Green Shirt Day Game - A Taber Tradition to Bring A Community Together

Hockey is more than just a game—it’s a community, and the Taber Golden Suns Athletic Association has continued to prove that through their Green Shirt Day Game, held this year on February 23.

The event was created three years after the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash, where Logan Boulet’s organ donation inspired nearly 150,000 Canadians to register as donors—the largest surge in Canadian history. This movement, now known as the Logan Boulet Effect, continues to bring awareness to organ donation across the country.

The Golden Suns partnered with Jan Clemis, a kidney donor recipient and dedicated advocate for organ donation, to start this event. Over the years, it has grown in impact, bringing the community together to celebrate life, honor donors, and encourage others to register.

This year’s event saw the Taber Highlanders U11 team join for the first time, making it even more special. “I was very interested but really had no idea what it would turn into and the success we would see as a result,” said Jamie Matisho, President of Golden Suns Athletic Association.  

The event marked the fourth annual event. They set up a table at the rink to answer questions, give out information, sell T-shirts, and take donations. The donations they get are split between the Canadian Transplant Association and the Logan Boulet Foundation.  

Bernie and Toby Boulet, Logan’s parents, attended once again, sharing their son’s story and answering questions at their information table. Through donations and merchandise sales, they raised $500, while the Golden Suns contributed an additional $800.

With green stick tape on every player’s stick and a sea of green in the stands, the support for this cause was overwhelming. The Mayor of Taber continued his tradition of attending, and many heartfelt conversations took place about organ donation and the importance of discussing your wishes with your family.

“Great hockey, great fans, and an incredible way to honor Logan’s legacy. Sincere thanks to the entire Boulet family for supporting the event!” – Jan Ehlert Clemis

Huge thanks to the Golden Suns, Taber Highlanders, the Boulet family, and the entire community for making this event such a success.

If you are interested in learning more about registering to become an organ donor, please check out https://greenshirtday.ca/

Or to donate blood, Book an appointment today, tomorrow or in the coming weeks to help fuel Canada’s Lifeline https://www.blood.ca/en

Hockey Alberta is proud to celebrate National Volunteer Week with highlights of some of their volunteers.

Connie Anderson

Through 14 years of volunteering with Hockey Alberta, Connie Anderson has had so many memorable moments that he can’t pick a favourite. His passion for volunteering makes every day on the job special.

“There are many memorable moments that come to mind... They are all good,” Anderson remarked.

His volunteer career with Hockey Alberta began when he was a league governor for the Central Alberta Hockey League and met the person who held the position before him. It just so happened that he was retiring soon, so Connie decided to try. Thus began his 14 years of volunteer service with Hockey Alberta.

His initial role was Zone 6 Discipline, and now the is the Chair of the Minor Discipline Committee.

“Connie has been super fun to work with on the Minor Discipline Committee. His many years of experience have ensured he makes fair judgment, while also keeping things light (as much as possible). I thoroughly enjoy our weekly chats and the stories he recounts to me,” said Morgen Kidney, Hockey Alberta Minor Leagues Coordinator.

He knew from a young age that he wanted to help give back to the people that helped him out throughout his time playing Minor Hockey. His position allows him to give back to the community while meeting people from all walks of life, which adds to his love of the job.

“The best thing about the job is meeting different people all the time,” said Anderson.

Outside of his volunteer work with Hockey Alberta, he keeps busy by being a business owner, avid golfer, fastball umpire, and is a Town of Sundre Councillor.

Jill Wallace

Jill Wallace has spent the last 16 years of her life dedicated to volunteering in minor hockey in Alberta. Aside from her time volunteering, she is a dedicated hockey mom of 3, a wife, and a business owner.

Her volunteering career began in 2009. All her children played hockey, but when her daughter began playing, she had the opportunity to help start up a female program.

“Once we had that first year under our belt I was hooked.  Watching the girls flourish within their team and female league was amazing to see,” said Wallace.

Her extensive volunteer experience includes her first position as a manager and board member with Battle River Knights Minor Hockey Association. She then went on to serve in many positions with the East Central Alberta Female League including governor, president, and treasurer. This experience helped her to become much more involved with Hockey Alberta and led to her finding her current position as the Vice Chair of the Female Minor Leagues Committee.

With her position volunteering at Hockey Alberta, she helps with chair meetings with the female league presidents to create more ways to expand female development and female hockey programs across Alberta.

Her passion for volunteering lies in wanting every team to thrive.

“My absolute favorite part of volunteering within the female structure is watching the teams grow and succeed.  It is so fun to watch them love the game and improve every yea,” said Wallace.  “It’s also so fun to watch it grow, especially in rural Alberta where it is a challenge to be able to have enough players to form teams.”

She hopes that every kid she has helped is enjoying the game, growing their confidence, and having fun. Her favourite part of volunteering in the hockey community is handing the winning team the banner, no matter what level of tournament it is.  “Can’t beat those smiles!” she says.

“I do it for the kids, every day of the week.”

Ian Martinot

Ian Martinot has spent 45 years of his life volunteering in his community. He knew from 13 years old that he wanted to give back to his community, and volunteering through his love of sports seemed to be the best way.

“Ever since I was 13 years of age my birth date never worked out for me to play organized sports, so my father told me to get involved in the communities that you live in, so that’s where it all started. I love giving back to my community,” said Ian.

His vast volunteering career spreads from being the President of both the Fastball and Slo-pitch leagues in Whitecourt, Alberta to being the President of Whitecourt Minor Hockey, where he also served as Referee in Chief and the Referee Assigner. He was a referee for 53 years before his well-deserved retirement.

While working as a Hockey Alberta official, his goal was to recruit and mentor young officials.

“Volunteering is a way to give back to a community, as well as going out and meeting new people,” said Ian.

This passion for sports led him to work more closely with Hockey Alberta where he was the Zone 3 Manager for 2 years and currently sits as the Discipline Coordinator for the Northeast Zone.

His passion for volunteering did not go unrecognized by his community as he was awarded with four volunteer recognition awards including the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce Sportsman of the Year Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sports in 1987.

Ian is currently enjoying his retirement in Stony Plain with his wife Laurie.

Eight months after the devastating fires swept through the town of Jasper, the community came together to host the U15 A NBC Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships presented by ATB, from March 20-23.

The strength and perseverance of the community was apparent during the exciting weekend. Everyone worked together to ensure that the tournament was a success and showed everyone in attendance how beautiful the town truly is.

Michelle Skilnick, Manager of Foundation and Events for Hockey Alberta, explains that “We are excited with our legacy plan, being able to give back to the community and those that want to play minor hockey … but also just showcase their town and bring back tourism to Jasper.”

The host committee welcomed guest to Jasper with heartfelt words, “at the beginning of this season, we weren’t sure if we would even have a hockey team. Now, here we are - sport is an essential part of rebuilding our community”.

While the host team opened the tournament by saying, “Jasper is a community that loves its hockey, and we are proud to host teams near and far”.

“A tournament such as this is so incredibly important to our community… (every team) will talk about their experience in Jasper, and that is what drives our economy,” said Richard Ireland, Mayor of Jasper.

“Jaspers big thing was to be able to bring back the economy to their town, show the resiliency of their town and the people that live there,” said Skilnick.

The fires devasted much of the community, including many of the Bearcat’s players. Hockey was able to be a small escape from the realities that they have faced.

Luka Kahlina, goaltender for the Bearcats, lost his home in the fire. Through it all, he found solace on the ice.

“When I played hockey I kind of just forgot about it,” he says.

Moment like these remind us why hockey is more than just a game. It’s a way to bring a community together, even in the toughest of times, it connects people, lifts communities, and provides strength even in the darkest times. The story of Jasper is an amazing example of that.

“The community gets together when we have to, hockey is just one of those things that keeps it together for us.” Says Paco Artiaga, Assistant coach for the U13 and U15 Bearcats. “The community is just beautiful.”

The parents of the U15 Jasper Bearcats shared their sincere appreciation as the tournament came to a close “thank you to all seven teams for coming to Jasper, for supporting our local economy, for your gratitude for the event, for your sportsmanship and your conduct in our arena and for the amazing hockey we all got to play”.

Watch the full video to learn more about Jasper’s journey, resilience, and love for the game.

Two teams have been crowned champions over the third weekend of the 2025 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships hosted by ATB.

Read below to see who walked away with the banner in the final week of play.

Junior B - Morinville Jets

U17 AAA - Calgary Flames (NWCAA)

With the final two teams crowned over the weekend, the 2025 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, proudly hosted by ATB, officially came to a close.

Congratulations to all the provincial champions and every team that earned their spot at provincials — what an incredible way to celebrate the game.

Championship tournaments took place across the province from Peace River to Okotoks, Jasper to Wainwright — bringing excitement to communities far and wide.

A huge thank you to the players, coaches, host committees, volunteers, officials, and fans who helped make the championships a massive success.

We’re already counting down to next year.

Celebrating Our Champions!

Congratulations to all our championship winners! Your hard work, dedication, and passion have earned you a place in Alberta’s hockey history. If you’re looking for the perfect way to commemorate your championship victory, Hockey Alberta is proud to partner with Baron® Championship Rings!

Baron® is all about crafting Championship Rings that capture the journey, the moments, and the legacies of players and teams. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail ensure that every ring tells a story—your story. At Baron®, it’s all about "our people, our process, and our products"—a commitment to excellence that makes them the perfect partner for Hockey Alberta.

Start designing your Championship Ring today!

Provincials are over… now what? 

Although the hockey season might be over, there is still a lot of excitement to look forward to before next season.  

Spring Showcase:  

The Hockey Alberta Spring Showcase features three main events: The Alberta Cup, Alberta Challenge, and Prospects Cup. These events are held to showcase incredible athletes from across the province. Regional camps to try out for the showcase are held at for players to try out for the showcase tournament.  

MORE INFORMATION HERE > 

The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships:  

From May 5-10, both Team Alberta male and female will be competing in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Kamloops, B.C.  

This event helps promote cultural unity and pride and celebrate the athletic skills of Indigenous players from across Canada. Players for Team Alberta were selected at camps held last August.  

MORE INFORMATION HERE >

Registration for Next Season:  

Thinking of signing your child up for hockey next season? Make sure you stay on top of Minor Hockey Association registration dates in your area! Early bird registration opens up in June, and all other registration opens in July.  

Hockey is beneficial for kids of all ages. It helps them stay active while having fun with friends and getting involved in the community. It also helps them learn how to work as a team and helps to make them happy, healthy, and confident.  

REGISTRATION DATES HERE >

Spring Camps and ID Camps:  

AA and AAA Minor Hockey Associations across Alberta are hosting local spring training camps, providing athletes with an opportunity to showcase and sharpen their skills during the offseason.   

Spring camps are beneficial in developing and sustaining player’s skill, fitness, and mental fitness, ensuring players are prepared for next season.  

Hockey Alberta hosts many camps including Hockey Alberta goalie sessions, U11 goalie preparation programs, Female Goalie Camps, and more. These sessions provide specialized training led by experienced coaches to help players reach their full potential.  

GOALTENDER SKILLS CAMP >

Becoming an Official:  

Becoming an official is an excellent idea to stay in the game at any level. It helps you stay active, learn more about the game, and contribute to the hockey community. It is also an excellent way to help develop leadership skills including conflict resolution, problem solving, working with others, and how to make decisions quickly.  

Hockey Alberta holds clinics annually from September 15 and November 30. We hold clinics to get certification at any level, except level 1. You must be 13 years old or older and complete the Hockey University Officiating online course and register for the Hockey University ½ clinic.  

REGISTER TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL HERE >

Winning a provincial championship is an incredible achievement—but winning four in a row is something truly special. For four young athletes and one dedicated coach, their recent U15 Female B provincial victory marked the continuation of an extraordinary streak.

Irma Minor Hockey Association’s very own, Ella Byrne, Wren MacKay, Emory Holt, and Ella Gulbraa, along with coach Clay Holt, have now won four consecutive provincial titles. Their journey started in 2022 with a U13 Female B championship, followed by another U13 Female B title in 2023. In 2024, they moved up to U15 Female A and captured yet another championship before adding the 2025 U15 Female B title to their impressive collection.

This remarkable group has demonstrated resilience, skill, and an undeniable passion for the game. Over the past four seasons, they’ve battled through tough competition, adapting to new challenges, and continuing to find success at every level. Their dedication to the sport and their commitment to their team have been key factors in their ongoing dominance on the provincial stage.

“Watching all the girls develop over the years is what I’m most proud of, and most specifically these four girls this year” shares Head Coach Holt. “During our first two championships, Ella G. and Emory were third-line forwards, while Ella B. and Wren were 4-5 defensemen”.

“Before I talk about this year, you should know that our 2023 championship had this same age group on it. From that year to this season, we lost 10 girls from the 2023 team—seven are playing AA, one went to a development team, and two pursued other sports. So, these four girls were specifically asked to step up, and they did in a huge way.”

Coach Holt went on to describe each player’s unique impact:

• “Ella G. has been small her whole life, so she has developed a very feisty game. If takeaways were a stat in our league, she would be far ahead of second place."

• "Emory is the natural goal scorer; she has soft hands and great feet. Coaching her (my daughter) was a struggle sometimes because she was always right, and I ‘didn’t know what was going on out there!"

• "Ella B. is the girl that coaches love to coach. Whatever direction you give, you get a head nod, and she goes out and does whatever was asked—without ever needing to be told again."
• "Wren was the biggest turnaround of all. For the first five years of hockey, she did not want to be on the ice. That was followed by a couple of years of wanting to learn. Then a switch flipped last year, and she became a beast on the ice—our towering shutdown and offensive d-man.”

Coach Holt also praised their ability to adapt to new roles, sharing, “Ella G. and Emory, who have been best friends since preschool, were asked to be our two centers—positions they had never played before. They finished 1-2 in league scoring, with Ella taking the title by one point. In provincials, Emory led the tournament, with Ella G. just one point behind. Wren and Ella B. became our top two defensemen, leading by example for our first-year girls. These four have won every year since they became provincial-eligible—four and counting—and I don’t think they understand how rare that is.”

Reflecting on the journey, Coach Holt also acknowledged the support from other mentors: “They have had several great coaches and assistants over the years. I’ve just been very fortunate to be the only one to share all four years with them.”

For the players, the experience has been nothing short of incredible, each speaking on how it has impacted them as players:

"I think it really sunk in this year just how lucky we’ve been to get to provincials for four straight years, let alone to win each time. Something that made this year just a bit more special for me is knowing how much my role on the team has changed from the first year to this year. I’ve grown a lot as a player since year one." - Wren MacKay

"Winning provincials for four years in a row has been an amazing and rewarding experience. Every year, it has been just as fun and exciting with all the different girls I’ve met and played with. I feel I have grown a lot from the first year and have become a smarter hockey player. A key to my team’s success is never giving up, even when you’re down, and keeping a positive attitude and mindset." - Emory Holt

"When I was younger, I didn’t realize how lucky I was to go to provincials, but now, especially after winning four times in a row, I’ve realized just how special and exciting it is. It’s something we can be really proud of. Every year, we’ve had a bit of a different team, but we’ve always been lucky to have a great group of girls—on and off the ice. I think that’s part of why we’ve had so much success. We’re always a close, dedicated team, and we’ve had great coaches. Over these four years, I’ve become a much more confident hockey player and have taken on more responsibility and leadership roles." - Ella Byrne

"Winning provincials every year has been so exciting and special. Each year has been with different teammates, and each one has been so fun. Over the years, I think I’ve grown not only as a player but as a person too. Playing with these girls has shown me to never give up—no matter the situation—and to play to the end with a strong mindset." - Ella Gulbraa

Four championships. Four years. One unforgettable run. Congratulations to Ella B, Wren, Emory, Ella G. and Coach Holt on an incredible accomplishment!

For 15-year-old Peyton Walker, hockey has always been more than just a game—it has been a source of strength, community, and determination. A native of Wainwright, Alberta, Peyton is a member of the Lloydminster U18 AAA Steelers. But her path to this season has been anything but ordinary.

Last season, Peyton played for the U15 Steelers with her dad, Scott, serving as team manager. Her team’s journey to U15 Provincials in Airdrie was a highlight—she fondly recalls the banquet, line dancing, and, of course, the competition. But just three days after Provincials, Peyton’s world was turned upside down.

After discovering a lump on her cheek and jaw, she underwent a series of medical tests—CT scans, biopsies, PET scans, and MRIs. The diagnosis was devastating: Stage 3, Group 3 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

On April 26, she underwent surgery before beginning an intense 67-week chemotherapy regimen at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. For any teenager, such a diagnosis would be overwhelming. But for Peyton, the hardest part wasn’t just the treatments—it was the fear of letting her team down.

She had been set to move up to the U18 team in September and was eager to compete in her second Hockey Alberta Challenge. Knowing she would have to step away from the game she loved was heartbreaking. But true to the resilience that hockey had instilled in her, Peyton approached this battle like any other challenge—head-on, with determination and grit.

In July 2024, Peyton and her family traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, for two months of specialized Proton Radiation Therapy, a cutting-edge treatment not yet available in Canada. The grueling daily radiation sessions, combined with the loneliness of being away from home, made for an incredibly difficult time. But Peyton never faced it alone.

Five days after her diagnosis, a video message from her teammates and coaches poured in, reminding her that her hockey family stood behind her. It was a gesture that meant the world to Peyton—one she still replays on tough days for encouragement.

Her community continued to rally around her. Just six weeks into her battle, her teammates organized a charity golf tournament, bringing together over 200 golfers and 350 attendees. The overwhelming support allowed Peyton and her family to focus on healing rather than the financial strain of treatment.

Throughout her journey, Peyton has been given opportunities that have lifted her spirits in unimaginable ways. She has met hockey superstars like Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. She’s connected with Carla MacLeod and the entire Ottawa PWHL team. And between hospital visits, she found moments of joy at Universal Studios and Disney World.

But perhaps one of the most impactful moments of Peyton’s journey has been her advocacy work. She has become a passionate supporter of the Ben Stelter Foundation, which recently announced the construction of the Ben Stelter Facility for Proton Radiation Therapy in Edmonton—the first of its kind in Canada. Having experienced firsthand how this treatment saved her life, Peyton is now a fierce advocate for fundraising and awareness, ensuring that more children will have access to life-saving care closer to home.

Peyton recently underwent scans and completed her fourth round of maintenance chemotherapy. While Peyton’s scans are looking promising, she continues treatment with hope and determination, knowing that the finish line is in sight.

Through it all, Peyton has remained an inspiration. She never let losing her hair dim her confidence. She never allowed her diagnosis to define her. And she never made excuses—she simply fought, just as she always has on the ice.

Now, she balances treatment with her love for the game, staying with a billet family in between chemotherapy sessions while attending morning practices, afternoon workouts, and team activities. Her teammates don’t treat her differently, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.

As she sets her sights on returning to full competition in the fall, Peyton has one goal in mind—to battle her way back to the ice and chase an Esso Cup championship.

Her message to others facing challenges is simple:

“Find the courage and determination to accomplish your goals, and don’t be afraid to lean on your teammates when you need them.”