News - Hockey Alberta Foundation

RED DEER - The fourth annual Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer’s Battle of Alberta fundraiser was a major success, bringing in $22,000 for the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program, as well as other youth initiatives in Central Alberta.

The event was held in January at Bo’s Bar and Grill in Red Deer, with Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames fans gathering for a night of hockey, stories, and a chance to win tickets to see the Battle of Alberta in Calgary on January 11, and in Edmonton on January 29.

The night was hosted by local comedian Zach Landry. Former Calgary Flame and 2020 Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jamie Macoun, and former Edmonton Oiler Dave Hunter served as the night’s entertainment with a special hockey hot stove.

From left: Zach Landry, Dave Hunter, Jamie Macoun

“It never ceases to amaze us just how much support we receive for this event,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. “We’re always fortunate to partner with a group like the Piper Creek Optimist Club to raise funds and awareness for Every Kid Every Community. Our goal as a foundation is to ensure every kid in Alberta has a chance to play hockey, and the Battle of Alberta fundraiser gets us one step closer to achieving that goal every year.”

The Hockey Alberta Foundation would like to thank all of the major 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 Investor Services, WestJet, the Molson Coors Brewing Company, MNP, Viking Projects Ltd, Vada Capital, Century 21 - Gavin Heintz, and Arrow Limousine.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation are pleased to announce Braden Bystrom and Jantzen Leslie as distinguished Future Leaders.

Bystrom and Leslie were among the eight post-secondary students accepted into the 2019 Future Leader Development Program, which saw them fill a role during the U16 Male & U16 Female Provincial Camps in Red Deer last year. Both were selected as distinguished future leaders for their leadership, professionalism, enthusiasm and willingness to give back to the game of hockey.

In addition to the original $1,000 scholarship awarded to participants of the program, the two distinguished Future Leaders each receive an additional $3,000 scholarship.

Hockey Alberta Foundation Board of Directors Chair, Dennis Zukiwsky, presented Bystrom with a cheque on February 28 during a West Central Midget Tigers game. Bystrom is currently an assistant coach with the team and is attending Red Deer College.

Hockey Alberta Foundation Executive Director, Tim Leer, presented Leslie with a cheque at the Hockey Alberta office on February 28. Leslie is currently a skills coach for Lakeside Hockey Development and for NHL/NHLPA First Shift Program being hosted by Hockey Alberta and is attending Red Deer College.

2020 Future Leaders Development Program

Applications are still being accepted for the 2020 Future Leaders Development Program. The application deadline is April 22, and the FLDP runs May 8-10 in Red Deer.

Apply >

For more information on the Future Leaders Development Program, click here.

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation has been accepted as a participating charity in the 2020 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.

CANMORE - The Hockey Alberta Foundation, in conjunction with Canmore Minor Hockey and the Canmore Eagles, is bringing the Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) Speaker Series to Canmore on Friday, February 21.

The evening will feature 2020 Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jamie Macoun, honoured member Mike Rogers and former Calgary Flame Colin Patterson in a candid Hockey Hot Stove.

Tickets for the event are $40 for individuals, $100 for a family of four (two adults, two children), or $300 for a table of 8, which includes one beverage, appetizers, and admission to the Canmore Eagles game against the Olds Grizzlys.

• DATE: Friday, February 21
• LOCATION: Canmore Recreation Centre - 1900 8th Ave
• TIME: Doors open 5:00 pm, Hot Stove at 5:45, puck drop at 7:00.

Tickets >

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

CALGARY - Seven outstanding individuals, along with the 1975 Canada Winter Games and Alberta Provincial Junior B champions, comprise the 2020 Induction Class for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.

The announcement of the Class of 2020 was made on Thursday by Hockey Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

The 2020 inductees will be recognized at the AHHF Awards Gala on Sunday, July 19, at the Coast Hotel in Canmore:

• Bill Bucyk – respected linesman, referee and leader who skated in the World Hockey Association and internationally, and helped train some of the longest-serving officials in the NHL
• Bob Clark – the first-ever Minister of Youth in Alberta, and the face of Junior A hockey in Alberta with the Olds Grizzlys and the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
• Cassie Campbell-Pascall – unparalled career including captain of the Canadian National Women’s hockey team, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and six-time world champion, along with trailblazing work as a broadcaster nationally and internationally.
• Jamie Macoun – two-time Stanley Cup during a 17-year career with Calgary, Toronto and Detroit, and two-time World Championships silver medalist
• John Davidson – outstanding NHL goaltender, award-winning broadcaster, and respected front office executive who currently is president of the New York Rangers
• Ken Hitchcock – Stanley Cup champion NHL head coach, and three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada over a more than 40-year coaching career.
• Dr. Randy Gregg – five-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers and two-time CIAU champion.
• 1974-75 Lethbridge Native Sons – 1975 Canada Winter Games and Alberta Junior B provincial champions

2020 INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES >

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Future Leaders Scholarship.

Eight outstanding post-secondary students were chosen from the 2019 Future Leaders Development Program to receive a $1,000 scholarship, with the opportunity to receive an additional scholarship for achieving "distinguished leader" status. Distinguished Future Leaders will be announced in January.

The 2019 Future Leaders are:

• Teagan Borbandy (University of Saskatchewan)
• Laura Jardin (McGill University)
• Danica L Dahlin (University of Lethbridge)
• Paige Grenier (University of New Brunswick)
• Braden Bystrom (Red Deer College)
• Jantzen T Leslie (Red Deer College)
• Ryan Graham (University of Calgary)
• Annaliese Meier (University of Calgary)

“The Future Leaders Hockey Program allowed me to see the game I love from a whole new perspective, as a coach. I developed a better understanding on how to breakdown plays and skills to their basics, and then rebuild them through progressions,” said Borbandy. “This not only helped me better understand how to develop a practice plan, but also how to better explain and break down situations on the bench during a game. These are skills I believe will benefit me as I move forward in my coaching career”

For Jardin , she came away from the Future Leaders program with a different outlook on the game of hockey.

“As a player following coaches’ instructions is crucial. When you are on the receiving end of the instructions, not a lot of thought is put into what the purpose of a drill is. The Future Leaders program has broadened this view by teaching me to structure a practice, identify the key teaching points in a drill and to develop a coach’s philosophy,” said Jardin.

The Future Leader Development Program is designed to develop and train post-secondary students in the area of coaching. Areas of focus include proper instruction, administration, leadership, technical and tactical skills in hockey, so that the future leaders can carry those skills into our communities.

Learning how to coach players with a range of attitudes was a key area of growth for Leslie.

“I was able to take my learning in the Future Leaders Program and reflect on each coach’s style. The program taught me that players respond to each coaching style differently and to take elements of each coaching style I have personally experienced and add them to my own coaching style so that I can in turn find the correct coaching method for each individual ,” said Leslie.

For Grenier, she gained a better overall understanding of the work coaches undertake.

“The Future Leaders program gave me a greater respect for all the work coaches put in, not just for a single practice but all the preparation for a season. I feel more prepared and capable for all my future coaching endeavors whether that be with a team or even just for camps,” said Grenier[BEL] .

Since the Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1998, Hockey Alberta Foundation has invested annually in the development of great leaders for the future of the game and our communities in Alberta. The scholarship program operates in alignment with the Future Leaders Development Program, which focuses on educating and training our post-secondary student coaches to be strong and effective on-ice leaders.

RED DEER - Two central Alberta charitable organizations are the beneficiaries of a contribution $170,000 for 2019 from Curtis Glencross & Friends.

The contribution includes funds raised through the 8th annual Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event, and a new undertaking in 2019 in conjunction with the Roughstock, a Truck Raffle.

Hockey Alberta Foundation, and its Every Kid Every Community program, and Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta, share the proceeds from the fundraising endeavours.

As well, one lucky individual is driving home with a new 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Truck with elevation package, provided by Kipp Scott Motors in Red Deer. Mike Commodore had his ticket drawn and was presented with the truck on Friday.

The 2019 Roughstock event, which was co-sponsored by ATB and Calgary Flames Foundation, was hosted in August in Red Deer, and included a sponsor-only poker tournament and the charity rodeo. The Truck Raffle had 999 tickets available at $100 per ticket.

In total, over the eight years of the Roughstock event, more than $1.7 million has been raised for worthy organizations in Alberta.

Curtis Glencross was joined by event organizers on November 29 at the Hockey Alberta office at Red Deer College to present cheques to the event beneficiaries.

"This year, to celebrate eight years of the Charity Roughstock event, we tried something a little different to benefit Ronald McDonald House and Every Kid Every Community. The addition of the Truck Raffle allowed us an additional opportunity to raise funds to benefit families throughout central Alberta,” said Curtis Glencross. “None of this is possible without our dedicated volunteers, and the generosity of our supporters and sponsors. My thanks to everyone who worked so hard this year because otherwise there are many families across Alberta who would be looking elsewhere for support.”

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

"We want to thank Curtis, his family, and the hard-working committee and volunteers who made this event and raffle such a success. The impact of their donations over nearly a decade has increased our capacity to serve more families from more communities and we are incredibly grateful,” said Jason Evanson, CEO of RMHC Alberta. “Their efforts ensure that families are able to stay together when they need it most - during the serious illness or injury of their child.”

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

“Curtis, his family, and the incredible group of volunteers supporting the Roughstock event and Truck Raffle have done an incredible job again this year raising funds to help families not just in central Alberta, but across the province,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director, Hockey Alberta Foundation. “The goal of Every Kid Every Community is to provide kids with the pathway to experience our great sport for the first time, and more kids now have that opportunity through program and player grants.”

	Mike Commodore (centre) is presented with his 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 by Calvin Kokotailo (General Sales Manager) and Mike Samson (General Manager) of Kipp Scott GMC Cadillac Buick. Also on hand were Curtis Glencross and Kelsey Angeltvedt (Glencross and Friends). The winning ticket was number 0036.
	Curtis Glencross addressing the media conference.

RED DEER – The Hockey Alberta Foundation has a new Chair and Vice Chair of its Board of Directors after the Foundation’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday at Red Deer College.

Dennis Zukiwsky (Red Deer) was acclaimed as the new Chair, taking over from John Windwick. Jeff Robson (Calgary) was acclaimed as the Vice Chair, taking over from Dennis Zukiwsky. Zukiwsky previously served as the Board’s Vice Chair, while Robson was previously a Director on the Board.

Two new Board Members were also voted in. Todd Thiessen, from Red Deer, and Kent Smith, from Medicine Hat. Both bring a wealth of experience and are sure to be an asset to the Board.

Board members continuing to support the HAF are John Windwick (Calgary) as the Past Chair, John Kosolowski (Edmonton) who remains the Board Treasurer, Bob Bartlett (Lethbridge), Graham MacLachlan (Calgary), Lorne Radbourne (Grande Prairie) and Chris Turchansky (Edmonton).

EDMONTON - As a result of funds raised at the 2019 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf, hosted in Edmonton last June, two Alberta charities are benefitting. The $371,649 legacy funding will be split evenly between the Oilers Entertainment Group’s 2nd Shift program and the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community programs to help provide children of all backgrounds and circumstances the opportunity to experience hockey.

Yesterday the Hockey Canada Foundation brought together members of the 2019 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf legacy committee at the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame to present the legacy cheques. Event co-chairs Ashif and Zainul Mawji and Hockey Alberta Foundation vice-chair Dennis Zukiwsky were on hand to accept the cheques.

The generous donation by the Hockey Canada Foundation 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.

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected]

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.