FIVE - The Five Albertans on the Oilers 2024-25 Roster

There’s something special happening in Oil Country this year and it runs deeper than the playoff buzz sweeping through Rogers Place. With five Albertans on the Edmonton Oilers’ 2024-25 roster, the connection between this team and our province is undeniable:

Stuart Skinner - SSAC Lions U15 AAA, SSAC Athletics U18 AAA

Brett Kulak - Stony Plain Predators U15 AA, PAC Timberwolves U15 AAA, PAC Saints U16 AAA, St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA

James Hamblin - SSAC Lions U15 AAA, SSAC Athletics U18 AAA

Noah Philp - Bow Valley Timberwolves U15 AA, Airdrie Xtreme U15 AAA, AC Avalanche U16 AAA, Canmore Eagles, University of Alberta

Matt Savoie - St. Albert Sabres U15 AAA, Northern Alberta Xtreme Prep, Team Alberta (Alberta Cup)

These players are proud products of our local communities, minor hockey associations, and Hockey Alberta programming. From early mornings at hometown rinks to representing their province in elite competitions, each of them followed a unique hockey pathway to the NHL.

This year, the Oilers found a powerful and personal way to honour those roots. To kick off the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the team resurfaced Rogers Place ice with shavings from each player’s hometown rink, bringing pieces of their hockey beginnings to the biggest stage in the sport.

For Stuart Skinner, that meant seeing ice from Edmonton’s Confederation Arena.

It’s a home ice advantage taken to the next level, one rooted in community, development, and pride. From minor hockey teams to provincial showcases, Alberta’s fingerprints are leaving a mark on this year’s Oilers team.

As the Stanley Cup Final unfolds, Alberta isn’t just cheering from the sidelines. We’re in the game, in the players, in the programs, and even in the ice itself.

This isn’t just the Oilers’ run.

This is Alberta’s moment.

RED DEER – The 2024-25 hockey season was filled with unforgettable moments and inspiring stories. Across Alberta, athletes, coaches, membership, officials, volunteers, and teams came together to showcase the very best of our game, both on and off the ice.

As part of this year’s Year in Review, Hockey Alberta is proud to spotlight some of the standout moments that captured the true spirit of the sport. These moments go beyond wins and championships they reflect leadership, resilience, and the powerful impact hockey has in our communities. From grassroots initiatives to provincial milestones, the stories featured this year showcase how the game continues to unite, inspire, and grow throughout Alberta.

YEAR IN REVIEW >

CALGARY – Hockey Canada has announced that after a successful first season, the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project will expand its scope for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on roster composition.

Announced in July 2024, the WCDM pilot project is a joint initiative between Hockey Canada’s four Western Members, their respective Junior A hockey leagues and the Western Hockey League (WHL) that prioritizes athlete development on and off the ice through four key pillars:

• Player advancement
• Roster composition
• Standard of play and rules
• Alignment and messaging

The initial season of the pilot project introduced eight changes to junior hockey in Western Canada, including increased flexibility in the development pathway for 15- and 16-year olds, the choice to wear half-face protection for players 18 years of age or older and streamlined playing rules between Junior A leagues and the WHL.

“Throughout the WCDM pilot project, the four Western Members and six junior leagues have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to bringing forward innovative and creative solutions to enhance the delivery of hockey in Western Canada for players and their families,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “The expansion of the pilot will ensure that our system continues to evolve to meet the needs of our participants, prioritizes their safety on and off the ice and produces high-quality junior hockey throughout Western Canada for years to come.”

Next season, five additional changes will be implemented as part of the pilot:

• Western Junior A teams will be permitted to register up to five U.S.-born players at one time on their active roster, a decrease from the previous six.
• 16- and 17-year-old U.S.-born players who have been drafted, listed or signed by a WHL team will be eligible to be rostered by any Western Junior A team.
• Each Western Junior A team will be eligible to roster one 16- or 17-year-old player whose parent(s) reside(s) outside of their province or region, if the player has been drafted, listed or signed by a WHL team.
• Up to a maximum of 23 such players across all Western Junior A teams, or one player from each WHL team.
• Out-of-province players who participate in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) will be eligible to affiliate with Western Junior A teams in their school’s respective province or region.
• No more than eight players born in a province not participating in the WCDM may be registered on the active roster of a Western Junior A team.

Data from the WCDM pilot project will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis, with the expectation that additional changes will be introduced in future seasons.

CALGARY - This year, Hockey Alberta was well represented with 26 officials invited to participate in the 2025 WHL High Performance Officiating Exposure Camp that took place from June 13-15

The annual event, hosted in Calgary, is designed to help identify and develop top officiating talent. It provides a unique opportunity for officials to showcase their skills and abilities in hopes of earning a future spot with the WHL Officiating Team.

Justin Scott, one of the officials, reflected on the experience, “[I had] an incredible experience at the WHL HP Officiating Exposure Camp, networking with talented delegates, receiving elite coaching, and leveling up both on the ice and in the classroom. Grateful for the growth, the experience, and opportunity to advance in my career as an official”.

More than just a skills clinic, the WHL Officiating Exposure Camp offers an in-depth look at what it takes to officiate at the WHL level. Attendees were challenged both on and off the ice, gaining valuable experience in a high-performance environment alongside their elite peers.

“The weekend was such a great experience and gave me the opportunity to compete with and support officials from around the world. It was amazing to hear and learn from some of the best officials in both the WHL and the NHL during the camp,” said Morgan McCullough.

Graham Gagne also shared his perspective on what made the camp stand out, “I think the part that stood out the most about the camp is that guys like Rehman and Schlenker are truly out there to make you better and are essentially training you to take their jobs. It’s just really cool to see, especially it being such a competitive industry.”

Camp Highlights Included:

• WHL Officiating expectations

• Knowledge of the WHL Officiating opportunities

• On-ice & off-ice skill development

• Designed to push you mentally and physically

• High caliber of competition among peers

• Develop the skills required to further your officiating career

Liam MacIsaac, Manager of Officiating at Hockey Alberta, emphasized the importance of the event. “The Western Hockey League High Performance Officiating Exposure Camp is a unique opportunity for our officials to elevate their skills with direct instruction from NHL officials, network with officials who share the same goals, as well as market themselves as potential officiating prospects to the Western Hockey League and other professional leagues in attendance. We’re incredibly proud of the officials who represented Hockey Alberta with professionalism and passion this past weekend”.

Interested in Officiating?

Hockey Alberta offers officiating programs across the province. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to move to the next level, officiating provides a unique way to stay involved in the game and contribute to the sport in a meaningful way.

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