Hockey CanadaBC HockeyHockey AlbertaHockey SaskHockey ManitobaHockey Northwestern OntarioOntario Hockey FederationHockey Easern OntarioQuebec Hockey NetworkHockey New BrunswickHockey PEIHockey Nova ScotiaHockey NLHockey North

News

Pembina, Hockey Alberta partner on grant for Initiation Program rink dividers

RED DEER - Alberta’s youngest hockey players are the focus for a new grant program developed through a partnership between Hockey Alberta and Pembina Pipeline Corporation.

Hockey Alberta has adopted the Initiation Program as the formal structure for players six years and under. A key component of the Initiation Program sees these budding young athletes skating on a smaller ice surface in order to develop the essential skills of hockey.

To alleviate some of the financial burden for Minor Hockey Associations utilizing the Initiation Program in the 2016-17 season, Hockey Alberta and Pembina Pipeline Corporation have established a grant program to purchase foam rink divider boards. The foam dividers provide a safe and effective way to split the ice for the participants.

“Practicing and playing on a smaller ice surface helps in skill development. More associations having access to divider boards increases the opportunity for these young players to touch the puck more often, and develop the essential basic skills such as skating, shooting and stickhandling,” said Justin Fesyk, Senior Manager, Hockey Development for Hockey Alberta.

The partnership is a natural one for Pembina’s community investment program, which focuses on initiatives that promote safety, health and community building. Pembina aims to create a culture of safety both within its business and in the communities where its employees live, work and play.

“In communities across the province, hockey is a way of life; and Pembina staff are often out on the ice with their families. This is why we have partnered with Hockey Alberta in support of rink dividers for minor hockey associations in our operating communities, as Pembina wants to ensure that kids across Alberta have fun, and stay safe while playing,” says Paul Murphy, Pembina’s Senior Vice President, Pipeline & Crude Oil Facilities.

The grants will be available in July, and Minor Hockey Associations who are looking to apply are encouraged to go to hockeyalberta.ca/players/initiation-program/ for more information.


About the Grant Program:

The grant is available to associations using the Initiation Guidelines in the 2016-17 season. Associations can apply for a full set of foam rink dividers (valued at approximately $3,000) or for funding towards the cost of a set of puck board rink dividers (valued at approximately $6,000).

To be eligible to apply, an MHA must:

  • Be in good standing with Hockey Alberta;
  • Operate within the Hockey Alberta Initiation Guidelines;
  • Have a parent education strategy outlining the Hockey Alberta Initiation Guidelines;
  • Have a Development Director on its executive to support the Initiation Program; and
  • Have an Initiation Director on its executive to lead the Initiation Program.
  • NOTE: Based on response to the grant program, preference may be given to areas with a Pembina field office location.

A committee will review all applications, and successful applicants will be contacted. Once an LMHA has been notified, the requested rink divider system will be ordered by Hockey Alberta, with each order shipped to the MHA upon completion.

News

Terry Ledingham (right) with fellow 2016 Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame inductee George Kingston.


Terry Ledingham awarded Hockey Canada Order of Merit

Former Hockey Alberta President Terry Ledingham was one of three recipients of the Hockey Canada Order of Merit Award, presented during Hockey Canada’s Spring Congress in Moncton, NB on the weekend. The Order of Merit is presented to individuals who have “served amateur hockey faithfully”.

Ledingham, from Bon Accord, has devoted his life to making a difference in the game of hockey, beginning in 1967. He’s held numerous roles - ranging from equipment manager, vice-president of a hockey league, and president of a minor hockey association to Zone director, vice president and eventually president of Hockey Alberta in 2007. He also served five years on Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors.

The following is a full overview of Ledingham’s hockey involvement. A summary of all award winners recognized by Hockey Canada is available here.

Also receiving Order of Merit Awards were Tom Donovan (Quispamsis, NB) and Judy Bain (Kenora, ON).


Terry Ledingham

2016 Hockey Canada Order of Merit Award (West)

Terry Ledingham always wanted to make a difference in the game. In the beginning, that meant the self-described rink rat sold tickets and programs and did security for the Junior A Crosstown Motor City Maple Leafs. Nearly five decades later that meant sitting on the Board of Directors for the sport’s national governing body. For this lifetime of devotion to - and indeed, making a difference in - the game, Hockey Canada is proud to present its Order of Merit to Terry Ledingham.

Since that first foray to the rink in 1967, Terry has created a lifetime of hockey memories not only for himself but for thousands of kids across Alberta. He’s been an equipment manager and a trainer, a road manager and a registrar, a sports director and a coach, the vice-president of a hockey league and the president of a minor hockey association.

In 1997, Terry took his first position with Hockey Alberta. Three years sitting on the Zone 2 Minor Council were followed by three more as the zone’s director. After two-year terms as Hockey Alberta vice-president of operations and vice-president of development, Terry was elected president. Terry went on to serve five years on Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors.

The success stories started early for Terry. He worked with his home community of Bon Accord, as well as neighbouring Gibbons, to form one minor hockey association, ensuring that the residents of the two small populations would have teams to call their own.

By the time he became a zone chairman for Hockey Alberta in the late 1990s, he was overseeing 39 minor hockey associations with teams spread across nine different leagues, handling registration, travel permits, discipline, clinics and provincial tournaments. In this role, Terry helped form a pilot project, Zone Team, to improve how operations are run in each zone.

When it comes to how the game is played, Terry has always understood that it’s not just fun first; it’s fun and safety first. Over the years he’s sat on committees dedicated to body-checking review, discipline and match penalties, he chaired the Risk and Safety Committee and he presently sits on the Second-Stage Appeal Committee for Hockey Alberta.

As Hockey Alberta’s vice-president of development he worked on a project that examined why body-checking should be taken out of lower levels of hockey. His concern and attention to detail extended beyond those who jump over the boards. As Hockey Alberta president, in 2008 he oversaw the mandate that all coaches, trainers, guest coaches and volunteers wear a helmet when on the ice during practice.

In his role as president, Terry accomplished two of his proudest achievements: opening up the first regional development centre in Grande Prairie and setting up an agreement with Hockey North that allowed their kids to come south and play at a higher level in Alberta.

In recent years Terry has taken great pride in working both with players at Hockey Canada’s national events and with national teams at IIHF events. In 2010, he was the board rep with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, the year the team won its first IIHF Women’s World U18 Championship.

News

(From left) Peyton Krebs, Kirby Dach, and Bowen Byram. (Photos by LA Media)


Albertans go 1-2-3 at 2016 WHL Bantam Draft | Full list of Albertans drafted

CALGARY - For the first time since 1993, Albertans have gone 1-2-3 in the WHL Bantam Draft. In total, 73 players from Alberta were selected in the 2016 draft.

2016 Alberta Cup All-Star Peyton Krebs (Okotoks) was the first overall selection, going to the Kootenay Ice. Kirby Dach (Fort Sask) went to the Saskatoon Blades, who traded up one spot to select him second overall, and Bowen Byram (Lethbridge) rounded out the top three, as the Vancouver Giants took him third overall. A total of 10 players from Alberta went in the first round of the draft, the most out of any province.

Thirty-nine of the players taken at the draft from Alberta are forwards, 25 are defencemen selected, and nine are goalies.

A complete list of Albertans taken at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft can be found below. Players marked with an asterisk (*) were 2016 Alberta Cup All-Stars.

Pick Player Team Position Hometown

FIRST ROUND

1st Peyton Krebs* Kootenay Ice Forward Okotoks
2nd Kirby Dach Saskatoon Blades Forward Fort Saskatchewan
3rd Bowen Byram Vancouver Giants Defence Lethbridge
7th Matthew Robertson* Edmonton Oil Kings Defence Sherwood Park
9th Taylor Gauthier Prince George Cougars Goalie Calgary
12th Rhett Rhinehart Prince Albert Raiders Defence Lloydminster
13th Ethan Browne* Everett Silvertips Forward Sherwood Park
17th Jake Lee Seattle Thunderbirds Defence Sherwood Park
20th Brayden Tracey* Moose Jaw Warriors Forward Calgary
21st Liam Keeler Edmonton Oil Kings Forward Edmonton

SECOND ROUND

23rd Byron Fancy Red Deer Rebels Goalie Claresholm
25th Carson Dyck Swift Current Broncos Forward Lethbridge
27th Daniel Baker Medicine Hat Tigers Defence Edmonton
29th Eric Van Impe Spokane Chiefs Defence Calgary
37th Bryce Bader Calgary Hitmen Forward Sherwood Park
38th Carter Chorney Spokane Chiefs Forward Sherwood Park

THIRD ROUND

44th Deegan Mofford Kelowna Rockets Forward Rocky Mountain House
45th Nicholas Draffin Red Deer Rebels Defence Lethbridge
49th Zach Ashton* Saskatoon Blades Defence Calgary
50th Brett Balas Prince Albert Raiders Goalie Calgary
51st Kirby Proctor Lethbridge Hurricanes Defence Okotoks

FOURTH ROUND

66th Nolan Orzeck Kootenay Ice Defence Calgary
67th Blake Stevenson Tri-City Americans Forward Calgary
68th Tarun Fizer Victoria Royals Forward Chestermere
74th Carter Souch Edmonton Oil Kings Forward Edmonton
76th Kjell Kjemhus Regina Pats Forward Grande Prairie

FIFTH ROUND

88th Brett Wieschorster Kootenay Ice Forward Sherwood Park
90th Brady Nicholas Saskatoon Blades Forward St. Albert
91st Jakin Smallwood Moose Jaw Warriors Forward Leduc
94th Kash Rasmussen Tri-City Americans Forward Cochrane
96th Evan Fradette Portland Winterhawks Goalie St. Albert
99th Matthew Sanders Moose Jaw Warriors Defence Calgary
104th Bryan McAndrews Tri-City Americans Defence Edmonton
106th Ross Hawryluk Spokane Chiefs Goalie Lloydminster
108th Ethan Kruger* Brandon Wheat Kings Goalie Sherwood Park

SIXTH ROUND

114th Max Bulawka Vancouver Giants Forward Harvie Heights
115th Ethan Fitzgerald Moose Jaw Warriors Goalie Calgary
118th Liam Antoniuk Saskatoon Blades Defence Sherwood Park
120th Dylan Holloway Everett Silvertips Forward Bragg Creek
122nd Jackson Rider Calgary Hitmen Defence Lacombe
123rd Aaron Hladiuk Everett Silvertips Defence Calgary
126th Cyrus Toth Spokane Chiefs Defence Edmonton
127th Quinn Olson Price Albert Raiders Forward Calgary
128th Evan Ladoucer Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward Athabasca
130th Konor Campbell Moose Jaw Warriors Defence Edmonton

SEVENTH ROUND

136th Jaden Senkoe Edmonton Oil Kings Forward Westlock
138th Conrad Mitchell Everett Silvertips Forward Thorsby
139th Justin Hall Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward Edmonton
141st Evan Patrician Vancouver Giants Forward Calgary
142nd Edge Lambert Prince George Cougars Forward Grande Prairie
149th Dylan Nevil Moose Jaw Warriors Forward Taber
152nd Niethan Salame Brandon Wheat Kings Defence Edmonton

EIGHTH ROUND

155th Lukas Konashuk Vancouver Giants Forward Bonanza
156th Ethan Mack Saskatoon Blades Forward Edmonton
157th Adam Hall Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward Edmonton
160th Connor Bouchard Tri-City Americans Forward Cochrane
161st Kurtis Labant Spokane Chiefs Forward St. Paul
163rd Eric Parker Prince George Cougars Defence Calgary
165th Drae Gardiner Moose Jaw Warriors Defence Calgary
167th Alex Young Everett Silvertips Forward Calgary
171st Graeme Bryks Seattle Thunderbirds Forward Edmonton
172nd Carter Wickson Lethbridge Hurricanes Goalie Calgary
173rd Kyle Crosbie Kelowna Rockets Forward Didsbury

NINTH ROUND

181st Zachary Okabe Tri-City Americans Forward Okotoks
188th Michael Horon Everett Silvertips Forward Lethbridge

TENTH ROUND

202nd Rajvir Sangha Tri-City Americans Defence Calgary
206th Ryker Evans Regina Pats Defence Calgary
210th Brody Green Kamloops Blazers Forward Edmonton
211th Connor Brock Calgary Hitmen Forward Calgary

Eleventh Round

214th Braden Potter Edmonton Oil Kings Goalie Edmonton
222nd Justin MacDonald Brandon Wheat Kings Defence St. Albert

TWELFTH ROUND

224th Nicksha Eric Kamloops Blazers Defence Fort McMurray
227th Lucas Jones Red Deer Rebels Defence Calgary

News

Northeast Trainer Karyn Fanstone. (Photo by: LA Media - lamediadesign.photoshelter.com)


The Alberta Cup: Not Just For Players

While the Alberta Cup brings together 160 of the top bantam-aged male hockey players in the province every year, the impact of the even goes far beyond the ice.

Team Northeast Trainer Karyn Fanstone, Referee Supervisor Craig DeCoursey, and Edmonton Yellow Coach Mentor Matt Keillor share their Alberta Cup experiences, and the role it plays in the development of trainers, officials, and coaches.

The 2016 Alberta Cup was the second for Fanstone, who will return as the athletic therapist for the 2016 Team Alberta U16 Male program. She’ll be joined by Keiller, who will serve as assistant coach of the U16 team, after working as the team’s video coach in 2015.

Go to abcup.ca >

News

Photo by LA Media - lamediadesign.photoshelter.com


Calgary South repeats as Alberta Cup Champs | Canmore announced as 2017 host

CANMORE - For the second straight year, Calgary South are the Alberta Cup Champions.

Despite trailing 2-0 and 3-2 at different points in the game, Calgary South used a six goal third period to defeat Northeast 9-3. All-star defenceman Zach Ashton led the way for Calgary South with a goal and two assists, while Ryan Shostak chipped in with a goal and two assists of his own. Taylor Gauthier stood tall for Calgary South, stopping 35 shots, while All-Star goalie Ethan Kruger made 33 saves for Northeast.

Hockey Alberta News
Calgary South Captains (from left: Zach Ashton, Nolan Coventry, Matthew Sanders,
and Alex Young) accept the Alberta Cup.

The win is an extra-special one for Calgary South Head Coach Jamie Steer, as he won the first ever Alberta Cup as a player with Calgary South in 1986.

"I want to thank Hockey Alberta for the opportunity to coach (Calgary South) 30 years later," said Steer. "It’s something we set out to do as a team, and as a coaching staff. Obviously every body wanted to win, but to actually come out on top and make it an even 30 years is really exciting."

Team South finished third in the tournament, beating Calgary North 4-1 in the B Final. Earlier in the day, Edmonton Blue erased a 6-1 deficit to defeat Edmonton Blue 9-7 in the C Final, while Central took the D Final over Edmonton Yellow by a score of 5-4.

Alberta Cup All-Stars >

Standings > | Leaders > | Schedule > | Day One Results > | Day Two Results > | Day 3 Results >

As the 2016 Alberta Cup comes to a close, Hockey Alberta is proud to announce the 2017 Alberta Cup will be held in Canmore for the third straight year.

"We couldn’t be more excited to bring the Alberta Cup back to Canmore next year," said Michael Kraichy, Manager of Team Alberta. "This year’s Alberta Cup was even better than the last, and the Host Committee has done an outstanding job once again."

The Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top male players in Alberta. It is well attended by scouts as they prepare for the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft. In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers and referees to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta Program.

Alberta Cup graduates include Matt Dumba, Braden Holtby, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf, Scott Hartnell, Jordan Eberle, Devan Dubnyk, and Andrew Ference.


A Final

Calgary South 9 - Northeast 3

Players of the Game: Calgary South - #4 Drae Gardiner | Northeast - #4 Jake Lee

Boxscore >


B Final

South 4 - Calgary North 1

Players of the Game: South - #16 Peyton Krebs | Calgary North - #9 Connor Brock

Boxscore >


C Final

Edmonton Blue 9 - Northwest 7

Players of the Game: Edmonton Blue - #19 Mitchell Verenka | Northwest - #8 Cameron Aucoin

Boxscore >


D Final

Central 5 - Edmonton Yellow 4

Players of the Game: Central - #15 Deegan Mofford | Edmonton Yellow - #10 Kirby Dach

Boxscore >

News

From Left: Ethan Browne, Brayden Tracey, Peyton Krebs, Zach Asthon, Matthew Robertson, and Ethan Kruger. (Photo by LA Media - lamediadesign.photoshelter.com)


2016 Alberta Cup All-Stars, All-Star Official Announced

At Saturday night’s Alberta Cup Banquet at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club, the Tournament All-Stars were announced. All-Stars were voted on by WHL scouts and Team Alberta staff.

Goaltender

Hockey Alberta News

#31 Ethan Kruger - Northeast

GP: 2 | MP: 128 | W: 2 | L: 0 | OTL: 0 | T: 0 | SO: 1 | SA: 59 | GA: 2 | SVS: 57 | GAA: 0.94 | SV%: .970


Defence

Hockey Alberta News

#2 Zach Ashton - Calgary South

GP: 4 | G: 1 | A: 5 | Pts: 6 | PIM: 4


Defence

Hockey Alberta News

#6 Matthew Robertson - Northeast

GP: 3 | G: 1 | A: 2 | Pts: 3 | PIM: 0


Forward

Hockey Alberta News

#19 Brayden Tracey - Calgary North

GP: 4 | G: 8 | A: 2 | Pts: 10 | PIM: 17


Forward

Hockey Alberta News

#16 Peyton Krebs - South

GP: 4 | G: 1 | A: 3 | Pts: 4 | PIM: 0


Forward

Hockey Alberta News

#9 Ethan Browne - Northeast

GP: 4 | G: 5 | A: 3 | Pts: 8 | PIM: 0


All-Star Official

Hockey Alberta News

Todd Layton (left) - Central Zone