News - Hockey Alberta Foundation

RED DEER - The 16th Anniversary Awards Gala & Hockey Celebration is now more than half way sold-out! Get your tickets today and join us in celebrating this year’s inductees: Shirley Cameron, Theoren Fleury, Kevin Lowe, Duncan MacDougall, Bob Ridley and the 1986-87 & 1987-88 Medicine Hat Tigers Memorial Cup Champions. 2019 Inductee Bios >

Become a part of the biggest celebration of hockey in Alberta, the AHHF Induction Gala is on Sunday, July 21, at the Coast Hotel in Canmore. There are sponsorship opportunities available or plan to attend and purchase your Gala tickets >

Reserve a room at the Coast Hotel in Canmore Online >
Or by calling 1-800-663-1144. Please reference CCM-GFC 3880 or AHHF Awards - Attendees

RED DEER - Five outstanding individuals, along with the only Alberta team to win back-to-back Memorial Cups, comprise the 2019 Induction Class for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.

Hockey Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation announced on Thursday the 2019 inductees who will be recognized at the AHHF Awards Gala on Sunday, July 21, at the Coast Hotel in Canmore:

• Shirley Cameron – player, coach and builder of women’s hockey in Alberta
• Theoren Fleury – NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup winner with the Calgary Flames and Olympic Gold Medalist
• Kevin Lowe – six-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist
• Duncan MacDougall – four decades of involvement with at the grassroots level of the officiating program in Edmonton
• Bob Ridley – long-time play-by-play voice (and bus driver) of the Medicine Hat Tigers
• Medicine Hat Tigers (1986-1987 and 1987-88) – two-time Memorial Cup champions, and the only Alberta team to win back-to-back Memorial Cups

Inductee Bios >

We invite you to celebrate the legacy of these Alberta hockey legends on Sunday, July 21 at the Coast Hotel in Canmore. For ticket information, click here.

LEDUC – Icy temperatures may have garnered the big headlines across the province.

But it was a generous donation, on national television through Rogers Hometown Hockey, by the Gord Bamford Foundation to the Hockey Alberta Foundation that provided the hot news.

Bamford was one of the special guests in attendance as part of Rogers Hometown Hockey, and he showed his love for the sport, and the kids who play hockey, in two ways. When Bamford took to the stage for a song, he was proudly sporting a Team Alberta jersey. Then, he presented Tim Leer, the Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, with a cheque for $10,000 in support of the Every Kid Every Community program.

The generous donation will help ensure that any child in Alberta who wants to will be able to enjoy the game of hockey through the EKEC grant program.

This weekend in Leduc was also a big weekend for female hockey in the province. The Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) Midget Elite Showcase saw all 12 teams in the Midget Elite division on the ice for a total of 18 games. Game results, and a summary of what happened in the AFHL in January, can be found at the league’s website, afhl.ca.

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation has been accepted as a participating charity in the 2019 Birdies for Kids program. This fundraising program is designed so that the Hockey Alberta Foundation will receive 100% of every donation accepted on its behalf and allows for additional funding of up to 50% of the original donations made.

The Hockey Alberta Foundation’s goal is to provide every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time through programs like Every Kid Every Community and Future Leaders. Hockey is a great way for kids to be active, healthy and surrounded by positive leaders in their community. Keeping kids active in sport helps reduce childhood obesity, creates a safe and fun environment and forms friendships.

Donating is easy and open now!

Visit shawcharityclassic.com/donatenow/ and select ‘Hockey Alberta Foundation’ to donate online.

If you’d like to donate by cheque, make your cheque payable to ‘Calgary Shaw Charity Classic Foundation” and using the memo section to indicate ‘Hockey Alberta Foundation’ and mail to:

Calgary Shaw Charity Classic Foundation

Suite 1700, Bow Valley Square III
255 5th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 3G6

Help us improve the quality of life of Albertans through hockey and donate now >

Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink is a non-profit program run under the Calgary Shaw Charity Classic Foundation.

The Hockey Alberta Foundation, in conjunction with Vegreville Minor Hockey and KidSport Vegreville, is bringing the Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) Speaker Series to Vegreville. The evening will feature former NHL players Rob Brown and Jason Strudwick in a candid Hockey Hot Stove.

Tickets for the event are $50 for individuals or $350 for a table of 8 and includes a buffet dinner, door prizes, live and silent auctions, and entertainment.

• DATE: Saturday, February 2
• LOCATION: Vegreville Social Centre - 4802 47A Street
• TIME: Doors open 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:30, entertainment at 8 with a dance to follow

For tickets, contact Mike van der Torre at 780-603-7851, or Mandy Chipps at 780-777-9770 or mandychipps@gmail.com

All proceeds from the event will go towards Vegreville Minor Hockey, KidSport Vegreville and the Every Kid Every Community program.

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is excited to once again partner with the Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer for the third straight year to present the Battle of Alberta Fundraiser, benefiting the Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) program. In two years, the Battle of Alberta event has raised over $40,000 for EKEC, as well as $8,000 for additional youth programs in Central Alberta.

The event runs on Saturday, January 5 at Bo’s Bar and Grill in Red Deer, in conjunction with the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Vancouver Canucks (4:30 p.m.) and Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings (8:00 p.m.) on Hockey Night in Canada. The gold medal game of the World Junior Championship (6:00 p.m.) is also set for January 5. Red Deer Rebels game-day host, Troy Gillard, will be the night’s Master of Ceremonies.

The night will also feature a Hockey Hot Stove with NHL alumni Curtis Glencross, Jamie Macoun, Brian McGrattan and Colin Patterson.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with hourly prize draws, an early-bird draw at 6 p.m., and the grand prize draws at 9:30 p.m. Two grand prizes are available to be won:

• Four tickets to the January 19 Edmonton Oilers game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place, and a limo ride from Red Deer to Edmonton, and back.
• Four tickets to the April 6 Calgary Flames game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Scotiabank Saddledome, and a limo ride from Red Deer to Calgary, and back.

Tickets are $40 each, which includes snacks (courtesy of Bo’s), one beverage, and entry into the hourly draws, early bird draw and both grand prize draws.

A WestJet raffle prize (two tickets for anywhere WestJet flies, sold for $20 each), a 50/50 draw, and silent auction items will also be available throughout the night. As the organizers of the event, the Piper Creek Optimist Club has generously allocated the proceeds to the Every Kid Every Community program, which will go specifically to help Central Alberta kids into the game of hockey.

Only 400 tickets are available, and are sold on a first come, first served basis. To purchase tickets, or for more information, please email pcobattleofalberta@gmail.com.

The Hockey Alberta Foundation would like to thank all of the generous sponsors of this event: the Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer, Bo’s Bar and Grill, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Calgary Flames Foundation, ATB Financial, ATB Wealth, Black Crown Garage, WestJet, the Molson Coors Brewing Company, Your Wedding Place and the Frère Realty Team.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta Foundation, in support of the Every Kid Every Community Grant Program, is reaching out to our TEAMMATES in minor hockey communities across Alberta.

Throughout the hockey season many teams, focus fundraising efforts on a charity of choice to support. We hope you will consider your teammates at the Hockey Alberta Foundation as your hockey charity of choice.

Here’s how:

We have launched the Teammates helping Teammates raffle in support of the Every Kid Every Community Grant Program.

There are only 100 tickets available. Tickets are available for $100 each and can be purchased by cash, cheque or credit card by contacting the Hockey Alberta Foundation office or completing the online form.

The deadline to purchase tickets is 12 noon on March 25, 2019, or once all 100 tickets are sold. Draws will take place at 2:00pm on March 25 at the Hockey Alberta Office in Red Deer.

There are 2 identical grand prizes available:

• 25 tickets to the Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks game on Friday, March 29^th, 2019.
• Transportation via motorcoach to and from Scotiabank Saddledome.

Buy your ticket today and help us raise $10,000, and together, we as TEAMMATES can give Every Kid in Every Community a chance to play hockey.

Contest Rules > | About Every Kid Every Community >

If you have any questions about the Teammates Helping Teammates raffle, please email Danielle Kraichy at dkraichy@hockeyalberta.ca

RED DEER - For the second consecutive year, the Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event is contributing $190,000 to two central Alberta charitable organizations.

Hockey Alberta Foundation, and its Every Kid Every Community program, and the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, will share the proceeds. The 2018 event, which was co-sponsored by ATB and Calgary Flames Foundation, was hosted August 23-24, and included a sponsor-only poker tournament and the charity rodeo.

In total, over the seven years of the Roughstock event, more than $1.6 million has been raised.

Curtis Glencross was joined by several event organizers on November 23 at Ronald McDonald House to present cheques to the event beneficiaries.

“For the past seven years, the Charity Roughstock event has benefitted from the hard work of a dedicated group of volunteers, and from the generosity of supporters and sponsors who return each year to enjoy the event and the camaraderie that goes with it,” said Curtis Glencross. “I want to say thank you to everyone who makes this event a success because, without your efforts, there are many families across Alberta who would be looking elsewhere for support. Your efforts help Albertans experience opportunities they might not have otherwise.”

The funds delivered to the Ronald McDonald House go towards serving families, keeping the House operational - and ensuring that there are rooms available whenever they are needed.

“This significant donation benefits every single family who will need the Ronald McDonald House this year”, said Jason Evanson, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta, “Their support over the past seven years translates over 4,700 nights of comfort for families - their impact on Albertans facing serious childhood illness or injury is profound. The Glencross family, and their friends, are lifelines for the families of the Ronald McDonald House”.

For the Hockey Alberta Foundation and Hockey Alberta, this funding goes to the Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) program. EKEC has a goal of ensuring a pathway to play hockey for any child in Alberta who is interested in the sport.

“Each year for the past seven years, it has been a privilege to work with Curtis, his family and the organizing committee for this event,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director, Hockey Alberta Foundation. “As Teammates in support of the Every Kid Every Community program, their efforts and generosity are felt not just in central Alberta, but across the province as more and more kids have the opportunity to experience our great sport for the first time through program and player grants.”

LETHBRIDGE - The Hockey Alberta Foundation, with support from Kirks Tirecraft, Lethbridge Hurricanes and ATB Wealth are bringing another Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) Speaker Series event to Lethbridge.

The afternoon will feature Lethbridge Broncos’ alumni Bryan Trottier and Brian Sutter. Trottier, a former New York Islander and Stanley Cup champion, will share stories with Sutter, the former St.Louis Blues captain, in a Hockey Hot Stove.

Tickets for the event are $50 for individuals or $400 for a table of 8 and include a beverage, appetizers, entrance to the event and a game day ticket to see the Lethbridge Hurricanes take on the Medicine Hat Tigers.

• DATE: Sunday, December 30
• LOCATION: Enmax Center, Canadian Western Bank Lounge
• TIME: Doors open 3 pm; Speaker Series at 3:30 pm; Hurricanes vs Tigers at 6 pm.

TICKETS >

Through the generous support of the Lethbridge Hurricanes gameday sponsor, Kirks Tirecraft, every dollar from tickets sold and auctions on site will directly to the Every Kid Every Community Program. The Lethbridge Hurricanes have also committed all proceeds from the chuck-a-puck contest during the game to the EKEC program.

CALGARY - A new hockey program launches this week in Calgary that provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment to youth with cognitive challenges, including Autism and Down Syndrome.

Super HEROS is the newest program offered by Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) Hockey, a pilot project providing the opportunity to play hockey for a group of young people who often face a range of challenges including isolation, disconnection from their peers, and not feeling fully integrated in the community.

Super HEROS was recently named a recipient of $5,000 from the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) Grant fund.

EKEC’s goal is to provide every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time. The funding will help cover ice rental costs.

“Super HEROS does exactly what EKEC is all about - giving kids a chance to play hockey who otherwise likely wouldn’t have that opportunity,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation.

The program features 21 boys and girls, ages 7-17 years, with cognitive challenges. Participants rotate through four or five stations, each with a different short duration/ low intensity skill development opportunity. The focus is on fundamentals such as skating and puck skills through fun activities.

In the EKEC application, it was noted “there is currently no place for this population of kids to play. There are many barriers; physical, emotional, social that make organized hockey of any kind unrealistic;. This does not mean that they are not passionate about hockey, or sports in general, it just means they are limited in that there isn’t anywhere they can take part. Super HEROS will provide them with a place to take part in a sport they love and have aspired to play.”

The Super HEROS program operates at the Max Bell Centre, and includes introductory hockey skills training and workshops, along with helping the young participants establish a sense of belonging. Equipment fitting occurs on Wednesday, October 10, with the program starting Sunday, October 14 and continuing until mid-March.

For more information on Every Kid Every Community, go to hockeyalbertafoundation.ca. For more information on Super HEROS, go to heroshockey.com.

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is seeking communities across the province to host an EKEC Speaker Series, benefiting both the Every Kid Every Community program, and your local Minor Hockey Association.

The event could be a luncheon, pub night, or breakfast event, and could include a silent or live auction, raffle, and a hockey hotstove with current or former NHL players. Past events have featured Jason Strudwick, Brian Trottier, Rob Brown and Jamie McLennan.

All costs for the event are covered by the Hockey Alberta Foundation, and fifty per cent of the proceeds will go directly to your local MHA.

Minor Hockey Associations that have previously hosted events include Calgary, Calmar, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Olds, and Red Deer.

For more information on hosting an EKEC Speaker Series in your community, please contact foundation@hockeyalberta.ca.

About Every Kid Every Community

The Every Kid Every Community program was launched in 2011, with the goal of ensuring a gateway to play hockey for any child in Alberta who is interested in the sport. The goal is to provide every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time.

Funding through Every Kid Every Community is available to assist amateur sports organizations, minor hockey organizations, youth groups, recreation groups, or any community group with an idea, project or program that helps establish an event or program to get local children active in hockey. Hockey is a great way for kids to be active, healthy and surrounded by positive leaders in their community. Keeping kids active in sport helps reduce childhood obesity, creates a safe and fun environment and forms friendships.

CALMAR - The Hockey Alberta Foundation, along with Calmar Minor Hockey Association are excited to announce the CMHA Comedy Night and Speaker Series featuring Rob Brown and Jason Strudwick on April 21.

The event runs on Saturday, April 21 at the Calmar Curling Rink. Tickets to the event are $40 each, or $320 for a table of eight (includes dinner).

Doors open at 5 p.m. at the Calmar Curling Club, dinner will be served at 6, followed by a comedy show at 7:30, an auction at 9, and a Hockey Hot Stove with Brown and Strudwick at 9:30, and a dance to follow.

Proceeds from this event will go towards the Every Kid Every Community program and the Calmar Minor Hockey Association.

Tickets >

Please contact Holly Martin (Hockey Alberta) at 403-967-0059.or hmartin@hockeyalberta.ca, or Samantha Besler at (Calmar MHA) at sbesler@live.ca if you have any questions

OLDS - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is excited to announce Edmonton Oilers Vice President of Hockey Operations, Craig MacTavish as a guest speaker for the EKEC Speaker Series in Olds.

MacTavish will join Calgary Flames President of Hockey Operations, Brian Burke, who was announced as a guest speaker in December.

The event runs on February 2 at the Pomeroy Inn and Suites in Olds, as well the Olds Sportsplex, in conjunction with the Olds Grizzlys game against the Camrose Kodiaks.

Olds Minor Hockey Association, Olds College Broncos, and Olds Grizzlys have partnered with the Foundation to make this entertaining evening possible.

Tickets to the event are $50 each, or $400 for a table of eight.

Each ticket includes:

• One entry into the Every Kid Every Community Speaker Series at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites in Olds
• Complimentary wings, courtesy of the Pomeroy Inn & Suites
• One beverage, courtesy of the Olds College Brewery
• One fair market value tax receipt
• One ticket to the Olds College Broncos game against the NAIT Ooks on February 1 (non-transferable)
• One ticket to the Olds Grizzlys game against the Camrose Kodiaks on February 2 (non-transferable)
• Complimentary shuttle service from the Pomeroy to the Olds Sportsplex for the Grizzlys game from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. at the Pomeroy, with a Hockey Hot Stove set for 6:15 with Burke and MacTavish. The event also features a silent auction and a 50/50 draw.

Tickets also include admission to the Grizzlys game. Following the Hot Stove, a shuttle service to the Olds Sportsplex will be provided from 7:30-8:30 p.m. to attend the game, with an autograph session available in the first intermission.

Proceeds from this event will go towards the Every Kid Every Community program, Olds Minor Hockey, the Olds College Broncos and the Olds Grizzlys.

For more information about Every Kid Every Community, please click here.

For more information on the event, or for any ticket inquiries please call Holly Martin at 403-342-6777 or email hmartin@hockeyalberta.ca

OLDS - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is excited to announce the Every Kid Every Community Speaker Series in Olds with Calgary Flames President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke.

The event runs on February 2 at the Pomeroy Inn and Suites in Olds, as well the Olds Sportsplex, in conjunction with the Olds Grizzlys game against the Camrose Kodiaks.

Olds Minor Hockey Association, Olds College Broncos, and Olds Grizzlys have partnered with the Foundation to make this entertaining evening possible.

Tickets to the event are $50 each, or $400 for a table of eight.

Each ticket includes:

• One entry into the Every Kid Every Community Speaker Series at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites in Olds
• Complimentary wings, courtesy of the Pomeroy Inn & Suites
• One beverage, courtesy of the Olds College Brewery
• One fair market value tax receipt
• One ticket to the Olds College Broncos game against the NAIT Ooks on February 1 (non-transferable)
• One ticket to the Olds Grizzlys game against the Camrose Kodiaks on February 2 (non-transferable)
• Complimentary shuttle service from the Pomeroy to the Olds Sportsplex for the Grizzlys game from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Tickets also include admission to the Grizzlys game. Following the Hot Stove, a shuttle service to the Olds Sportsplex will be provided from 7:30-8:30 p.m. to attend the game, with an autograph session available in the first intermission.

Proceeds from this event will go towards the Every Kid Every Community program, Olds Minor Hockey, the Olds College Broncos and the Olds Grizzlys.

For more information about Every Kid Every Community, please click here.

For more information on the event, or for any ticket inquiries please call Holly Martin at 403-342-6777 or email hmartin@hockeyalberta.ca

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is proud to recognize Q2 Artificial Lift Services as its TEAMMATE of the Month for October.

Q2 Artificial Lift Services (Quinns Energy Group of Companies) has been a TEAMMATE of the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Every Kid Every Community Program for four years, and is a major sponsor of the Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic - the Foundation’s largest fundraising event each year.

“Q2 Artificial Lift Services is proud to be a Teammate of the Hockey Alberta Foundation," said Doug Quinn, President and CEO of Q2 Artificial Lift Services. "We are strong believers in the power of sport in our community, and all communities across Alberta. We stand behind the Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program, and the initiative to give every kid in Alberta a chance to play the great game of hockey by eliminating any barriers to participation they may have”

The Hockey Alberta Foundation would like the thank Q2 Artificial Lift Services for their ongoing support, helping assist thousands of kids across the province through their generous donation over the past four years.

RED DEER - The G.H. Dawe Community School in Red Deer is one of five recipients of quarterly grants recently awarded by the Hockey Alberta Foundation.

Along with the G.H. Dawe School, grants were awarded to the Sturgeon Hockey Club, the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association, St. Albert Minor Hockey Association, and Bashaw Minor Hockey Association through the Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program.

G.H. Dawe School has earmarked its $4,250 for a learn-to-play program for students, where all the necessary equipment will be provided.

"Last year, we did an informal survey to find out how many students owned skates," said Sue Carmichael, Principal of G.H. Dawe. "Out of a couple classes, with over 30 students each, only four students owned skates. The vast majority of our students have never played or been exposed to skate-related sports. We currently have two large cupboards to house skates. The skates are well-used and often we don’t have enough sizes to fit students.”

Carmichael explained that last winter, the school had a sports expert assess the skates. It was determined that at least half need replacing, and that the school also was in short supply of helmets.

“With the generous grant from the Every Kid Every Community program, we will be able to purchase many pairs of used skates, and new helmets,” said Carmichael. “For the first time, we will be able to start a learn-to-play hockey program during Middle School options. A huge thank you to the Hockey Alberta Foundation!"

Through all of the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s TEAMMATES, including ATB Investor Services, Quinn’s Energy Group of Companies, the Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer, the Glencross Legacy Fund, and Serdachny Hockey, these grants are made possible for communities throughout the province.

The deadline to apply for the next set of quarterly grants through the Every Kid Every Community program is November 30. For more information on how to apply for a grant, click here.

About Every Kid Every Community

The Every Kid Every Community program was launched in 2011, with the goal of ensuring a gateway to play hockey for any child in Alberta who is interested in the sport. The goal is to provide every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time.

Funding through Every Kid Every Community is available to assist amateur sports organizations, minor hockey organizations, youth groups, recreation groups, or any community group with an idea, project or program that helps establish an event or program to get local children active in hockey. Hockey is a great way for kids to be active, healthy and surrounded by positive leaders in their community. Keeping kids active in sport helps reduce childhood obesity, creates a safe and fun environment and forms friendships.

RED DEER - For the sixth straight year, the Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event was a success, with $190,000 going to the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Central Alberta.

Curtis Glencross, and representatives from the event, were in attendance at the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer on September 27 to present cheques to the two beneficiaries of the event.

The event, a sponsor-only poker event, and the charity rodeo, ran August 24-25, with all proceeds – a total of $190,000 – donated to the two organizations. With this year’s contribution, the event has now surpassed the $1.4 million mark in its six-year history.

"We’re really excited, we found a few ways this year to raise a little more money, and cut a few costs, so it was nice that would could come out and raise $190,000 this year, we’re about $40,000 up from last year, so it was a huge success for us again this year," said Curtis Glencross. "As long as we can keep building it, and keep making it grow and raise the money we can, it’s two great causes that we support, so no matter how much work it is, at the end of the day, it’s pretty rewarding that we can come and give out a cheque like this to these two great charities."

The Hockey Alberta Foundation has been a benificiary of the event since its inception, with the money coming in earmarked for the Every Kid Every Community Program.

"We’re very appreciative of Curtis, his family, and his committee and sponsors," said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. "The work we do as a charity, doesn’t happen without what we call "Teammates". Whether the Teammate is a sponsor, donor, or partner event, we can’t do what we do without great Teammates, and certainly Curtis and his crew are great Teammates."

Since the creation of the Every Kid Every Community program in 2011, more than $300,000 has been distributed to groups focused on creating access to hockey across Alberta. More importantly, the funds have increased access to hockey in 36 communities and for more than 3,500 kids.