Team Alberta to return to NAHC in 2023

EDMONTON – The Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta and Hockey Alberta have made the difficult decision not to send teams to the 2022 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC).

The decision was made to allow both organizations to take the time to build a sustainable program model that will benefit Indigenous youth across Alberta in the years to come. Both organizations thank the NAHC and Aboriginal Sport Circle, and send appreciation to the Membertou NAHC 2022 Host Society for their commitment in organizing the national championships. We look forward to Team Alberta returning to the national championships in 2023.

Team Alberta selection camps for 2023 will take place in late May or early June 2022. More details on date(s) and location(s) will be shared once they are confirmed.

Background

ISCA and Hockey Alberta entered a partnership in 2019 to facilitate the growth and development of Indigenous hockey across Alberta. This partnership included Hockey Alberta operating the Team Alberta Male and Female squads competing at the NAHC. The 2020 and 2021 national championships were cancelled due to COVID-19.

For further information:

ISCA Hockey Alberta

Jake Hendy, Executive Director Brad Lyon, Senior Manager, Communications

[email protected] [email protected]

RED DEER – After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial, are returning in 2022.

A total of 32 provincial champions will be crowned during March and April. Host locations for the 29 weekend championship tournaments were announced December 17. The final three provincial champions will be determined through league playoffs.

Championship tournaments will be hosted in locations across the province – from Slave Lake in the north, west to Grande Prairie, east to Cold Lake and south to Picture Butte.

For the first time, zone playdowns will not be used to determine the qualifying teams. Rather, participating teams for provincial championship tournaments will be determined through league playoffs.

Most Minor Tiered and Minor Female events will feature eight teams - the host, a wild card and the champions from each division’s respective leagues: Hockey Calgary, Edmonton Federation Hockey League, Central Alberta Hockey League, Northern Alberta Interlock, All Peace Hockey League, North Eastern Alberta Hockey League, Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League, and East Central Female Hockey League.

Two divisions in the Alberta Female Hockey League will kick off the March to a Title with the U15 Female AA and the U18 Female AAA champions being crowned on March 20.

Week two (March 24-27) will feature nine tournaments: AFHL U18 Female AA, Alberta Elite Hockey League U15 AAA, U15 AA, U15 Tier 1, U15 Tier 2, U15 Tier 3, U15 Tier 4, U15 Female A, and U15 Female B.

Another 15 tournaments are set for March 31 – April 3, including: Junior B, U18 AA, U18 Tier 1, U18 Tier 2, U18 Tier 3, U18 Tier 4, U18 Female A, U18 Female B, U13 AA, U13 Tier 1, U13 Tier 2, U13 Tier 3, U13 Tier 4, U13 Female A, and U13 Female B.

The final weekend of 2022 provincial play wraps up April 7-10, as the tournaments showcase the Senior AA and AEHL U16 AAA.

Junior A, Junior Female and the AEHL’s U18 AAA provincial champions are decided through league playoffs.

ATB Financial is returning as the presenting sponsor of the 2022 Provincial Sponsorships.

“We know playing for the championship is every young hockey player’s goal at the start of each season," said Kris Noble, Senior Manager, Sponsorship and Community Investment. "We are excited to be back as the Presenting Sponsor of the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships and look forward to making these events a special experience for everyone involved; the players, parents, officials and volunteers."