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Ice Times Newsletter

ICE TIMES EDITION 24:05

Hockey Alberta News

2024 SPRING SHOWCASE

Hockey Alberta welcomes over 400 athletes, 200 volunteers, 150 scouts and thousands of family and friends to the Red Deer area for the annual Spring Showcase at the Gary W. Harris Centre at Red Deer Polytechnic.

The Spring Showcase is a three-week event featuring three elite level competitions for players who participated in a Hockey Canada sanctioned program this season:

Alberta Cup (for U15 males) - April 24-28
Alberta Challenge (for U15 females) - May 1-5
Prospects Cup (for U13 males) - May 8-12

Each competition is five days in length, and features the top athletes in each region, coached and staffed by some of the most knowledgeable in the province. The event serves as development to introduce athletes and staff to short-term competition.


VIEW THE SPECIAL EDITION SPRING SHOWCASE ICE TIMES NEWSLETTER >

Hockey Alberta Foundation

Delia School producing provincial winners with help from Hockey Alberta Foundation

While the village of Delia might be small in stature, it makes up for in quality.

Twelve students at Delia School were able to enrol in the school’s hockey program with help from the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Every Kid Every Community (EKEC) program.

The hockey option allowed for registered hockey players to continue playing but also gave those who have never touched the ice before on skates the opportunity to try the sport as well.

“Unfortunately, our local arena no longer offers minor hockey programming for players over the age of eight,” said Amber Marshall, President of the Delia School Enhancement Society. “Therefore, local kids need to travel to neighbouring communities to participate in hockey activities on teams.”

While options were limited for the 125 students, the EKEC grant provided students an opportunity that previously didn’t exist. The grant dollars were also able to help cover the costs of the three instructors leading the program.

“For our school, the goal of the grant was to get as many students on the ice as possible with little or no cost associated with the program,” she said. “Thanks to the Hockey Alberta Foundation, Delia School was able to do just that. Regardless of skill level, hockey experience or financial capabilities we were able to get 12 students from grades 7-11 on the ice for a two-week credited hockey option. With the Every Kid Every Community grant our school has been able to provide the opportunity to learn the game, improve their skills, all with a focus on sportsmanship, community involvement, physical fitness and nutrition.”

Students who participated in the program this year were able to work on their skills and apply what they learned on the ice immediately as eight of the 12 students helped their respective teams win provincial championships this season.

Seven students travelled to Hanna to play on the U18 Tier 2 Hanna Colts while one other played in Delburne for the U15 Tier 3 Outlaws. Hanna defeated Fairview 2-1 with Delburne taking down Bieseker 6-3 in their respective championship finals.

While winning provincials is a crowning achievement on a successful initiative, the main takeaway was how much everyone enjoyed the experience.

“Learning the game of hockey and the love for sport goes beyond the ice,” Marshall said. “The programming that became possible through Hockey Alberta and the EKEC grant pulled a group of students together that otherwise wouldn’t have crossed paths. Watching older players interact, teach and laugh with younger, less experienced players, was incredibly rewarding and a testament to the impact this grant makes on our small communities.”

EKEC grants are 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.

APPLY FOR EKEC GRANT >

News

Seventeen Albertans named to final NHL Central Scouting List

RED DEER – Seventeen Alberta born/trained players have been named to the NHL Central Scouting’s North America Final Rankings for 2023-2024.

Calgary Hitmen defenceman Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary) is the highest ranked Albertan in the list, ending the season at number 11 out of all eligible North American players. Terik Parascak (Lethbridge) of the Prince George Cougars is not far behind, ranked at number 15. Of the eligible players on the list, sixteen are playing in the WHL, and the other two play in the AJHL and USHL.

The full list of players named to the list can be found below. The 2024 NHL Draft Combine takes place in Buffalo, New York from June 2-8, and the 2024 NHL Draft takes place in Paradise, Nevada at the Sphere from June 28-29.

Note: All players listed are considered as Hockey Alberta members/alumni.

Name

Hometown/Origin

Position

Team

HAB

League

NA Ranking

Carter Yakemchuk

Calgary

Defence

Calgary Hitmen

NWCAA

WHL

11

Terik Parascak

Lethbridge

Right Wing

Prince George Cougars

Edge

WHL

15

Andrew Basha

Calgary

Left Wing

Medicine Hat Tigers

CRAA

WHL

26

Charlie Elick

Calgary

Defence

Brandon Wheat Kings

NWCAA/Edge

WHL

31

Harrison Brunicke

Calgary

Defence

Kamloops Blazers

CRAA

WHL

52

Eric Jamieson

Calgary

Defence

Everett Silvertips

CNHA/Edge

WHL

84

Finn McLaughlin

Canmore

Defence

Fargo Force

Airdrie

USHL

132

Keets Fawcett

Grimshaw

Right Wing

Calgary Hitmen

GPAC

WHL

138

Miles Cooper

Calgary

Centre

Wenatchee Wild

Edge

WHL

141

Rhys Pederson

Stettler

Defence

Edmonton Oil Kings

Red Deer/NAX

WHL

146

Shane Smith

Cessford

Centre

Medicine Hat Tigers

SEAC/Edge/SAHA

WHL

161

Easton Hewson

Edmonton

Defence

Calgary Canucks

CAC

AJHL

183

Bryce Pickford

Chauvin

Defence

Seattle Thunderbirds

Wainwright

WHL

202

Dax Williams

Calgary

Defence

Calgary Hitmen

CBHA

WHL

204

Caleb Hadland

Sylvan Lake

Left Wing

Brandon Wheat Kings

Red Deer

WHL

212

Landen Ward

Lloydminster

Left Wing

Lethbridge Hurricanes

Lloydminster

WHL

224

Jackson Unger

Calgary

Goaltender

Moose Jaw Warriors

CBHA/Edge

WHL

NA Goalies - 27

News

2024 Prospects Cup Rosters Announced

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is proud to announce the 160 athletes who will wear the Hockey Alberta logo for the first time at the Prospects Cup.

Eight teams play a round-robin style tournament May 8-12 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer. Each team’s 20-person roster is made up of two goaltenders, six defence and 12 forwards.

ROSTERS >

The Prospects Cup is the first step of the Hockey Alberta Development program. It provides second year U13 male athletes, coaches, trainers, and administrators an opportunity to discover the qualities of competitive hockey in a well-organized regional camp and select team competition.

Over the April 12-14 weekend, hundreds of players participated in four regional camps in Calgary, Edmonton, Olds, and Vegreville. Two teams from each camp were selected to compete in the Prospects Cup tournament. Male players born in 2011 who participated in a Hockey Canada sanctioned program this season were eligible to try out.

“The Prospects Cup is the introduction to the Hockey Alberta process for these athletes as it focuses on their development and growth while also introducing the majority of them to short-term competition,” said Blake Cosgrove, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Elite Hockey Development. “This group of players are exciting to watch, and I hope they enjoy the experience.”

Hockey Alberta’s Spring Showcase fuelled by Gatorade concludes with the Prospects Cup. The Alberta Cup (April 24-28) and the Alberta Challenge (May 1-5) also comprise the Spring Showcase.

Partnership opportunities are available for the 2024 Spring Showcase and can be found in the document below:

2024 SPRING SHOWCASE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES >


Home Ice Feature

National Volunteer Week: Jacinda Davis

With over 20 years of experience in various roles, Jacinda Davis is synonymous with Fort McMurray Minor Hockey.

“I’ve been in the association now for 22, almost 23 years,” Davis said. "I started out originally where I was just helping manage (her oldest son’s team). I was eased into management, then into a director role. I jumped right in and took my major role on the board that I have right now, which is the VP of Communications for Fort McMurray Minor Hockey.”

As the VP of Communications, Davis dedicates her time to the special events happening around the city.

“I work with everyone with their special events, help with our branding partners, I take care of all sponsorship, sponsors for programs, all of our volunteers … anything that has to do with our brand, those fall under my role,” she said.

What has kept Davis going throughout the years? The ability to be able to combine her two passions.

“I love the volunteering aspect of it. I truly love hockey,” Davis said. “What it has done for my kids and what I’ve seen for other kids is amazing. That’s why I put my heart and soul into it and have for many years. Even once my kids have graduated, I will continue to put many hours in to keep the programs up and going.”

One of those events that Davis was a key figure in, was Fort McMurray’s Female Hockey Day in January, an event that was very successful. It featured two days of events such as goal scoring and defensive skill sessions, as well as a try hockey event to introduce young girls to the game.

“It was a huge undertaking, because it happened right after our minor hockey week, so it was kind of one event to the other,” she said. “But it is a very passionate program with the females in it and seeing it grow. It was so worth putting in all those hours into the program to have a special event for all the girls and women.”

There has been a lot of growth in the female game across the province as well as the country. This is thanks in part to the tireless efforts of people like Davis who set up and run events such as Female Hockey Day.

“Just watching the growth, I really, truly believe it’s the power in numbers and those numbers are helping our program grow. Where we started was such a small number and now, we’ve grown to seven teams,” Davis said. “We have 132 girls in our program now, and just watching it grow … there are girls recruiting more girls. It’s a very special program for them to give them that feeling of togetherness.”

While she keeps busy around the rink, Davis said it’s also very important to ensure that she finds balance between work and personal life.

“Well, I originally started my job as my own business owner to be able to work my job around hockey hours,” Davis said. “So, I have continued doing that right up until today. I do put in a lot of hours, but I know that it’s going to come to an end (when her daughter graduates out next year) and I’m going to miss it when it’s gone. So, I’m going to take advantage of it while it’s still going.”

A hockey community is always looking for more volunteers to help the game run smoothly and grow successfully. Volunteers are part of the blueprint that helps the community bloom during hockey season. Davis believes that volunteering can be the most rewarding and enjoyable experience.

“It may seem big and overwhelming at first, but the scariness of it is not as bad as it looks or seems. What you get back is rewarding … when people are in awe or so thankful, you see the kids laughing and smiling, that’s what it’s all about,” Davis said. “All those hiccups that you think you’re going to have, or may have, nobody knows those weren’t supposed to happen. To the outside world, it’s flawless. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering and it’s been so worth it.”

Home Ice Feature

The passing of the torch: Jason Chimera passing on hockey knowledge to daughter Ryann

Like father, like daughter.

The U15 AA Edmonton Pandas Black won the Alberta Female Hockey League Provincial Championship on March 24 in a thrilling gold medal win over the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs. Two key pieces of that championship team were former National Hockey League player Jason Chimera and his daughter, Ryann.

Ryann, a star forward in the U15 division was the second leading point producer with 20 goals and 66 points in 31 games, while also leading the provincial tournament with eight points in five games. Her father was the team’s head coach, and with the help of assistant coach Dave Cooper guided the Pandas to a 25-5-1 record as well as a provincial championship.

“It was amazing, I wasn’t even thinking in the moment. It was just so overwhelming because at the start of the season, none of us really thought we would be at Provincials,” Ryann said following the 3-1 gold medal win. “It was amazing to win and have that moment for our team.”

“I was crying at the end of it because our girls performed so well. They were doing everything right,” Jason said. “They did everything we practiced, and they brought it to a whole new level, which was really cool for the coaches. Dave and I were just super thrilled with the girls and as a coach as well as a dad, it was an outstanding effort from our goalies on out and you couldn’t have asked for anything more from them.”

The 44-year-old Chimera played parts of 17 seasons and more than 1,100 games in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks. Once he retired, he transitioned into coaching, first coaching his son Cale before spending the past two seasons with Ryann.

While the family connection is there, the last name being the same doesn’t result in special treatment.

“I always tell the girls that she’s not my daughter when I’m coaching,” Jason said. “I coach everyone the same way and while I couldn’t be prouder of her, both as a coach and a father. But I try to remove myself from that when I’m coaching. She works extremely hard, and she works for everything that she gets.”

Ryann said that while she doesn’t get special treatment, her father’s coaching guidance has helped her take her game to the next level.

“Some days are good, and some days are bad. But I love it because I’m getting help from him away from the rink that I wouldn’t get from another coach,” she said. “He’ll tell me what I can do better, and he pushes me harder. I think if I had another coach, they wouldn’t be as straight forward with me, and I couldn’t be as straight forward with them. It’s a win-win situation.”

The duo are both competitive people, always trying to one up each other in their daily lives, which makes for an interesting and exciting dynamic between them.

“We’re always competing with one another and it’s a good challenge because we see each other 24/7. I see him on the bench, I see him at the rink, see him at home. We make each other better because we’re not scared to tell each other what they need to hear,” Ryann said. “I’m not afraid to tell him that he needs to relax a bit on the bench when he’s going a bit too crazy. We’re very up front with one another and it helps. We still have a lot to learn from each other, but I wouldn’t want to go through it with anyone else.”

“Sometimes as a coach, you kind of get in a mode where you’re all over the place,” Jason said. “If the game gets tense and she’s like, ‘hey, Jason, relax. We got this.’ It’s like, okay, we do have this. For her to be 13, soon to be 14 and have that composure … it’s cool for me to witness.”

Ryann is looking to follow in her father’s footsteps by becoming a professional hockey player. With the Professional Women’s Hockey League having so much success in its first season, having the opportunity to play professionally is now a reality that she dreamed about growing up.

“Before (the PWHL) I was like ‘what am I going to do for a job when I’m older?’ Then all of a sudden all of these options come up,” she said. “For a long time now, I’ve wanted to go to Boston College, and I’ve always wanted to play professional hockey … but I couldn’t play in the NHL. Now with the PWHL, it’s so cool to see all these girls have their dreams come true. They have somewhere to play when they’re older. It’s such an exciting thought to know I have somewhere to go and something to work towards.”

Hockey Alberta Foundation

Comedy Night raises $24,000 for the Hockey Alberta Foundation

RED DEER – The Piper Creek Optimist Club and the Hockey Alberta Foundation came together to raise $24,000 during Comedy Night at Bo’s Bar and Stage on February 24.

Guests were treated to a performance from comedian Kelly Taylor and witnessed the Calgary Flames defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 in the third iteration of the Battle of Alberta.

“Thanks to the Piper Creek Optimist Club for choosing the Hockey Alberta Foundation as their charity of choice for the seventh year,” said Darcy Smith, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Hockey Alberta Foundation and Recruitment. “The Every Kid Every Community initiative and the game of hockey is a great way for kids to be active, healthy and surrounded by positive leaders in their respective communities. We couldn’t give kids the opportunity to experience hockey without events such as Comedy Night and the help of our great sponsors.”

Every Kid Every Community  was launched in 2011 and has the goal of providing every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time.

Thank you to the Comedy Night sponsors for the continued support:

About the Hockey Alberta Foundation

The Hockey Alberta Foundation (HAF) raises funds to provide EVERY KID in EVERY COMMUNITY the opportunity to play hockey in Alberta. We work in collaboration with partners to fund those who need us, invest in those who will lead us and honour those before us.

News

Alberta’s Kyle Rehman hits 1,000 game plateau in the NHL

EDMONTON – Kyle Rehman wasn’t sure if he would officiate one National Hockey League game, let alone a thousand.

But that’s exactly what the Red Deer native did when he accomplished the feat on March 28 during a contest between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place. Rehman was recognized by the league, the Oilers, and Kings, receiving a Tiffany crystal from the league, jerseys from both teams as well as a pair of Adirondack chairs that had his name, the NHL logo and ‘1,000 games’ on it.

“I would have never thought to do one (game), let alone a thousand, so it’s a very special milestone for me,” Rehman said. “It comes with a lot of sacrifice, not only for myself, but for my family. It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve got a long way to go.”

Rehman said the best part of the whole evening was having his family at his side and allowing them to get some recognition for everything they’ve done for him.

“I got the chance to have my two boys on the ice with me before the game, which is something I’ll never forget. Then to have my family on the ice with me during the ceremony, it was good to get them some recognition because they’ve sacrificed so much,” Rehman said. “My wife is a rockstar. She’s pretty much a driver for the kids, taking them to all their activities, so for them to get some of that recognition was cool. Then to have my brother and my parents there as well was awesome as well. They jumped on board when I was younger and really supported, pushed, and encouraged me to go as far as I can.”

The 45-year-old referee got his start in 2000 in Red Deer where he got the opportunity to officiate U18 AAA and Senior AAA games. He moved onto the Western Hockey League shortly after and got the call to the NHL in 2007. His first game was January 22, 2008, featuring the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Over the course of his career, Rehman has gotten the chance to officiate some of the biggest events the NHL had to offer - Stanley Cup playoff games, NHL Global Series in Sweden, and the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars.

“The whole atmosphere, being outdoors with 85,000 fans, the NHL does a really good job of putting on those types of events,” said Rehman. “Both fanbases were awesome, seeing the Nashville fans travel to Dallas and seeing how much support the city gave to the Stars … it was a great game and I’m proud to say I was part of it.”

Numerous sports, including hockey, look to recruit new officials each year, but there are challenges, especially when it comes to abusive behaviour from coaches, players, and fans. Rehman asks that spectators ease off the young officials.

“We’re losing officials every year. I have two boys that play hockey and I want them to be able to play games and leagues need referees. I think it’s important for people to be at the rink and to appreciate these games and volunteers,” Rehman said. “The younger kids are just learning … guys at the NHL level, we’re the top officials in the world and we sometimes make mistakes, just like the coaches and players because we’re human. Let the emotion of the game be on the ice, because if we continue to trend in the direction we’re going in, we aren’t going to have any officials left.”

For younger people hesitant to enter the game in the officiating capacity, Rehman’s advice is to go out there and do your best and enjoy the process of improving.

“Go out there and work hard every game. As long as you can come off the ice, look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I left it all out there, I worked hard and I hustled’, it’s a great feeling to know you went out there and did your best,” said Rehman. “You don’t necessarily need to make the NHL either, there are a lot of great opportunities with Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta. I hope our younger generation of officials stick with it and continue to support one another.”

Team Alberta

2024 Alberta Challenge Rosters Announced

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta has named the 120 players who earned themselves a spot at the Alberta Challenge.

Six teams (three from each of the North and South regions) will compete in a modified round-robin tournament May 1-5 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer. Two goalies, six defence and 12 forwards comprise each team.

ROSTERS >

Regional Camps were held April 5-7 in Cochrane and Beaumont. Female players born in 2009 and 2010 who were registered with a Hockey Alberta or Hockey Canada sanctioned program this season were eligible to tryout.

“This year’s group of players is very talented and that was on display at the Regional Camps, said Danielle Wheeler, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Female Development. “The competition at Alberta Challenge will truly showcase best-on-best competition and allow for athletes and staff to take the next step in their hockey journey.”

The Alberta Challenge is the sole female-only event part of Hockey Alberta’s Spring Showcase. It is the first opportunity for athletes, coaches, therapists, equipment managers and administrators to experience short-term competition and an introduction to Team Alberta programming.

The Spring Showcase opens with the Alberta Cup (April 24-28) and wraps with the Prospects Cup (May 8-12).

Partnership opportunities are available for the 2024 Spring Showcase and can be found in the document below.

SPRING SHOWCASE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES >


TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Alberta Challenge, powered by Gatorade. A wide variety of merchandise items are available for purchase, with the deadline to place your order ending at 11 PM on April 16 in order to receive your merchandise by the Alberta Challenge. Online orders placed by the deadline will deliver to the event for pickup at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on May 1. Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

SHOP HERE >

News

Spring Showcase partnership opportunities now available

RED DEER – Partnership opportunities are now available for the 2024 Spring Showcase.

There is a variety of packages available for potential sponsors, including four levels of sponsorship opportunities ranging from program advertising to being the title sponsor of Spring Showcase.

2024 SPRING SHOWCASE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES >

The Spring Showcase is one of Hockey Alberta’s premiere events, focusing on the province’s next generation of elite female and male players. For an Alberta business, signing on as a sponsor for the Spring Showcase is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of an event that supports the emerging athlete, coach, official, trainers and support staff from across Alberta," said Tim Leer, Hockey Alberta’s Director of Partnerships and Marketing.

Hockey Alberta welcomes over 400 athletes, 200 volunteers, 150 scouts and thousands of families and friends to the Red Deer area throughout the Spring Showcase. The Showcase is a three-week long event, featuring three elite-level competitions: the Alberta Cup featuring the top U15 males, the Alberta Challenge for U15 females, and the Prospects Cup for U13 males.

Each competition is five days and features the top athletes in each region, coached and staffed by some of the best in the province. The event serves as a development opportunity to introduce athletes and staff to short-term competition.

For more information, contact Tim Leer, Hockey Alberta’s Partnerships and Marketing Director or Kara Spady, Hockey Alberta’s Marketing and Promotions Manager.

News

2024 Hockey Alberta Provincials Recap - Week 3

Two teams have been crowned champions over the third weekend of the 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships hosted by ATB.

Read below to see who walked away with the banner in the final week of play.


2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships

The third week of action kicked off on Wednesday, April 4 and ran until Sunday, April 7. Four teams hit the ice in search of the championship banner on Sunday.

Junior B - The Carstar Okotoks Bisons of the HJHL won the Junior B Championship over the La Crete Lumber Barons by a score of 6-3.

U17 AAA AEHL - The St. Albert Raiders Flyers defeated the NWCAA (Calgary Flames) in double overtime, 3-2, to win the U17 AAA championship.

HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIALS PAGE >


2024 Hockey Alberta League Playoffs

In Alberta Junior Hockey League action, the Calgary Canucks defeated the Drumheller Dragons in their best-of-seven series, 4-1, to advance to the InterPipline Cup Final. They await the winner of the series between the Whitecourt Wolverines and Canmore Eagles, with their series tied up at three games apiece and Game 7 taking place on April 9.

In the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s U18 AAA division, the Calgary Buffaloes are on their way to the Telus Cup after defeating the Vancouver NE Chiefs in the Pacific Regionals.


The 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships are Powered by ATB. ATB is sharing the top tips for players, teams and families to take to the ice without breaking the bank. Tap into their Good Advice for all things financial well-being, including how to teach your kids about money at every age.

Plus the ultimate savings, a chance to win the Possibility Pot. That’s $2,500 for yourself, and $2,500 for you to direct to a charity of your choice.

Enter to win >


TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, powered by ATB. A number of merchandise items are available to purchase with options to customize items (for example "Champions 2024). Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

Shop Here >

News

Alberta’s Landon DuPont introduced as first Exceptional Status defenceman in WHL history

CALGARY - The Western Hockey League announced today, on behalf of Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta, that Landon DuPont (Calgary, Alta.) has been granted Exceptional Player Status and is eligible to play in the WHL on a full-time basis beginning with the 2024-25 WHL Regular Season.

“On behalf of the WHL Board of Governors, I would like to congratulate Landon on being the first defenceman in WHL history to be granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “Landon is a fine young man, who not only possesses tremendous talent on the ice, but has been raised with solid moral character, a positive attitude, and a great work ethic. These attributes make him truly deserving of being among those exceptional players to come before him, and we look forward to him continuing his development in the WHL.”

An Exceptional Player must possess a level of mental, social, and emotional maturity that belies his age, along with hockey skills that greatly exceed those of other elite level players both in their age group and among players several years older. For an individual who is granted exceptional status, they earn the rare privilege of participating in the Western Hockey League at an early age. It is believed their development is more likely to be enhanced significantly by playing in the WHL as a 15-year-old, than by participating in their designated age division.

The Exceptional Player Status process was administered by Hockey Alberta with a Hockey Canada Special Evaluation Panel, which reviewed DuPont’s hockey and academic documentation. The process also assessed DuPont’s level of maturity.

“Hockey Canada wishes to congratulate Landon DuPont and his family on the impressive achievement of becoming only the second player to be granted Exceptional Status into the WHL, and the ninth player in the entire CHL,” said Scott Salmond, Senior Vice-President of High Performance and Hockey Operations with Hockey Canada. “Landon not only boasts impressive hockey ability that will allow him to succeed in the WHL at a young age, but he also possesses the incredible maturity required to be an exemplary young person off the ice.”

Born May 28, 2009, the 14-year-old DuPont is eligible to be selected in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 9.

A 5-foot-11, 170-pound right shot defenceman, DuPont spent the 2023-24 season playing for the Edge School U18 Prep squad in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), where he recorded 62 points (19G-43A) in 30 regular season games to finish third in CSSHL U18 scoring. His 62 points led all blueliners and established a new CSSHL U18 Prep single-season scoring record for defencemen. DuPont added another 16 points (5G-11A) in five playoff games, tying the CSSHL U18 Championship scoring record held by former Edmonton Oil Kings and Seattle Thunderbirds star Dylan Guenther. DuPont’s record-tying performance earned him CSSHL U18 Prep Championship MVP honours as he helped Edge capture the CSSHL U18 title.

“It is such an honour for me to receive Exceptional Player Status from Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada. I’m extremely humbled to have received this designation,” DuPont said. “I would like to thank my family, all of my coaches, trainers, advisors and most of all, my teammates, through my entire hockey journey for helping me get to this point. I’m excited to continue my development in the WHL and will work hard every day to continue to improve.”

DuPont becomes the first defenceman and second player in WHL history to be granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada, following Connor Bedard (2020 – Regina Pats / West Van Academy Prep).

“Congratulations to Landon DuPont on being the first-ever player from Alberta granted Exceptional Status with the Western Hockey League. Landon’s achievement is a testament to his skills, desire, and hard work,” said Rob Litwinski, CEO and President, Hockey Alberta. “It also reflects the commitment and effort of everyone involved in Landon’s hockey circle. This is a proud day for Landon, the DuPont family, and the staff and students at Edge School, and the entire Hockey Alberta community shares that pride.”

DuPont is the third defenceman and ninth player in Canadian Hockey League (CHL) history to be granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada. He was preceded by defencemen Aaron Ekblad (2011 – Barrie Colts / Sun County Panthers) and Sean Day (2013 – Mississauga Steelheads / Compuware 16U AAA), along with forwards John Tavares (2005 – Oshawa Generals / Toronto Marlboros), Connor McDavid (2012 – Erie Otters / Toronto Marlboros), Joe Veleno (2015 – Saint John Sea Dogs / Lac St-Louis Lions), Shane Wright (2019 – Kingston Frontenacs / Don Mills Flyers), Michael Misa (2022 – Saginaw Spirit / Mississauga Senators).

News

Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships Week 3 Preview

The Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB has reached its final weekend.

Action begins today (April 3) with the Junior B provincials in Peace River, and continues through to Sunday, April 7. The six teams competing in the tournament are the Carstar Okotoks Bisons, La Crete Lumber Barons, North Peace Navigators, NWCAA Stampeders, St. Albert Merchants, and Wainwright Bisons.

The AEHL U17 AAA provincials features five clubs. The Airdrie Cannex Avalanche, Calgary Flames (NWCAA), Sherwood Park Squires, St. Albert Raiders Flyers and LJAC Techmation Oil Kings are preparing for battle in Leduc. Games for that tournament starts tomorrow (April 4).

The Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs are midway through the semi-final series. The Whitecourt Wolverines are up two games to one in their best-of-seven series against the Canmore Eagles with the Calgary Canucks also find themselves up two games to one over the Drumheller Dragons. Game 4 in both series is tonight.

The final Provincial Championship tournaments will be played April 3-7. Schedules for each division are available on the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships page.

HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIALS PAGE >


The 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships are Powered by ATB. ATB is sharing the top tips for players, teams, and families to take to the ice without breaking the bank. Tap into their Good Advice for all things financial well-being, including how to teach your kids about money at every age.

Plus the ultimate savings, a chance to win the Possibility Pot. That’s $2,500 for yourself, and $2,500 for you to direct to a charity of your choice.

Enter to win >


Good luck to all the teams taking the ice this weekend and next!

TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, powered by ATB. A number of merchandise items are available to purchase with options to customize items (for example “Champions 2024). Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

Shop Here >

Team Alberta

2024 Alberta Cup Rosters Announced

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta has named the 120 athletes who are representing their regions at the 2024 Alberta Cup.

Two teams from each of the North, Central and South regions are facing off against each other in a modified round-robin tournament taking place in Renexd Deer at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, April 24-28. Each of the six teams is comprised of two goaltenders, six defence and 12 forwards.

ROSTERS >

Athletes gathered at three Regional Camps over the weekend (March 29-31) in Calgary, Red Deer and Spruce Grove. Male players born in 2009 who participated in a Hockey Canada sanctioned program this season were eligible to try out.

“There were many talented kids from across the province who tried out for the Alberta Cup program,” said Blake Cosgrove, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Elite Hockey Development. “While this opportunity focuses on player development, it is also another opportunity to evaluate players as we progress towards the WHL Cup. We are very excited for this age group to showcase themselves at Alberta Cup as well as future Hockey Alberta events.”

The Alberta Cup provides players and staff with an opportunity to experience elite level play in a short-term competition, and is part of the player evaluation process for selecting Team Alberta to compete at the WHL Cup in October.

ALBERTA CUP WEBSITE >

Hockey Alberta’s Spring Showcase, fuelled by Gatorade, begins with the Alberta Cup. The Alberta Challenge (May 1-5) and the Prospects Cup (May 8-12) are also being played in Red Deer.

Partnership opportunities are available for the 2024 Spring Showcase and can be found in the document below:

2024 SPRING SHOWCASE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES >


The Alberta Cup aids in the identification and selection of potential players for Hockey Alberta’s Team Alberta program, with hundreds of players annually trying out for 120 spots (20 positions on each of the six regional teams). In addition to player development, the Alberta Cup also features opportunities for administrators, referees, coaches, therapists, and equipment managers to be identified for potential positions at higher level events, such as the World U17 Hockey Challenge.


TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Alberta Cup, powered by Gatorade. A wide variety of merchandise items are available for purchase, with the deadline to place your order ending at 11 PM on April 10 in order to receive your merchandise by the Alberta Cup. Online orders placed by the deadline will deliver to the event for pickup at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on April 24. Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

SHOP HERE >

News

2024 Hockey Alberta Provincials Recap – Week 2

Eleven teams have been crowned champions over the weekend in their respective divisions in hard fought battles all throughout the province as part of the 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships hosted by ATB.

Read below to see who walked away with the banner in the second week of play.


2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships

The second week of action kicked off on Thursday, March 28 and ran until Sunday, March 31. Twenty-two teams hit the ice in search of the championship banner on Sunday.

Junior C - Wolverines 6, Chestermere Lakers 4

AFHL U18 AA - Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs 2, Calgary Fire White 1

U18 AA - Strathcona Warriors 5, KC Colts 1

U18 Tier 1 - La Crete 5, Edson Octane Controls Sabres 1

U18 Tier 1 NBC - Trails West Red 4, SZ707 2

U18 Tier 2 - Hanna U18 Colts 2, Fairview 1 (OT)

U18 Tier 3 - Kneehill U18 Chiefs 3, Thorsby-West 39 U18 Bucks 0

U15 Female Tier 1 - Irma U15 Aces 2, Cochrane 0

U15 Female Tier 2 - Grande Prairie Female U15 2, Camrose 1

U13 AA - Red Deer Wesco 4, Calgary Northstars Green 1

AFHL U13 AA - Lloydminster Western Financial Steelers 3, Calgary Fire Red 1

Tournament action concludes this weekend (April 3-7) with Junior B in Peace River and the Alberta Elite Hockey League U17 AAA in Leduc. Schedules for the Junior B division are available on the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships page, while the schedule for the U17 AAA provincials is available on their AEHL website.

HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIALS PAGE >


2024 Hockey Alberta League Playoffs

In Alberta Junior Hockey League action, the semi-finals are currently underway in best-of-seven series. The Whitecourt Wolverines and Canmore Eagles are currently tied 1-1, while the Calgary Canucks are up 2-0 on the Drumheller Dragons.

In the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s U18 AAA division, the Calgary Buffaloes defeated the Sherwood Park Ennis Kings in three games to win the league championship. The Buffaloes are now set to take on the Vancouver NE Chiefs AAA in the Pacific Regional Championship, beginning on April 5.


The 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships are Powered by ATB. ATB is sharing the top tips for players, teams and families to take to the ice without breaking the bank. Tap into their Good Advice for all things financial well-being, including how to teach your kids about money at every age.

Plus the ultimate savings, a chance to win the Possibility Pot. That’s $2,500 for yourself, and $2,500 for you to direct to a charity of your choice.

Enter to win >

Good luck to all the final teams taking the ice this weekend!


TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, powered by ATB. A number of merchandise items are available to purchase with options to customize items (for example "Champions 2024). Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

Shop Here >

News

U15 Okotoks Oilers becoming leaders on and off the ice

OKOTOKS – A group of Okotoks Oilers hockey players decided to celebrate acts of kindness at their school.

U15 Tier 1 players Thomas and Dylan Williams, Cooper Crook, Ty Brockhoff, and Aubrey O’Brien wanted to raise school spirit while also raising awareness about the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship tournament they were hosting March 21-24 in Okotoks.

The players, who all attend Meadow Ridge School in Okotoks, were presented with a pilot project where they spent most of a day in the gym teaching hockey skills and sportsmanship, and leading activities for students in grades three through six. They decided to do a contest where a student got the opportunity to drop the puck at the opening ceremonies at the U15 Provincials. The students decided to run a kindness draw, where carrying out a good deed entered you into the draw.

“We were kind of thinking what we could do to reward other students,” said Crook. “We thought what’s the best way to bring people together? And we thought it was kindness and hockey.”

The contest ran for two weeks and saw an uptick in acts of kindness around the school. The student who won the contest was sixth grade student Riley Gustafson, who is a hockey player herself.

“She consistently was cleaning up the classroom, holding doors for people, always offering to help out. She’s just such a great kid,” said Heather Crook, a teacher at Meadow Ridge, who helped the group organize their contest. “Anything she’s asked to do, she’ll do it. She’s always happy. Really, really, really loves the sport of hockey. She really wanted to have an opportunity to, to do this. It worked out well.”

The five players are part of the oldest grade at their school, which ranges from kindergarten to Grade 9. They thought it was important to set a good example for the younger students.

“You have to set a good example before and after because (other students are) always watching you and looking up to you to see what you can do,” said Thomas Williams. “It’s really important to show them how to do the right thing.”

Grade five and six students were invited to the opening ceremonies as well as the Oilers’ first game of the provincials, but the team noticed they had much more support once the game was about to start. Students from grades three to nine came to the game with their families and created an incredible home ice atmosphere.

“It’s cool to see a bunch of people I didn’t even expect to go ended up showing up,” Dylan Williams said. It was great to see them and have their support.”

“It was really fun because some of them, most of them have never really seen us play hockey or known us that well,” Brockhoff said. “They were all kind of chanting and had a whole bunch of posters, so it was really cool. Definitely our loudest game of the season.”

Ice Times Newsletter

News

Vote to crown Cochrane as Kraft Hockeyville winner

The Town of Cochrane and the Cochrane Arena are looking for your support to help them get crowned as this year’s Kraft Hockeyville grand prize winner.

Voting begins tomorrow (March 29) at 7 A.M. and ends on March 30 at 3 P.M. Voting is unlimited, meaning Albertans can vote as many times as possible to help push Cochrane across the finish line.

Your vote means Cochrane could win the grand prize of $250,000 in arena upgrades as well as the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game.

VOTE >

The Cochrane Arena has been around for 50 years, and the town is hoping for it to be around for another 50. But the arena is showing the long-term effects after five decades and needs some crucial repairs. If Cochrane wins Kraft Hockeyville, the money will go towards a new roof, new electrical and lights, and major upgrades to the female dressing rooms.

The town is holding a rally at 4:30 P.M today, which includes skating, a mascot dance-off, glitter tattoos and a “Battle of Alberta” U18 hockey game between the Calgary Raiders and Edmonton KC 707.

COMMUNITY RALLY PAGE FOR COCHRANE >

The last (and only) Alberta community to win Kraft Hockeyville was Sylvan Lake in 2014. With the prize money, Sylvan began to build a new arena. They also hosted a pre-season NHL game between Arizona and Calgary.

News

Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships Week 2 Preview

The Alberta Elite Hockey League crowned its U18 AAA champion on March 26, as the Calgary Buffaloes defeated the Sherwood Park Ennis Kings 6-2 in Game 3.

Calgary’s win kicks off week two of the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB.

The three-game sweep in the best-of-five championship results in the Buffaloes moving onto the Pacific Regional Championships where the Vancouver North East Chiefs await. The winner advances to the Telus Cup, the Men’s U18 National Club Championship.

In Provincial Championship action this weekend (March 28-31), 11 tournaments are taking place throughout the province.

The second weekend of tournament play includes:

The Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs are down to its final four, as the Whitecourt Wolverines, Calgary Canucks, Drumheller Dragons, and Canmore Eagles look to qualify for the championship final. Both series begin on Friday, March 29.

The final Provincial Championship tournaments will be played April 3-7. Schedules for each division are available on the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships page.

HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIALS PAGE >


The 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships are Powered by ATB. ATB is sharing the top tips for players, teams and families to take to the ice without breaking the bank. Tap into their Good Advice for all things financial well-being, including how to teach your kids about money at every age.

Plus the ultimate savings, a chance to win the Possibility Pot. That’s $2,500 for yourself, and $2,500 for you to direct to a charity of your choice.

Enter to win >


Good luck to all the teams taking the ice this weekend and next!

TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, powered by ATB. A number of merchandise items are available to purchase with options to customize items (for example “Champions 2024). Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

Shop Here >

Team Alberta

2024 Team Alberta U16 Male Coaching Staff Announced

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta has announced the coaching staff that is joining Head Coach Derrick Martin behind the bench for Team Alberta U16 Male at the 2024 WHL Cup.

Joining Martin are assistant coaches Ryan Allen (Grande Prairie) and Chad Scharff (Airdrie), along with Video Coach Marcus Cheng (Calgary) and Goaltending Coach Theodore Zubot (Calgary).

“We are extremely excited to have such a talented staff assembled for this year’s U16 cycle,” said Michael Kraichy, Manager, High Performance for Hockey Alberta. “The combined experience amongst these coaches is second-to-none, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this group can accomplish.”

Other members of the staff for Team Alberta U16 Male include Athletic Therapist Matt Goertzen (Edmonton), Equipment Manager Dave Campbell (Grande Prairie), Head Scout Bobby Fox (Calgary), Coach Mentor Barry Medori (Spruce Grove) and Director of Operations Michael Kraichy (Red Deer).

POSITION

NAME

HOMETOWN

Director of Hockey Operations

Michael Kraichy

Red Deer

Coach Mentor

Barry Medori

Spruce Grove

Head Scout

Bobby Fox

Calgary

Head Coach

Derrick Martin

Edmonton

Assistant Coach

Ryan Allen

Grande Prairie

Assistant Coach

Chad Scharff

Airdrie

Video Coach

Marcus Cheng

Calgary

Goalie Coach

Theodore Zubot

Calgary

Physical Therapist

Matt Goertzen

Edmonton

Equipment Manager

Dave Campbell

Grande Prairie

Martin is the bench boss of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Camrose Kodiaks. He spent the 2023 cycle with Team Alberta as an assistant coach at the WHL Cup. He also served as the Video Coach for Team Alberta at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Allen is in his fourth season as the Head Coach of the U15 AAA Grande Peace Storm. He’s previously spent time in the AJHL with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Drayton Valley Thunder. Allen has also coached and mentored in the Alberta Cup and Prospects Cup programs, while holding the role of Video Coach for Team Alberta in the 2016-17 season.

Scharff is in his first season as the Head Coach of the U18 AAA Airdrie CFR Bisons. His previous coaching roles include being an Assistant Coach of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, as well as coaching in the Alberta Cup.

Cheng is currently the Head Coach of the U18 AAA Calgary Northstars. He was previously the Video Coach of the Alberta Golden Bears and coached at the Alberta Cup.

Zubot was the Goalie Coach of the U15 AAA and U17 AAA Calgary Northstars before moving up to the Western Hockey League where he’s currently the Goalie Coach of the Calgary Hitmen.

The 2024 WHL Cup is slated for October, in Red Deer.

News

2024 Hockey Alberta Provincials Recap – Week 1

Sixteen teams were crowned champions in their respective divisions as the first weekend of action concluded on Sunday in the 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships hosted by ATB.

Teams skating away with the banner from the first weekend of action (March 21-24) are:

AFHL U18 Female AAAEdmonton Jr. Oilers White 2, Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs 1

U18 Female Tier 1St. Paul U18 Canadiens 3, SP750 1

U18 Female Tier 2Beaverlodge U18 Female 5, Battle River U18 Knights 2

U16 AACalgary Northstars 4, SSAC Cameron Homes 3 (2OT)

AEHL U15 AAASt. Albert Raiders Sabres 5, Airdrie Xtreme 2

U15 AALakeland Panthers 2, Calgary Royals White 1

U15 Tier 1Chestermere U15 Lakers 5, Trails West Wolves 2

U15 Tier 2Duchess U15 Storm 7, Beaverlodge 5

U15 Tier 3Delburne U15 Outlaws 6, Beiseker Blazers 2

AFHL U15 Female AAEdmonton Pandas Black 3, Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs 1

U13 Tier 1Red Deer U13-1 Chiefs 4, Medicine Hat U13-1 2

U13 Tier 2Medicine Hat U13-2 7, Slave Lake Thunder 3

U13 Tier 3Irma U13 Aces 5, Hughenden U13 Jets 3

U13 Tier 4Cremona U13 Cowboys 7, Vulcan U13 Hawks 2

U13 Female Tier 1West Central 3, Airdrie 2 (2OT)

U13 Female Tier 23C’s Coyotes 6, Fort McMurray U13 Huskies 5 (OT)

Tournament action continues the next two weekends - March 28-31 and April 3-7. Schedules for each division are available on the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships page.

HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIALS PAGE >


2024 Hockey Alberta League Playoffs

In the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s U18 AAA division, the Calgary Buffaloes won a triple overtime game against the Sherwood Park Ennis Kings in Game 2 of their championship finals, 2-1, to take a controlling 2-0 series lead. Caleb Matthews notched the winner at the 5:40 mark of period six. The Buffaloes won game one on Saturday afternoon, in double overtime, as Cooper Williams scored the winner.

Full schedule is available on the AEHL U18 AAA Website. Livestreaming is available through FloHockey.

In Alberta Junior Hockey League action, the Whitecourt Wolverines, Canmore Eagles, Calgary Canucks all won their first round matchup and await their semi-final matchups en route to the Inter Pipeline Cup Finals.


The 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships are Powered by ATB. ATB is sharing the top tips for players, teams and families to take to the ice without breaking the bank. Tap into their Good Advice for all things financial well-being, including how to teach your kids about money at every age.

Plus the ultimate savings, a chance to win the Possibility Pot. That’s $2,500 for yourself, and $2,500 for you to direct to a charity of your choice.

Enter to win >

Good luck to all the teams taking the ice this weekend and next!


TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, powered by ATB. A number of merchandise items are available to purchase with options to customize items (for example "Champions 2024). Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

Shop Here >

Ice Times Newsletter

News

Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships Week 1 Preview

RED DEER – The 2023-24 hockey season is culminating with the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships presented by ATB.

Thirty-two Provincial Champions are going to be crowned this year, with 29 teams battling it out in a tournament style format while league play will determine three champions in the Junior A, Junior Female and U18 AAA divisions.

The Edmonton Wolves of the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League claimed the banner over the Cochrane Chaos on Saturday, March 16, winning the best-of-five series in three games.

The final two divisions determined through league play are in the midst of playoffs.

Eight teams remain in the Alberta Junior Hockey League playoffs, with Whitecourt, Camrose, Lloydminster, Canmore, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Bonnyville and Drumheller still in the hunt. The AJHL champion will be competing at the Centennial Cup in Oakville.

The Calgary Buffaloes and Sherwood Park Ennis Kings are on a collision course for AEHL bragging rights in the U18 AAA division. The two teams wrapped up their respective semi-final series on Tuesday, both winning in four games. The winner advances to the Pacific playoffs in hopes of competing at the 2024 Telus Cup.

Week 1 of tournament action begins March 21 with 16 divisions hosting games across the province.

The first weekend of tournament play includes:

  • U18 Female AAA – Red Deer (AFHL)
  • U18 Female Tier 1 – St. Paul
  • U18 Female Tier 2 – Calgary
  • U16 AA – Strathmore
  • U15 AAA – Edmonton
  • U15 AA – Edmonton
  • U15 Tier 1 – Okotoks
  • U15 Tier 2 – Provost
  • U15 Tier 3 – Delburne
  • U15 Female AA – Airdrie (AFHL)
  • U13 Tier 1 – Mannville
  • U13 Tier 2 – Slave Lake
  • U13 Tier 3 – Irma
  • U13 Tier 4 – Grande Cache
  • U13 Female Tier 1 – Rimbey
  • U13 Female Tier 2 – 3C’s

Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) and Alberta Elite Hockey League games are available on FloHockey.

Tournament action will continue through March 28-31 and April 3-7. Schedules for each division are available on the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships page.

HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIALS PAGE >


The 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships are Powered by ATB. ATB is sharing the top tips for players, teams and families to take to the ice without breaking the bank. Tap into their Good Advice for all things financial well-being, including how to teach your kids about money at every age.

Plus the ultimate savings, a chance to win the Possibility Pot. That’s $2,500 for yourself, and $2,500 for you to direct to a charity of your choice.

Enter to win >

Good luck to all the teams taking the ice this weekend and next!


TBS is Hockey Alberta’s preferred apparel provider for the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, powered by ATB. A number of merchandise items are available to purchase with options to customize items (for example "Champions 2024). Any questions regarding merchandise can be directed to Kara Spady ([email protected]) at Hockey Alberta.

Shop Here >

News

2024 World Para Hockey Championship schedule announced

CALGARY – With less than two months until puck drop, Hockey Canada has announced the schedule for the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship, May 4-12 at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

“Hosting the World Para Hockey Championship in Alberta for the first time will be a significant moment for our organization and para hockey in Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan experience and community impact. “We cannot wait to welcome each of the competing nations to Calgary this spring, and to drop the puck on what will be an incredible tournament at one of the top facilities in the country.”

Canada will be joined by Czechia, Italy and Japan in Group B, while Group A will include China, Korea, Slovakia and the United States. The two group winners will advance to the semifinals, while the second- and third-place teams cross over in the quarterfinals.

The preliminary-round schedule begins with a matchup between Slovakia and the United States at 10 a.m. MT on May 4, before Canada opens its tournament at 5 p.m. MT against Japan. The gold medal game is scheduled for May 12 at 5:30 p.m. MT.

The full tournament schedule can be found here.

Tickets for the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship will be on sale Thursday, March 21 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, with full-event packages starting at $99. Medal-round packages begin at $75, single-game tickets start at under $15 and group tickets are available for under $12.

Hockey Canada is seeking volunteers to support the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship. Those interested in supporting the tournament as a volunteer can sign up here.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca.

News

ALBERTA HOCKEY HALL OF FAME CALLS THE CLASS OF 2024

RED DEER – Six individuals and a Memorial Cup championship team are being called to the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF) as the Class of 2024.

The members of this year’s class are:

  • BILLY DEA – 19-year pro hockey career, along with several years coaching in the NHL. He had two playing stints in the NHL, sandwiched around nine years in the American Hockey League with the Buffalo Bisons, where he set a longevity record by playing 596 straight games. He is a member of the AHL Hall of Fame.
  • JAROME IGINLA – 20 seasons in the National Hockey League, including 16 with the Calgary Flames. He is the all-time leader for the Calgary Flames in games played (1,219), goals (525) and points (1,095). He is also a multi-time gold medalist with Team Canada, a two-time Memorial Cup champion, and an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
  • DAVE KING – Coach and mentor for over 40 years and one of hockey’s finest tacticians and teachers of the game. He has coached at every level of hockey around the world, including major junior, Canadian university, Canada’s national team, the National Hockey League, and European and Russian pro leagues. He is a two-time medalist at the Winter Olympics.
  • KELLY KISIO – 761 games in the National Hockey League and captain of the New York Rangers for more than three years. He helped turn the Calgary Hitmen into one of the most successful franchises in the Western Hockey League (including two WHL championships), as coach and general manager. Currently a scout with the Vegas Golden Knights, 2023 Stanley Cup champions.
  • CRAIG MACTAVISH – Four-time Stanley Cup champion during a 17-year playing career in the National Hockey League. Craig also served as an executive, coach and assistant coach in the NHL, coached Team Canada internationally, and coached internationally n Russia and Switzerland. Craig was the last NHL player not to wear a helmet during games.
  • SHANNON SZABADOS – Trailblazer for female hockey players, one of Canada’s top goaltenders, and the IIHF’s Goaltender of the Decade (2010-20). She is the only goaltender in women’s hockey history to backstop her nation to two gold medals at the Winter Olympics; the first and only female to record a shutout in men’s pro hockey; and the first female to play in the WHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League.
  • RED DEER REBELS, 2000-01 – The 2001 Memorial Cup champions, defeating Val-d’Or in a come-from-behind overtime victory in Regina. The Rebels had a dominating season, leading the Canadian Hockey League with a 54-12-3-3 regular season. They advanced to the Memorial Cup by defeating Lethbridge, Calgary, Swift Current and Portland in the WHL playoffs.

Hockey Alberta hosted the announcement on Tuesday morning at the Gary W. Harris Centre at Red Deer Polytechnic. It was also announced that the AHHF Induction Gala is returning to Red Deer and is being hosted at the Gary W. Harris Centre on Saturday, July 20. Tickets for the AHHF Induction Gala are available to purchase here.

For more information on the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, check the AHHF website: ahhf.ca.

News

Arctic Winter Games Recap – Alberta North strikes Gold

Team Alberta North was all smiles at the Arctic Winter Games in Alaska as the Junior Female and U15 Male teams both won the gold ulu in their respective hockey events.


Junior Female

The Junior Female championship final featured the host Alaska team looking to avenge an earlier loss in round-robin to Alberta North. The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation time before Kaitlyn Senkoe emerged as the overtime hero in a 2-1 victory. Reagan Lynch scored for Alberta North in regulation time, as Alberta North successfully defended the gold ulu won last year in Fort McMurray.

The Junior Female team had no issues in the round robin, finishing the four-game stretch with a goal differential of +14. In game one, Alberta North defeated Nunavut, 7-1, with Reagan Lynch (3), Ashtyn May, Brielle Hedges and Victoria Willsey scoring in the win. The next matchup against Northwest Territories was a tougher battle, as the game remained scoreless until late in the third period, when Mckenna Bowers scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win. In the third game, Shea Line recorded a 16-save shutout in a 3-0 win against Alaska. Willsey (2) and Carolyn Head found the back of the net in the victory. Alberta North closed out the round robin with a convincing 5-1 win against Yukon. Head, Willsey, Hedges, Sayj Peters and Riley Bourque scored in the win.

The semi-finals were a rematch of the final round robin game with Yukon. This time, the game was much more tightly contested as Alberta North booked their ticket to the championship final with a 2-1 win. Hedges and Anna Jeffs scored in the win.


U15 Male

The U15 Male championship final pitted Alberta North against Yukon. In round-robin action, Alberta North secured an 8-3 victory. In the championship, the final score was closer, with Alberta North claiming the gold ulu, 4-1. Goals were scored by Kayton Reinders (2), Lucas Anderson and Brant Moodie.

The U15 Male team finished with a 3-1 record in the round robin. Alberta North opened their round robin with a 7-3 win over Nunavut. Cole Longphee (2), Moodie, Riley Drake, Ryan Sieker, Reinders and Ryder Remillard all found the back of the net in the victory. Their second game had just as much offensive firepower, winning 8-3 against Yukon. Sieker (2), Reinders, Anderson (2), Ryder Flynn (2) and Moodie scored for Alberta North. The third game was a harder battle, as the team pulled out a 2-1 win over Northwest Territories. Anderson and Sieker scored the goals in the win. Alberta North dropped their final round robin game against Alaska, 6-5. Reinders (4) and Sieker scored in the loss.

The team finished first in round robin and met Northwest Territories in the semi-finals. Bracken Larocque earned the shutout in a 6-0 win to earn a berth in the championship final. Reinders (2), Anderson (2), Moodie and Sieker provided the offence.

News

Hockey Alberta introducing the Player Pledge during Provincial Championships

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is proud to announce the Player Pledge – a significant strategic initiative to help achieve the organization’s objective to nurture a positive hockey culture.

Nurturing a positive hockey culture is one of four Objectives undertaken by Hockey Alberta to provide new and improved opportunities for all participants.

Therefore it is only appropriate that the Player Pledge is being introduced during the most exciting time of year for amateur hockey across the province – the 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB.

The Player Pledge encourages participants – on and off the ice – to play and act with respect and to be inclusive. The Player Pledge reads:

I recognize that inclusive and respectful hockey starts with me. I pledge to:

  • Be AWARE of the language I use and how it impacts others.

  • ACKNOWLEDGE everyone’s differences regardless of the jersey they are wearing.

  • COMPETE HARD while leading positive and RESPECTFUL interactions with others.

  • Be an ALLY by contributing to safe spaces where everyone feels welcome.

“Hockey culture and how we change to make this game inclusive for anyone who wants to play this sport is essential,” said Len Samletzki, Chair of Hockey Alberta’s Board of Directors. “We’ve talked about this for a number of years, and it gives us an opportunity to be inclusive and to be part of something that brings us forward. We have a great sport and we’re excited about being at the start of this in Alberta and doing it with all the players that we get an opportunity to work with.”

In September, Hockey Alberta released its statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) where Hockey Alberta committed to removing all forms of discrimination and maltreatment from the sport of hockey.

HOCKEY ALBERTA’S EDI STATEMENT >

The Player Pledge is a key undertaking where Hockey Alberta is asking teams competing in Provincial Championships to be part of the commitment to nurture a positive hockey culture. Teams are requested to participate in a team building activity ahead of the tournament that includes watching a short video followed by the coach leading a conversation about respect, inclusion and what it means to be an ally.

The final step is a request for players to take the Player Pledge, as well as a team commitment on what the team will do throughout the tournament to help nurture a positive hockey culture. To acknowledge the Player Pledge and commitment, each team participating in Provincials receives a dressing room door magnet that includes space to share their commitment to action throughout the tournament.

“We are really excited to have the Player Pledge as part of our Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships,” said Rob Litwinski, President and CEO of Hockey Alberta. “We all have a huge responsibility in the game to ensure we continue to enhance and nurture a positive hockey culture. That includes respectful behaviour and actions on the ice, in the dressing room, in hotel rooms and it’s also going to lead to inclusive behaviour and language as well.”

Participation is not mandatory; however, teams who take the Player Pledge can enter to win $500 towards their year-end party.

In addition, Player Pledge pop-up banners will be visible in Provincial Championship arenas around the province.

Everyone attending a Provincial Championship event is encouraged to get involved on social media: take a photo with the Player Pledge, share it on social media, tag Hockey Alberta and use the hashtag, #ItStartsWithMe.

Team Alberta

Thompson enjoying Arctic Winter Games experience

Red Deer – Peace River’s Théa Thompson is competing in her second consecutive Arctic Winter Games taking place this week in Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Mat-Su), Alaska.

The 18-year-old is a key member of Alberta North’s defence group this year and has helped her team to a 3-0 record in group play with wins over Nunavut (7-1), Northwest Territories (1-0), and Alaska (3-0). They wrap up the round robin portion of the tournament tonight (March 13) against Yukon. Semifinal games begin on March 14 and the Games wrap up on March 15 with the Junior Female bronze and gold medal games.

TEAM ALBERTA NORTH JUNIOR FEMALE ROSTER >

Prior to the tournament kicking off, Thompson was selected to be Team Alberta North’s flag bearer for the opening ceremonies.

“It was a very great honour,” Thompson said. “I was thrilled to be selected as Team Alberta North’s flag bearer as I had the opportunity to not only represent my province but my sport as well.”

The Arctic Winter Games are the world’s largest northern multi-sport and cultural event. The Games are a celebration of athletic competition, culture, friendship, and cooperation between north contingents. Teams that regularly participate in ice hockey include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

“It is a really great honour to be able to compete in this tournament,” Thompson said. “It’s truly the best feeling in the world to put on that Hockey Alberta jersey and have the chance to represent our province in an international tournament. It is a great privilege. The group of girls we have this year is awesome and the built-in chemistry some of us have from last year can be a positive impact as we move through the competition.”

Thompson knows what it takes to win as she was part of the group that brought home the golden ulu in last year’s event.

“Winning the golden ulu last year was an incredible feeling, especially winning on home soil … it meant a lot to my teammates and I,” Thompson said. “I know we have a bit of pressure on us to compete the way we did last year and come home with that medal for a second year in a row. I know that if we play to the best of our abilities, we can put ourselves in a good position to win gold for a second consecutive year.”

Team Alberta North games can be livestreamed on HomeTeam Live. The team’s remaining schedule can be found below:

March 13

Alberta North vs Yukon

6:45 P.M. MT

March 14

Semifinals

TBD

March 15

Bronze Medal Game

10:00 A.M. MT

March 15

Gold Medal Game

4:30 P.M. MT

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS >

News

AEHL U17 AAA Post-Season Preview

RED DEER – After 680 regular season contests, the AEHL U17 AAA division is set to drop the puck on the 2024 playoffs.

Sixteen of the league’s 20 teams are looking to be crowned league champions when the first set of games begin on Wednesday, March 13. The South East (SEAC) Tigers travel to Okotoks to face the Oilers and the Red Deer North Star Chiefs and Calgary Flames (NWCAA) do battle in Game 1 of their series at Winsport in Calgary.

The Flames were the league’s best team, posting a record of 33-3-1, good for 61 points. Calgary has gone 8-1-0-1 in its last 10 games and are looking to continue their dominance from the regular season where they posted a +95-goal differential. Knights of Columbus (KC) Centennials were the North Division leaders, posting 22 wins and 50 points. They were closely trailed by the LJAC Techmation Oil Kings and St. Albert Raiders Flyers who finished two and three points back respectively.

FINAL STANDINGS >


Dylan Westmann of the MLAC Beverly Optimist Leafs (65 points), LJAC Techmation Oil Kings Ordell Saddleback Jr. (57 points) and Mason Lowther (55 points) finished one, two and three in total points. Westmann led the league with 34 goals in 33 games. The Calgary Flames goaltending duo put on a clinic this season with Matthew Macfie and Sergio Davidson finishing one-two in wins with 17 and 13. Davidson also had the league’s best goals-against-average at 1.59 while Jaxson Hosegood of the Airdrie Cannex Avalanche finished with the best save percentage at .938. Archer Cooke of the Calgary Royals finished with four shutouts.


All series are best-of-three. Matchups are as follows:

North Division Quarterfinals

Knights of Columbus (KC) Centennials vs Parkland (PAC) Saints

LJAC Techmation Oil Kings vs South Side (SSAC) United Cycle Bulldogs

St. Albert Raiders Flyers vs MLAC Beverly Optimist Leafs

Sherwood Park Squires vs Canadian (CAC) Gregg Distribution


South Division Quarterfinals

Calgary Flames (NWCAA) vs Red Deer North Star Chiefs

Airdrie Cannex Avalanche vs Calgary Bulls (CBHA)

Calgary Northstars vs Calgary Royals

Okotoks Oilers vs South East (SEAC) Tigers


For complete schedules and links to the FloHockey broadcasts, check out the Playoffs tab on the U17 AAA website.

PLAYOFFS >

Team Alberta

Ryder Flynn and Team Alberta North U15 Male roster excited for Arctic Winter Games experience

RED DEER – When the roster for the Team Alberta North U15 Male squad was announced in late November, there might not have been a person more excited to see his name on the roster than Peace River’s Ryder Flynn.

“I was super excited,” Flynn said who played his minor hockey season with the Peace River Sabres. “I worked hard all summer because my biggest goal for the year was to make this team. I was also excited to see that some of my teammates on the Sabres had made this team too.”

TEAM ALBERTA NORTH U15 ROSTER >

Flynn and his Alberta North teammates travel to Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Mat-Su), Alaska for the 2024 Alberta Winter Games which begin tomorrow (March 10) and conclude on March 16. The U15 gold medal game is scheduled for March 15. The team is made up of two goaltenders, six defence and nine forwards, all of whom must reside north of the 55th parallel in order to be eligible for the tournament.

The Arctic Winter Games are the world’s largest northern multi-sport and cultural event. The Games are a celebration of athletic competition, culture, friendship, and cooperation between north contingents. Teams that regularly participate in ice hockey include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

“I’m mostly excited but a little bit nervous as well. I know it’ll be a great experience up there but it’s also something entirely different from what I’m used to. However, I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fun,” Flynn said of his feelings heading into the tournament. “You need to figure out how to play together very quickly to have success in Arctics. However, I don’t think my team will have much of a problem with that after all the preparation we’ve done.”

Team Alberta North U15 Male begin their tournament with two games on March 11 against Nunavut and Yukon, and will finish up the round robin with games against Northwest Territories and Alaska on March 12 and 13. Semi-final games feature first place vs fourth place and second place vs third place.

Like most of his teammates, Flynn has never made a trip to Alaska. The young forward is eager to get to start the Games to experience a new culture.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll have some amazing experiences that I’ll always remember. I’m excited to see all the different things that come with visiting Alaska.”

And while taking in the sights and sounds of the Arctic Winter Games is part of the experience, Flynn said he and his teammates are focused on avenging last year’s gold medal loss.

“It’s really motivated us to be better and win gold. We want to show that we have the team to win it all and not fall short like last year. We want to show how much we’ve improved,” Flynn said. “Not only that but it would mean a lot to the team as well as the province. It shows we can compete and that can improve from previous years.”

Team Alberta North games can be livestreamed on HomeTeam Live. The team’s full schedule can be found below:

March 11

Alberta North vs Nunavut

12:45 P.M. MT

March 11

Alberta North vs Yukon

9:00 P.M. MT

March 12

Alberta North vs Northwest Territories

12:45 P.M. MT

March 13

Alberta North vs Alaska

10:00 A.M. MT

March 14

Semifinals

TBD

March 15

Bronze Medal Game

1:15 P.M. MT

March 15

Gold Medal Game

7:45 P.M. MT

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS >