North Predators Win The 2015 ATB Alberta Challenge

The North Predators have been crowned champions of the 2015 ATB Alberta Challenge tournament in Medicine Hat. In second place following round robin action, the Predators faced off against the South Lightning in today’s final at1:30 pm at the Medicine Hat Arena. The Predators defeated the Lightning by a score of 2-1 with Brandy Steinman and Jayme Doyle netting the two goals for the Predators that won them the game.

Results from Sunday, May 3, 2015

Championship Game: North Pedators 2 - South Lightning 1
B Final - North Royals 4 - South Coyotes 3
C Final - South Flyers 3 - North Red Wings 1

With the North Predators win, the South Lightning claimed second place at the at tournament, while the North Royals defeated the South Coyotes by a score of 4-3 to claim third place. The South Flyers and North Red Wings claimed 5th and 6th place in the tournament, respectively.

The ATB Alberta Challenge program runs every second year with more than 300 players trying out in their respective regional tryout selection camp. Each of the 120 athletes playing in the ATB Alberta Challenge are competing for one of 60 invites to the U16 Female Provincial Camp in July in Camrose. The U16 Female Camps are the final stage in the first year of the Team Alberta Program.

For 120 female athletes from across Alberta, they are preparing for a significant milestone in their young hockey careers.

These athletes have been named to the rosters of six teams that will compete in Hockey Alberta’s 2015 ATB Alberta Challenge, April 29-May 3 in Medicine Hat. The 2000-01 born players were selected from more than 300 who attended a North zone camp held April 10-12 and a South zone camp held April 17-19.

The tournament will feature three squads selected from each of the zone camps. Twenty athletes comprise each roster, along with volunteers serving as head coach, assistant coaches, coach mentor, trainer, and director of operations.

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition held at the Medicine Hat Arena. Preliminary round play will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with playoffs on Sunday.

“Based on the high level of skills that we saw on display at the zone camps, we are looking forward to some very competitive games during the ATB Alberta Challenge tournament,” said Stacey Pattison, Hockey Alberta coordinator of development programming. “Spectators in Medicine Hat will have the opportunity to see some of the top young female athletes in the province, and will definitely be impressed by their talent.”

In addition to pursuing the ATB Alberta Challenge championship, the athletes are also vying for 60 spots at the U16 Female Summer Camp in July in Camrose. The Summer Camp is the final stage in the first year of the Team Alberta program.

A number of officials from Alberta will be officiating at two prestigious tournaments in April.

15 officials have been selected to work at the Keystone Cup in Cold Lake, taking place April 16-19. They include (provincial zone listed in brackets):

Referees: Steven Cousens (North), Beau Gavin (Central), Brent Ramsay (North Central), Brad Shura (Peace) and Daniel Gadowski (Northeast)

Lines: Clayton Brown (Northeast), Cedric Erzinger (Northeast), Craig Morrow (Northeasat), Justin Geeraert (Central), Mason Stewart (Central), Will Moss (Central), Devin Kohlhauser (North), George Hart (North), Taylor Burzminski (North) and Greg Lightburn (North Central).

Ten officials have been selected to work at the Esso Cup in Red Deer taking place April 19-25. They include:

Referees: Michelle Barry and Erica Holmes (Calgary), Carrie Keller (Lethbridge) and Jessica Trombley (Sherwood Park).

Lines: Alana Cabana and Cassandra Gregory (Edmonton), Ashley Schneider (Leduc), Jacqueline Fitz and Shannon Kline (Calgary), and Megan French (Lethbridge).