RED DEER - Thirteen new provincial champions were crowned on Sunday, highlighting a busy first weekend of the 2019 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial.
One Midget team, five Bantam teams, and seven Atom teams skated away from their respective tournaments with gold medals: Strathmore Storm (Midget Female A), NWZ Outlaws (Bantam A), Drumheller Raptors (Bantam B), Tofield Titans (Bantam C), Hanna Colts (Bantam D), GHC Bantam 1 Red (Bantam Female A), St. Albert Barons (Atom AA Major), Strathcona Warriors (Atom AA Minor), La Crete Lumberjacks (Atom A), Picture Butte Blades (Atom B), Taber Oil Kings (Atom C), Magrath Chiefs (Atom D), and Airdrie Lightning (Atom Female).
In addition to the on-ice action, seven host communities held a True Spirit of Hockey Day to celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport: Cold Lake, Duchess, Elk Point, Nanton, Okotoks, Red Deer and Vermilion.
Provincial championships set for March 21/22-24 include: Peewee Female B (Lethbridge), Peewee Female A (Olds), Bantam AA (Calgary Buffaloes), Bantam Female B (Okotoks), Bantam Female Elite (Red Deer), Midget Female B (Leduc), Midget Female AAA (St. Albert), Midget D (Fort MacLeod), Midget C (Whitecourt), Midget B (Calgary - Springbank), Midget A (Strathmore), and Minor Midget AAA (Edmonton).
Five more host communities will host a True Spirit of Hockey Day this week: Fort Macleod, Lethbridge and Vauxhall.
2019 HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENTS
Gold Medal Games
Midget Female A - Strathmore Storm 4, Irma Aces 3 (OT)
Bantam A - NWZ Outlaws 4, Cochrane Rockies 1
Bantam B - Drumheller Raptors 6, St. Paul Canadiens 2
Bantam C - Tofield Titans 6, Beaverlodge Blades 0
Bantam D - Hanna Colts 4, Kneehill Chiefs 3
Bantam Female A - GHC Red 3, Okotoks Oilers 0
Atom AA Major - St. Albert Barons 10, Red Deer Chiefs 9
Atom AA Minor - Strathcona Warriors 5, Rocky Chiefs 3
Atom A - La Crete Lumberjacks 9, Edson Sabres 2
Atom B - Picture Butte Blades 6, Kitscoty Pitbulls 4
Atom C - Taber Oil Kings 6, Duchess Storm 4
Atom D - Magrath Chiefs 9, Viking Gas Kings 3
Atom Female - Airdrie Lightning 4, Medicine Hat Wildcats 0
2019 HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PLAYDOWN SERIES
Senior AAA - Stony Plain Eagles VS. Innisfail Eagles
Best-of-seven series tied 2-2
Winner plays Lacombe Generals in two-game, total-goal series to determine league champion
Game One: Stony Plain 5, Innisfail 2
Game Two: Innisfail 4, Stony Plain 3
Game Three: Innisfail 6, Stony Plain 0
Game Four: Stony Plain 5, Innisfail 4 (OT)
Game Five: Friday, March 22, 8:30 p.m. - Stony Plain @ Innisfail
Game Six: Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. - Innisfail @ Stony Plain
Game Seven (if necessary): Sunday, March 24, 5:00 p.m. - Stony Plain @ Innisfail
Allan Cup - April 8-13 - Lacombe, Alberta
Midget AAA - St Albert Nektar Data Systems Raiders vs Calgary Buffaloes
Best-of-five series begins on March 22
Game One: Friday, March 22, 8:15 p.m. - St. Albert @ Calgary
Game Two: Sunday, March 24, 3:00 p.m. - Calgary @ St. Albert
Game Three: Tuesday, March 26, 7:30 p.m. - St. Albert @ Calgary
Game Four (if necessary): Thursday, March 28, 7:00 p.m. - Calgary @ St. Albert
Game Five (if necessary): Saturday, March 30, 6:30 p.m. - St. Albert @ Calgary
Telus Cup - April 22-28 - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Bantam AAA - Fort Saskatchewan Rangers vs Red Deer Rebels
Fort Saskatchewan leads best-of-five series 2-0
Game One: Fort Sask 4, Red Deer 2
Game Two: Fort Sask 4, Red Deer 2
Game Three: Saturday, March 23, 5:15 p.m. - Red Deer @ Fort Sask
Game Four (if necessary): Sunday, March 24, 12:15 p.m. - Red Deer @ Fort Sask
Game Five (If necessary): Tuesday, March 26, 7:15 p.m. - Fort Sask @ Red Deer
