Team Alberta Male brings home silver at 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship 

KAMLOOPS – Team Alberta returned from the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC), held May 5-11 on the traditional territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in Kamloops, with a silver medal in the U18 Male division and a strong showing from the U18 Female team.

U18 Male

Team Alberta U18 Male turned in a dominant performance in Kamloops. After the round robin, they finished first and battled their way to a silver medal, tying their best-ever result at the event.
Alberta opened with a decisive 9-2 win over Team Eastern Door & North, followed by a 1-1 draw against Ontario. They continued their strong play with wins over British Columbia (4-0) and Manitoba (3-0) before closing out the round robin with a close 4-3 loss to Saskatchewan.

Their first-place finish earned them a semi-final rematch with Ontario, where Alberta prevailed 6-3 to advance to the gold medal game. Alberta fell to Manitoba 4-2 in a hard-fought final to claim silver.

• Round Robin Record: 3-1-1 (1st place)
• Playoff Results: Semi-final – 6-3 win over Ontario | Final – 4-2 loss to Manitoba
• Top Scorer: Aidan Sexsmith – 6 goals, 10 points (led all male players in tournament scoring)

Male Roster >

U18 Female – Strong Showing, Led by Tournament’s Top Scorer

Team Alberta U18 Female showcased resilience and offensive firepower but ultimately finished fifth after the round robin, narrowly missing the playoff round.

After a close 2-1 loss to Saskatchewan in their opener, Alberta bounced back with a thrilling 5-4 victory over eventual gold medalists Team Ontario. The team continued to battle hard but fell to BC (6-4) and Manitoba (3-2), while recording a commanding 7-0 win over Team Eastern Door & North.

Despite finishing with a 2-3 record, the team’s standout performances were highlighted by Tayla Lamabe, who led all female players in the tournament with 11 goals and 13 points.

• Final Record: 2 wins, 3 losses
• Top Scorer: Tayla Lamabe – 11 goals, 13 points (led all female players in tournament scoring)

Female Roster >

The 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship will be hosted by Ochapowace Nation in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The NAHC, established by the Aboriginal Sport Circle in 2002, continues to serve as the premier national competition for elite Indigenous U18 hockey players. The annual event brings together First Nations, Inuit, and Métis athletes from across Canada, celebrating athletic excellence, cultural pride, and community development through sport.

Team Alberta Female Embraces Unity, Culture, and Competition at 2025 NAHC

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — With the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) in full swing, Team Alberta Female arrived in Kamloops, ready to compete and connect, grow, and lead with purpose.

Head coach Bryan Toles brings a philosophy rooted in trust, accountability, and culture at the heart of the team’s preparation and identity. Stepping into the role midway through the process, Toles has quickly established a foundation of unity that transcends the ice.

“It really is about the experiences,” said Toles. “A lot of these players are going to go on to junior teams, colleges, or back to their club teams, but what they’ll remember most are the things that happen on the bus, in the dressing room, at the hotel. Winning becomes a byproduct of that.”

Team Alberta Female represents a mix of returning players and first-time participants, each bringing their own regional and cultural identities into a shared provincial mission. To help this group come together, the coaching staff has prioritized team-building initiatives, including cultural experiences like a group visit to a newly opened residential school museum in Kamloops, an intentional effort to ground the team in the deeper meaning of the NAHC.

“We’re doing cultural stuff, team bonding, and providing an atmosphere where they can connect and play free, but also challenge each other,” Toles explained. “It’s about being able to move in one direction before puck drop, trusting the process, as cliché as it sounds.”

Trust and freedom are core principles of Toles’ coaching style. He encourages his players to make mistakes, learn from them, and stay focused on their collective responsibilities rather than fear individual slip-ups.

“We have some non-negotiables in terms of our structure, but I want the players to play free within that system,” he said. “Everyone makes mistakes, and how you recover and how the team responds together matters.”

That balance of structure and freedom mirrors what Toles has implemented successfully with the Edmonton Wolves, who recently won provincials under his leadership.

“A lot of these players are getting to the point where they’re young adults,” said Toles. “We want to give them the ability to make the right decisions on and off the ice, not just as athletes, but as people.”

As competition has unfolded this week, Team Alberta Female goal was not only chasing a championship but building a legacy of respect, resilience, and cultural pride. With strong leadership and a unified locker room, the team competed hard, but their most significant win may come from what they can take home beyond the game.

“We’re going to have fun, we’re going to learn, and we’re going to grow,” Toles added. “Seeing these young women put the same jersey on and go together, that’s what I’m most looking forward to.”

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — As the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) continues in Kamloops, Team Alberta Male has arrived with both purpose and pride. The group, a mix of new faces and seasoned players, is being guided by head coach Kevin Hasselberg, a veteran of junior hockey and national-level coaching, now leading at one of the most meaningful events in Indigenous sport.

“This isn’t just about hockey,” said Hasselberg. “It’s about leadership, identity, and learning. It’s about helping young men believe in themselves and grow into who they already are, not change them, but bring out their strengths.”

Hasselberg brings a deeply personal and values-driven philosophy to the bench. Rooted in the work ethic he witnessed growing up on his family’s ranch, his coaching style emphasizes perseverance, character, and accountability.

“Successful people are those who understand setbacks, failures, and push through,” he said. “That came from my parents. Now, I get to give back to the game I love by helping these players build not just their skills, but their sense of self.”

The NAHC is a fast-paced, high-stakes competition. With players coming from different regions and cultural backgrounds, team cohesion can be a challenge, but Hasselberg sees this as an opportunity to empower his athletes rather than control them.

“You have to make it comfortable for them to be uncomfortable,” he explained. “If they know they’re accepted and appreciated for who they are, they can just play. They don’t need to fear making mistakes; that freedom builds chemistry and confidence.”

This year’s roster includes both returning players and first-timers, including veteran Gan McDonald, who brings invaluable leadership to a group that has never played together before. Many of the athletes know each other from past tournaments or regional play, but this is their first time sharing one jersey.

“That’s what makes this year special,” Hasselberg said. “They’ve never played together as one full team, but they know of each other or have played together at some point. That familiarity builds quickly, and we’re going to have a lot of fun with it.”

Beyond the rink, Hasselberg and his staff have embraced the tournament’s greater purpose: celebrating Indigenous culture and unity. The team has spent time learning about each other’s backgrounds and nations, a process that struck the coach on a personal level.

“We asked the players where they’re from and the first thing many said was their First Nations community,” said Hasselberg. “That was really powerful. It made me realize I needed to do more homework, listen more, and understand what this really means. It’s so much bigger than just a hockey tournament.”

As the games unfold, Hasselberg hopes his players remember more than wins and losses. He wants them to remember the moments in between the friendships, the laughter, the pride, and the small victories that make up the journey.

“Just be in the moment,” he said. “Celebrate the small wins. Don’t let a mistake or a bad day take away from the time we have together. Value the experience! That’s what stays with you for life.”

Alberta is seeking its first male gold medal at the NAHC, so the stakes are high. However, under Hasselberg’s leadership, the focus is broader, richer, and ultimately more lasting.

“We want to win it all, no doubt,” he said. “But the legacy we’re building isn’t just on the scoreboard. It’s in the bonds these young men create and the pride they carry with them long after the final whistle.”

The Male team will play in the Semi-finals at 1:00pm today. The game can be streamed on NAHC YouTube Channel.

A total of 75 Albertans, registered with Hockey Alberta/ Hockey Canada sanctioned organizations, were selected during the Western Hockey League’s Prospects draft.

Round 1 of the draft was held Wednesday evening, with the draft concluding on Thursday afternoon.

Calgary’s Thor Liffiton (Calgary Northstars U15AAA) was the top Albertan selected, fourth overall by the WHL’s newest team, the Penticton Vees. Ten Albertans were selected in the first round, 11 in the second round, and another 11 in the third round. Of the 75 Albertans selected, 47 played in the Alberta Elite Hockey League in the 2024-25 season.

FULL LIST OF ALBERTANS SELECTED IN WHL DRAFT >

Full results can be viewed at the 2025 WHL Draft website.