Nearly 50 AFHL graduates commit to Post-Secondary schools

RED DEER - Close to 50 graduating Midget players from the Alberta Female Hockey League will be suiting up for post-secondary teams this fall.

In the AFHL’s second season, the number of graduating players has nearly doubled, after more than 20 graduating players were committed to post-secondary heading into the 2017-18 season.

The Alberta Female Hockey League is please to announce the following commitments for the 2018-19 season:

EDMONTON - Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), in partnership with Hockey Alberta, announced today a new Novice hockey event taking place August 11-12, 2018 at the Downtown Community Arena.

In conjunction with the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Centre ICE Summit, the Summer ICE Jamboree will bring Novice hockey players from across Alberta together to be immersed in the excitement of international hockey and the thrill of learning and playing alongside new teammates. Players will register individually and be placed on teams which will represent each of the eight nations competing in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Summer ICE Jamboree joins other existing Edmonton Oilers hockey programming including Oilers Hockey Institute, Oilers Hockey School, Oilers Hockey Clinic and Lil’ Oilers.

“Oilers Entertainment Group is proud to partner with Hockey Alberta and support the growth of grassroots hockey in our province,” said Oilers Entertainment Group CEO and Vice Chair Bob Nicholson.” Growing the game from the bottom up has a very positive effect on our National teams, including Team Canada which will be competing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer.”

Participation in the fun-filled weekend will include five half-ice games and a complimentary ticket to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal game on Saturday, August 11. Registration is open to any players born in 2010 and 2011. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis and the deadline to register is Friday, July 27.

The event will be structured according to Hockey Alberta’s new Intro to Hockey model which focuses on long-term player development by utilizing smaller ice surfaces to enhance skating, passing, shooting and overall touches of the puck.

“Hockey Alberta is excited to partner with OEG and utilize this high-profile event to showcase our Intro to Hockey model. We believe the Jamboree will be an enjoyable experience for players and a great opportunity for Hockey Alberta to continue the education process for parents about Intro to Hockey,” said Rob Litwinski, Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Alberta.

Coaching opportunities will also be available at the Summer ICE Jamboree. Interested coaches can apply at SummerIceJamboree.com. Hockey Alberta staff will be on-site to provide coaches with support in facilitating the new Intro to Hockey format. There will also be drop-in information sessions for parents and the public to attend to learn more about this new approach to Novice hockey. For more information regarding the Intro to Hockey Model, please visit www.hockeyalberta.ca/players/intro-hockey.

For more information or to register, please visit SummerIceJamboree.com. Please email [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

For the fourth straight year, an Albertan was the top selection at the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft as the Edmonton Oil Kings took Dylan Guenther with the first overall pick. The Edmonton native is coming off a strong performance at the 2018 Alberta Cup, where he was named to the Alberta Cup All-Star team.

A total of eleven Albertans were taken in the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft, including fellow Alberta Cup All-Stars Kai Uchacz and Keagan Slaney, who were selected 10th overall and 20th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds and Edmonton Oil Kings, respectively.

Seven forwards from Alberta went in the first 10 picks of the draft, and St. Albert’s Marc Lajoie was the first Albertan defenceman selected, going 14th overall to the Tri-City Americans.

A total of 70 Albertans were selected this year: 40 forwards, 22 defence and eight goaltenders.

Few coaches carry the pedigree of 2017 Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Perry Pearn, and he brought that knowledge with him as a Coach Mentor at the 2018 Alberta Cup.

Fresh off a silver medal with the National Women’s Team at the 2018 Olympics, the former NHL coach volunteered his time to serve as a Coach Mentor for Edmonton Yellow, helping Edmonton reach the championship final.

Pearn and Edmonton Yellow Head Coach Alex Mandolidis took the time to share their experience at the Alberta Cup:

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2018 Alberta Cup, click here.

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].