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Home Ice Feature

Duane Moleni (right) works on his skating with Hockey Alberta Foundation Board Vice Chair Dennis Zukiwsky (left).


It’s never too late

RED DEER - While it’s a common sight every winter to see outdoor rinks across Canada full of youngsters learning to skate, you’ll also see the odd adult hitting the ice for the very first time.

Although admittedly “late to the party”, Duane Moleni took the opportunity this past winter to embrace Canada’s pastime. Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Canada 11 years ago, but only decided to learn to skate this year.

“Peer pressure,” Moleni said of his motivation to take up hockey. “When you’re in a country like Canada, and hockey’s a national sport, I think I’d being doing a disservice to myself if I didn’t come out and try to at least learn to skate. Winter in most parts of this country is six-plus months long, so I’d go crazy if I didn’t come out and do this.”

Moleni works with the Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E.), which hosted the Learn to Skate in Red Deer, an initiative the Hockey Alberta Foundation partnered to help deliver. The Learn to Skate program ran Saturdays during the winter at an outdoor community rink, offering New Canadians of all skill levels a chance to play hockey, or learn the basics of the game.

“It’s fantastic, the facility and the ice is fantastic, as is the support from the Hockey Alberta Foundation,” Moleni said. “You’ve got kids playing hockey, and you’ve got kids who are learning to skate working with coaches as well, which is where I’m at. It’s fantastic, just little techniques that when I first started learning how to skate, I had no idea, and no one showed me what to do or gave me any tips, so it’s just helping me get that confidence to keep going and try and a little bit harder, and do a little bit more, and lo and behold, I’ll be doing a toe-pick triple-axle in no time.”

Hockey Alberta News

A former Rugby player, Moleni said the concept of hockey is something he’s still learning, even after living in Canada for more than ten years.

“It blows my mind that in this sport, you can go crazy fast on a surface like ice, with steel blades that are miniscule, and you make it look effortless," he said. "Then you throw in a puck and stick-handling, and navigating through players that are out there that are allowed to hit you, it blows my mind, that’s why I love the sport.”

After more than a decade of watching the sport, Moleni can pinpoint his love of the sport to one source - one of the hardest-hitting, toughest hockey players of all-time.

“When I first started watching the sport, Scott Stevens was (my idol), he was awesome," Moleni said. "He’s big, he’s strong, skates really well obviously, but the guy was just physically dominant. That’s not what hockey’s about, and hockey has changed since then.”

Moleni’s determination and attitude caught the attention of many at the rink, especially the people who were helping him.

"Duane is one of the big reasons why we had so much fun working with the C.A.R.E. program this winter," said Tim Leer, the Hockey Albert Foundation’s Executive Director. "Although we were there as part of the Every Kid Every Community program, Duane proved that it’s never too late to learn how to play."

With a full season on the ice now under his belt, Moleni said he’ll continue to work on his skating and skills, and without a doubt will be found out on the ice once again every Saturday this coming winter.


Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

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From left: Doug Brown receives the Dave Ganley award from Dave Ganley, Mike Rebus receives his Officials Lifetime Member ring from Curtis Nichols, and Darren Kuz presents Darren Pickering with his North Central Zone Award.


2017 Hockey Alberta Officials Committee award winners

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is proud to announce recipients of Officials Committee awards for 2017.

The winners were revealed at the 2017 Officials Committee Annual General Meeting, which was held in Red Deer this past weekend.

Officials Lifetime Member: Mike Rebus (Edmonton)

Hockey Alberta News
Mike Rebus (left) receives his Officials Lifetime Member ring from Curtis Nichols


Ernie Boruk Award: Dave Butler (Edmonton)

Hockey Alberta News
Dave Butler (left) receives the Ernie Boruk award from Curtis Nichols

The Ernie Boruk Award is presented annually to an individual in appreciation of outstanding dedication and contribution to the
Hockey Alberta Officials Committee.


Dave Ganley Award: Doug Brown (Okotoks)

Hockey Alberta News
Doug Brown (left) receives the Dave Ganley award from Dave Ganley

The Dave Ganley Award is presented to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Hockey Officiating in Alberta.


Zone award winners:

  • South Zone: Joyce Graham (Picture Butte)
  • Central Zone: Mykle Davidson (Calgary), Brandon Renner (Cochrane), Ian Calverley (Calgary)
  • North Central Zone: Darren Pickering (Sylvan Lake)
  • North Zone: Darcy Carter (Stony Plain), Scott Hennig (Fort Saskatchewan), and George Hart (Edmonton)
  • North East Zone: Rob Larson (Cold Lake)
  • Peace Zone: Bryan Turner (Grande Prairie)

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Photo credit: LA Media


South Black wins the 2017 Peewee Prospects Cup

LETHBRIDGE - After a slow start to the tournament, South Black defeated North Grey 4-1 to capture the 2017 Peewee Prospects Cup.

South Black and North Grey both lost their first games of the week, but both rebounded to finish second in their respective pools, and won their semi-final games to earn a berth in the championship final.

It’s an extra-special victory for South Black Captain Liam Watkins and teammate Gavin Schmidt, as their older brothers Lucas and Hayden won the Alberta Cup with Team South just two weeks prior.

South Black’s win also marked a clean sweep for South teams this year, with South winning the Alberta Cup, and South Black winning the Alberta Challenge.

Prior to the Championship game, the 2015 Peewee Prospects Cup Champions, Capital Green claimed third place with a 5-1 win over Calgary White.

The next Peewee Prospects Cup will be held in 2019.

Schedule/Results > | Roster >

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Photo credit: Matthew Murnaghan/HockeyCanadaImages


Albertans land on Hockey Canada’s centralized Olympic roster

CALGARY - Six Albertans were on the list as Hockey Canada announced it’s 28-player Olympic Centralized roster on Thursday.

Goaltender Shannon Szabados (Edmonton) and Defender Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert) were both selected as players. Melody Davidson, James Emery (Calgary), Brad Kirkwood (Calgary), and Christine Atkins (Fort Mcleod) are all a part of the team staff.

Szabados, Mikkelson, and 26 other players will be centralized in Calgary throughout the 2017-18 season in preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim) is one of two alternate goaltenders who will be available to support the centralization roster throughout the 2017-18 season but will remain with their club teams.


Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

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Photo Credit: lamediadesign.photoshelter.com


South Black wins the 2017 Alberta Challenge

OLDS - South Black went wire-to-wire as the tournament’s top team to win the 2017 Alberta Challenge.

South Black went undefeated (4-0-1) through the tournament, and clinched the Alberta Challenge with a 1-0 win over South White.

This is a special win for South Black’s DOP Val Alexander, who’s daughter Cylenna won the last Alberta Challenge as DOP with the North Predators in 2015. Alexander was also in competition with daughter Channia this weekend, who served as DOP for the North Grey team.

Hockey Alberta News

South Green claimed bronze earlier in the day. A couple of second period goals saw them defeat the third place ranked South Yellow by a score of 2-1.

Earlier in the day North Blue defeated North Grey by a score of 3-1 to claim fifth place in the tournment.

2017 is the first year the Alberta Challenge has been held in Olds. The next Alberta Challenge will take place in 2019.

Standings > | Leaders > | Schedule >

Day One Recap > | Day Two Recap > | Day Three Recap >


5TH Place

North Blue 3 - North Grey 1

Players of the Game: North Blue - #10 Alexis Butz | North Grey -#9 Payton Basterash

Boxscore >


Bronze Final

South Green 2 - North Yellow 1

Players of the Game: South Green- #16 Isobel Pettem-Shand | North Yellow - #9 Jillian Gulli

Boxscore >


Gold Final

South Black 1 - South White 0

Players of the Game: South Black - #17 Josie McLeod | South White - #4 Gracie Gilkyson

Boxscore >



Hockey Alberta News

Alberta Built Player of the Day

The Alberta Built player of the day is the athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of an "Alberta Built" player. Alberta Built is defined as:

1 - Good person - Know who you are.
2 - Character player - Believe in yourself.
3 - Grit player - Thrive on adversity
4 - Leadership - Treat yourself & people right
5 - Standard of performance - Focused approach on process - ALWAYS COMPETE - EVERY-DAYERS

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Two of a kind

OLDS - While many players at the Alberta Challenge and Alberta Cup are following in the footsteps of their older siblings, it’s not often two can share the experience at the same time.

Twins Ali and A.J. Macaulay have the rare opportunity to watch eachother compete against the best in the province.

Ali is currently competing with North Yellow at the Alberta Challenge, while A.J. skated with Northeast just a week prior at the Alberta Cup.

The two spoke about their sibling rivalry, and how they’ve leaned on eachother throughout the experience.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2017 Alberta Cup, click here.


Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

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Photo Credit: lamediadesign.photoshelter.com


2017 Alberta Challenge All-Stars announced

OLDS - Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the 2017 Alberta Challenge All-Stars.

The tournament All-Stars were announced Saturday night at the Alberta Challenge banquet at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites. All-Stars were voted Scouts and Team Alberta staff.

Goaltender

Hockey Alberta News

#31 Jocelynn Pearce - South Black

GP: 2 | MP: 120 | W: 2 | L: 0 | OTL: 0 | T: 0 | SO: 1 | SA: 51 | GA: 1 | SVS: 50 | GAA: | SV%: .98%


Defence

Hockey Alberta News

#4 Sierra LaPlante - South Green

GP: 4 | G: 1 | A: 0 | Pts: 1 | PIM: 2


Defence

Hockey Alberta News

#6 Alexandra Spence - North Grey

GP: 4 | G: 1 | A: 0 | Pts: 1 | PIM:0


Forward

Hockey Alberta News

#11 Hayleigh Craig - South Black

GP: 4 | G: 3 | A: 4 | Pts: 7 | PIM: 0


Forward

Hockey Alberta News

#20 Sarah Wozniewicz - South White

GP: 4 | G: 3 | A: 2 | Pts: 5 | PIM: 2


Forward

Hockey Alberta News

#12 Aliya Jomha - North Yellow

GP: 4 | G: 2 | A: 3 | Pts: 5 | PIM: 4


Home Ice Feature

Training the trainers

OLDS - The Alberta Challenge is not only a great opportunity for players to develop, but trainers as well. Every year, a Mentor Trainer is in place at the competition to oversee each Team Trainer, and help guide them through the process.

This year’s Mentor Trainer, Dave Campbell, discusses the importance of the Trainer program and how it’s helped him grow as a Trainer.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2017 Alberta Challenge, click here.


Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

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Team Alberta U18 Head Coach Craig Perrett, who is also serving as a Coach Mentor at the 2017 Alberta Challenge, will be just the third coach to serve on both the male and female sides of the Team Alberta program.


The view from the other side

OLDS - While many coaches have had the opportunity to be a part of the Team Alberta program over the years, 2017 Team Alberta U18 Female Head Coach Craig Perrett will be just the third to do so on both the male and female side.

Perrett, who is also serving as a Mentor at the 2017 Alberta Challenge, was an Assistant Coach with Team Alberta’s gold medal winning U16 Male team in 2015, and has spent many years with the Team Alberta program in various roles, most recently serving as a Coach Mentor at the Alberta Cup and Alberta Winter Games.

Now, as he makes the transition from the male side to the female side of the program, Perrett has already noticed the differences and similarities between the two, and says he’s looking forward to the new challenge.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2017 Alberta Challenge, click here.


Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

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Former Team Alberta player Channia Alexander (right) and her mom, Val, will be going head-to-head this weekend as Directors of Operations at the 2017 Alberta Challenge.


Giving back to Team Alberta

OLDS - Although Val Alexander’s team will be competing against her daughter Channia’s team at the 2017 Alberta Challenge, the mother-daughter duo are enjoying the experience together.

It’s Val’s third Alberta Challenge as a Director of Operations, this year with South Black, while Channia, the Director of Operations for North Grey, is volunteering with the Challenge for the first time.

Channia played in Team Alberta’s U18 Female program from 2012-15, winning a bronze medal with Team Alberta at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

Both Channia and Val are excited to give back to the Team Alberta program, and provide the same experience they both received while Channia was coming up through the program.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2017 Alberta Challenge, click here.


Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

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(From left) Alberta Cup All-Stars Garin Bjorklund, Kaiden Guhle, Luke Prokop, Krz Plummer, Kyle Crnkovic and Ethan Rowland were all selected in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. Guhle was the first overall selection, going to the Prince Albert Raiders. Photo cre


Albertans go 1-2 at 2017 WHL Bantam Draft | Full list of Albertans drafted

For the third straight year, an Albertan has been selected first overall at the 2017 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. In total, 74 players from Alberta were drafted, one more than in 2016.

2017 Alberta Cup All-Star Kaiden Guhle (Sherwood Park) was the top pick in the draft, going to the Prince Albert Raiders. Connor McLennan (Wainwright) was selected right after by the Kootenay Ice, giving Alberta yet another 1-2 punch at the draft.Another Alberta Cup All-Star, Garin Bjorklund (Calgary), was the first goaltender taken in the draft, going 21st overall to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Seven Albertans went in the top 10 picks, and 11 player were selected in the first round, the most of the four Western provinces.

Fourty of the players drafted are forwards, 25 are defence, and nine are goaltenders.

A recap of the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft can be found by clicking here.

Pick Player Team Position Hometown

FIRST ROUND

1st Kaiden Guhle Prince Albert Raiders Defence Sherwood Park
2nd Connor McClennon Kootenay Ice Forward Wainwright
4th Jake Neighbours Edmonton Oil Kings Forward Airdrie
7th Luke Prokop Calgary Hitmen Defence Edmonton
8th Ridly Greig Brandon Wheat Kings Forward Lethbridge
9th Joel Sexsmith Swift Current Broncos Defence Edmonton
10th Kyle Crnkovic Saskatoon Blades Forward Chestermere
16th Noah Boyko Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward Redwater
20th Ronan Seeley Everett Silvertips Defence Olds
21st Garin Bjorklund Medicine Hat Tigers Goalie Calgary
22nd Ethan Rowland Red Deer Rebels Forward Calgary

SECOND ROUND

23rd Anson McMaster Kootenay Ice Defence Siksika
25th Ozzy Wiesblatt Prince Albert Raiders Forward Calgary
26th Logan Dowhaniuk Edmonton Oil Kings Defence Camrose
31st Braden Plaschewsky Saskatoon Blades Forward Calgary
32nd Dallon Melin Victoria Royals Forward Camrose
36th Sebastian Cossa Edmonton Oil Kings Goalie Fort McMurray
41st Tyrel Bauer Seattle Thunderbirds Defence Cochrane
43rd Scout Truman Medicine Hat Tigers Forward Lethbridge

THIRD ROUND

46th Krz Plummer Vancouver Giants Forward Whitecourt
48th Raphael Pelletier Edmonton Oil Kings Forward St. Albert
52nd Kaden Reinders Victoria Royals Defence Grande Prairie
53rd Talyn Boyko Tri-City Americans Goalie Drumheller
59th Peyton McKenzie Moose Jaw Warriors Forward Sherwood Park
63rd Jordan Borysiuk Red Deer Rebels Forward Mannville
66th Sheldon Kwiatkowski Calgary Hitmen Forward Grande Prairie

FOURTH ROUND

67th Jake Sanderson Kootenay Ice Defence Calgary
71st Cole Carrier Kelowna Rockets Forward Strathcona
74th Jack Zayat Brandon Wheat Kings Defence Calgary
79th Cole Dubinsky Regina Pats Forward Ardrossan
82nd Jarod Newell Tri-City Americans Defence Wainwright
86th Blake Lyda Everett Silvertips Goalie Edmonton
87th Noah Danielson Medicine Hat Tigers Forward Olds

FIFTH ROUND

89th Owen Pederson Kootenay Ice Forward Stony Plain
92nd Samuel McGinley Regina Pats Defence Calgary
93rd Ty Yoder Victoria Royals Forward Camrose
95th Braydan Peters Calgary Hitmen Goalie Taber
107th Jace Isley Red Deer Rebels Defence Grande Prairie
108th Brayden Morrison Everett Silvertips Forward Calgary
110th Brett Meerman Medicine Hat Tigers Forward Blackfalds

SIXTH ROUND

111th Benjamin Zloty Kootenay Ice Defence Calgary
117th Alex Thacker Swift Current Broncos Forward St. Albert
118th Noah Lamb Victoria Royals Defence Camrose
124th Jackson Berry Moose Jaw Warriors Goalie Chestermere
131st Kadyn Chabot Medicine Hat Tigers Forward Lethbridge

SEVENTH ROUND

133rd Gage Alexander Kootenay Ice Goalie Okotoks
136th Brendan Kuny Edmonton Oil Kings Forward Camrose
139th Greg Nelson Seattle Thunderbirds Forward Veteran
142nd Michael Benning Victoria Royals Defence St. Albert
148th Riley Fiddler-Schultz Calgary Forward Edmonton
151st Riley Ginnell Kamloops Blazers Forward Calgary
152nd Ryley Morgan Everett Silvertips Forward St. Albert
154th Daron Cyr Swift Current Broncos Defence St. Albert

EIGHTH ROUND

157th Cole Tisdale Kelowna Rockets Goalie Lethbridge
162nd Bode Hagan Brandon Wheat Kings Forward Beaumont
163rd Chase Leslie Red Deer Defence Camrose
165th Ethan Edwards Portland Winterhawks Defence St. Albert
167th Nickolas De Beurs Red Deer Rebels Forward Cochrane
173rd Ty Marcinkowski Seattle Thunderbirds Goalie Camrose

NINTH ROUND

177th Aidan Bangs Regina Pats Forward Calgary
187th Jacob Boucher Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward St. Albert
193rd Robert Kincaid Kelowna Rockets Defence Barrhead
197th Brayden Kapty Medicine Hat Tigers Defence Coalhurst
198th Carter Savoie Regina Pats Forward St. Albert

TENTH ROUND

204th Ethan Leyer Portland Winterhawks Forward St. Albert
207th Blake Gustafson Red Deer Rebels Defence Sherwood Park
211th Daylan Kuefler Kamloops Blazers Forward Stettler
216th Stephen Rosier Medicine Hat Tigers Forward Calgary

ELEVENTH Round

218th Hale Schoneck Calgary Hitmen Defence Calgary
219th Nathan Morgan Victoria Royals Forward Calgary
222nd Maxwell Goldade Everett Silvertips Defence Calgary
223rd Tyler Bates Medicine Hat Tigers Defence Calgary
224th Jared Miller Regina Pats Forward Crossfield

TWELFTH ROUND

227th Austin Spiridakis Everett Silvertips Forward Sturgeon County