Division, the St. Albert Raiders receive a first-round bye, while the North Central Impact will battle the Edmonton Pandas, and the Peace Country Bonnett’s Storm will take on the Sherwood Park Royals.

Calgary Fire White advance directly to the second round in the South, with the Rocky Mountain Raiders going head-to-head with Calgary Fire Red, and the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs up against the Lethbridge Cyclones. All playoff matchups are two game, total-goal series. The winning teams from each second round series will advance to the Provincial Championship.

Playoff Schedule >

The Midget AAA and Midget Elite schedule wraps up this weekend, with playoffs set to start the following weekend.

EDMONTON – Three Alberta hockey players highlight the list of 2016-17 major award winners announced today by Canada West.

University of Alberta Panda forward Kennedy Ganser is the Canada West Rookie of the Year in Women’s Hockey, while Mount Royal’s Sarah Weninger is the Student-Athlete Community Service honouree. In Men’s Hockey, University of Saskatchewan netminder Jordon Cooke was named Goalie of the Year.

Ganser, a former Team Alberta forward from Provost, led all Canada West rookies with 17 points this season, suiting up in all 28 games. Her 17 points were two more than UBC Thunderbird Mairead Bast, of Red Deer, while her seven goals were tied with Manitoba Bison Sheridan Oswald for tops among rookies. Ganser also showed her potential as a strong two-way forward, adding 84 shots and a +13 rating this season. Ganser is now the Canada West nominee for the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.

“Kennedy has been a tremendous addition to our roster. She is the kind of player that coaches can build a program around. She has a high degree of skill and a hockey IQ to match. These abilities have made her a strong addition to all of our specialty situations,” said Howie Draper, head coach of the Pandas. “Despite her smaller stature, she competes like a giant on both sides of the puck. She is already and will continue to be a tough player to play against in the next four years of her career.”

Weninger, a fifth-year forward from Lethbridge, excelled both on and off the ice at Mount Royal. She finished tied for MRU’s scoring title this season, registering nine goals and four assists in 25 games.

Off the ice, Weninger is involved in several volunteer initiatives, including Hockey Alberta’s Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) program, which uses the game of hockey to teach life-skills and empower Canada’s marginalized youth. In addition to her involvement with HEROS, Weninger also attended Hockey Alberta’s Future Leaders Camp, which helps prepare coaches to play an active role in Hockey Alberta programs and within their communities.

Academically, Weninger has achieved a combined GPA of 3.66 over her last two academic semesters and is on pace to be an Academic All-Canadian this season. Weninger now moves forward as the conference nominee for the Marion Hilliard Award as the nation’s top student-athlete.

“Sarah is extremely committed to try and better those around her, whether it is in the hockey community, or life in general,” said Scott Rivett, head coach at Mount Royal. “Her relationship with HEROS is truly remarkable. Sarah has brought other players from our team out to work with them and many are continuing to build their own relationships with these kids on a weekly basis and are having a true impact in their lives. We raised over $3,000 and created an evening for these kids that most have never experienced and it was in large part to all the work that Sarah has put in.”

For a second consecutive season Jordon Cooke has been named Canada West’s top goalie, after posting a 19-4-1 record, 1.94 GAA, and .929 SV%. The Leduc native was the backbone of Saskatchewan’s tremendous campaign, which saw the Huskies claim the conference regular season title for a second straight season.

2016-17 has been a phenomenal season for Cooke, as the Leduc, Alta. product was also named to Canada’s team at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland over the holiday break. Cooke’s four shutouts this season tied the Canada West single-season record, and his seven career shutouts are the most among any active Canada West goalie.

Cooke now moves forward as the conference nominee for the U SPORTS Goaltender of the Year award, which has been won by a Canada West goalie all but once since being created in 2009-10, including last season by Cooke.

"Last year, Jordon stood out in his first full-year as our No. 1 goaltender. He helped calm a young team, leading us to the Canada West pennant," said Dave Adolph, head coach at the University of Saskatchewan. "In 2016-17, he made things look routine as our team skated to a first-place‎ finish in the regular season. He and our young defence enabled us to lead the league with a very stingy 2.11 goals GAA. He loves to play and loves the challenge. We are very fortunate to have him in a Huskie uniform.”