ATB Financial New Presenting Sponsor Of Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships

RED DEER - The 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships have a new presenting sponsor - ATB Financial.

Hockey fans will have the opportunity to watch teams pursue a 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship, presented by ATB Financial, as tournaments will be hosted in communities across the entire province - at locations ranging from High Level in the north and Taber in the south, to Provost in the east and Grande Prairie in the west.

The sponsorship and hosting announcements were made on December 15 during a media conference at the Red Deer Arena.

“We are pleased to welcome ATB Financial as the presenting sponsor for the 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships which are staple events in the month of March for everyone in the province’s hockey community. Hockey Alberta has been fortunate to partner with ATB Financial for the past few years. We believe that ATB and the Provincial Championships are a natural fit, as thousands of people across the province are involved in ensuring that the participants have memories that last a lifetime,” said Rob Litwinski, Executive Director of Hockey Alberta.

As the presenting sponsor of the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, ATB Financial is continuing a longstanding relationship with Hockey Alberta that has included support of the Team Alberta program.

“Playing in the provincials is every young hockey player’s goal at the start of each season,” said John Windwick, ATB’s Vice President, Community Initiatives. “We can’t wait to see the smiles on the players’ faces when they arrive at the championship tournaments across the province. We’ll definitely do our part to make sure it’s a special experience for everyone involved, including the parents, officials and volunteers who make these events possible.”

ATB’s Vice President, Community Initiatives John Windwick (left) and Hockey Alberta’s Executive
Director Rob Litwinski (right) unveil the new logo for the 2016 Provincial Championships.

Hockey Alberta’s month-long “March to a title” features provincial championship tournament action during four weekends in March, along with four champions crowned through league playoff series. Organizations interested in hosting a provincial championship tournament completed a detailed bid process, with a bid committee evaluating the submissions.

Click here to view the confirmed hosts for the 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial.

The majority of teams competing in minor Provincial Championship tournaments qualify by winning a zone playdown. Playdowns start in mid-January across the province, with up to 1,000 teams vying for the right to represent their zone at the provincial championships. Host teams receive an automatic berth in the championship they are hosting, although they do participate in zone playdowns, and have the opportunity to win their zone title.

For Midget Female AAA, Midget AAA Minor, and Bantam Female AAA, championship tournaments are held to conclude league playoffs. The following provincial champions will be decided via league playoffs: Senior AAA, Junior A, Midget AAA, and Bantam AAA.

Hosts for the following events are still being reviewed: Senior Female, Midget A, Bantam A, Bantam Female B, and Peewee Female B.

Provincial championship weekend in a dozen communities will also have a unique off-ice component. For the third year, Tundra Process Solutions is sponsoring True Spirit of Hockey Day events that will connect Provincial Championships and local schools, allowing students to learn about the excitement, teamwork and friendships that can be generated in the sport of hockey. Through a schedule of planned activities at each school, students will learn the rules of the game, engage with their classmates, and learn the importance of teamwork and skill development.

True Spirit of Hockey Day events will be held in conjunction with Provincial Championships hosted by Springbank, Oyen, Taber, High Prairie, High Level, Fort McMurray, Foothills, Drayton Valley, Grimshaw, Lacombe, Duchess, and Innisfail.

For more information on the 2016 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial, go to hockeyalberta.ca/provincials.

RED DEER - Seventeen of the top 2001-02 born male athletes living north of the 55th have been selected to represent Team Alberta North for the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.

Hockey Alberta’s Bantam Male squad, along with a Junior Female team, will compete in the Arctic Winter Games March 6-11, 2016 in Nuuk, Greenland (hockey will be played in Iqaluit, Nunavut).

Click here to view the Male Team Alberta North Roster.

Selection camps ran December 11-13 in High Prairie, and saw athletes (71 forwards, 30 defensemen, 19 goalies) turn out to compete for a spot with Team Alberta North.

"We saw some very talented individuals at this year’s selection camp," said Blake Cosgrove, Regional Centre Northwest Consultant for Hockey Alberta. "Selecting just 17 athletes was quite difficult, but we’re excited with the group that we’ll be sending to the Arctic Winter Games in March."

Female selection camp is set to run January 8-10 in Slave Lake.

The Arctic Winter Games are the world’s largest northern multi-sport and cultural event. The Arctic Winter Games are a celebration of athletic completion, culture, friendship and cooperation between northern contingents. Athletic competition features sports that enjoy worldwide popularity alongside traditional Arctic Sports and dene Games. A significant cultural component featuring visual arts, dance, ceremonies and galas with participants from across the circumpolar region is a pillar of the Games.

Each hockey team is comprised of 17 players and two coaches. Teams participate in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding for medal-round pairings. One gold ulu is awarded in each age/sex class. Teams that regularly participate in ice hockey include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Click here for more information on the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.

RED DEER – Ten volunteers and two staff members have been recognized by Hockey Alberta for five or 10 consecutive years of leadership in providing excellent service to the hockey community in Alberta.

Service award recipients were announced as part of Hockey Alberta’s semi-annual meeting on November 28 in Red Deer.

Terry Engen, chair of the Board of Directors for Hockey Alberta, and Executive Director Rob Litwinski made presentations to seven of the recipients. The other five will be presented with their awards at a later date.

Ten-Year Award recipients were:

Debbie Northcott: Current Chair, Minor Administration Committee. Previously, Minor Council rep.

Debbie Northcott receives her 10-year award from Terry Engen.

Justin Fesyk: Senior Manager, Hockey Development at Hockey Alberta.

Justin Fesyk receives his 10-year award from Rob Litwinski.

Rob Litwinski: Executive Director at Hockey Alberta.

Rob Litwinski receives his 10-year award from Terry Engen.

Five-Year Award recipients were:

Francois Gagnon: Current Zone 2 Operations Advisory Committee (OAC) rep. Previously, Minor Council rep.

Francois Gagnon receives his 5-year award from Terry Engen.

Craig Reid: Current Zone 1 member on the OAC. Previously, Zone 1 Director.

Len Samletzki: Current Director of Finance on the Board of Directors.

Len Samletzki receives his 5-year ward from Terry Engen.

Dave Shaw: Current Chair of the Officials Committee. Previously, South Zone Referee Chair.

Dave Shaw receives his 5-year award from Terry Engen.

Craig DeCoursey: Current Central Zone Referee Chair.

Greg Nesom: Current Female rep, longt-time Female Chair. Previously, Minor North Female Rep and Minor South Female Rep.

Dave Sevalrud: Current Director at Large on the Board of Directors. Previously, Zone 9 Director and member of the OAC.

Jared Greenburg: North Central Referee Chair through the 2014-15 season.

George Kallay: Zone 6 member on the OAC through the 2014-15 season. Previously, Zone 6 Director.

RED DEER – The eight female hockey teams that will battle it out at the 2016 Alberta Winter Games are now set.

The player rosters for the eight zone teams in the female competition, along with the staff for each team, were announced on December 8. The teams will compete against each other at the 2016 Alberta Winter Games in Medicine Hat, February 13-16.

Teams were selected to represent each of the province’s zones: Sunny South, Big Country, Calgary, Parkland, Yellowhead/Blackgold, Edmonton, Northeast and Peace Country. Each team includes two goalies, six defense, and 12 forwards. Team staff includes a head coach, two assistant coaches, a coach mentor, and a director of hockey operations.

Click here to view all female rosters for the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

Roughly 600 2001-2004 born players attended zone selection camps held at locations across the province, December 4-6.

“We were very impressed with the turn-out we saw this past weekend at every zone camp,” said Mike Kraichy, manager of Team Alberta. “We’d also like to thank all the volunteers who came out for these camps, as well as the male camps the previous weekend. We couldn’t do it without them.”

The Alberta Winter Games is a multi-sport event for developing athletes, aged 11-17 years old. The Winter Games were first hosted in 1976 in Banff, and occur each even-numbered year. The athletes are selected to represent the eight zones in Alberta in 20 sports such as hockey, badminton, gymnastics, skiing and skating.

Hockey Alberta coordinates the ice hockey portion of the Winter Games, as a core segment of its Development Program. The Winter Games provide players, coaches, trainers and referees an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey starting with the zone camp and selection process, through to competing in the Games.

Click here for more information on the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

RED DEER – For 160 male hockey athletes, preparation begins now for the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

The player rosters for the eight zone teams in the male competition, along with the staff for each team, were announced on December 2. The teams will compete against each other at the 2016 Alberta Winter Games in Medicine Hat, February 13-16.

Teams were selected to represent each of the province’s zones: Sunny South, Big Country, Calgary, Parkland, Yellowhead/ Blackgold, Edmonton, Northeast and Peace Country. Each team includes two goalies, six defense, and 12 forwards. Team staff includes a head coach, two assistant coaches, a coach mentor, and a director of hockey operations.

Click here to view all male rosters for the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

Just under 800 2003-born players attended zone selection camps held at locations across the province, November 27-29.

"We’re very impressed with the level of talent displayed at this year’s selection camps," said Dustin Moore, coordinator for Team Alberta. "Choosing just 20 players for each team is never easy, but we’re excited for these athletes to take a big step forward in their development and take part in a provincial event like the Alberta Winter Games."

Zone selection camps for female players are set for this weekend, December 4-6. Female team rosters will be announced later next week.

The Alberta Winter Games is a multi-sport event for developing athletes, aged 11-17 years old. The Winter Games were first hosted in 1976 in Banff, and occur each even-numbered year. The athletes are selected to represent the eight zones in Alberta in 20 sports such as hockey, badminton, gymnastics, skiing and skating.

Hockey Alberta coordinates the ice hockey portion of the Winter Games, as a core segment of its Development Program. The Winter Games provide players, coaches, trainers and referees an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey starting with the zone camp and selection process, through to competing in the Games.

Click here for more information on the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.