RED DEER – The road to the 2023 Canada Winter Games continues on December 16-18, as the Team Alberta U16 Male and Female teams gather for their December Camp. The teams will gather at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer in preparation for the short-term competition taking place February 18 - March 5 in Prince Edward Island.
The camp offers a chance to see each team in action, as they will both play two exhibition games against U15 and U18 AAA club teams. The weekend camp will be the first and only time that the teams will be assembling in full before departing for the event in February.
All games will be held at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre and are free for the public to attend. The games will also be broadcast live on HockeyTV.
Team Alberta Female
The puck will drop on the Female squad’s first game at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, December 16 against the U15 AAA Okotoks Oilers. On Sunday, the team will face-off versus the Leduc LJAC U15 AAA Oil Kings at 3:00 P.M.
Athletes born in 2005-07, playing with a Hockey Canada sanctioned club team were eligible for Team Alberta Female. The selection process for the Canada Winter Games began in the 2021-22 season, where athletes were evaluated. In July, Hockey Alberta invited 72 athletes to the U18 Summer Camp, where 28 players were shortlisted and invited to the U18 Fall Selection Camp. Following the selection camp, athletes continued to be scouted with their club teams through the fall.
Team Alberta U16 Male
The U16 Male team will play their first game at 4:30 P.M. on Saturday, December 17 against the U18 AAA Red Deer Optimist Chiefs. They will cap off their weekend with a game against the U18 AAA St. Albert Nektar Raiders on Sunday, December 18 at 12:00 P.M.
Athletes born in 2007, playing with a Hockey Canada sanctioned program were eligible for the Canada Winter Games. To be selected to the Team Alberta U16 Male roster, athletes where evaluated based on their overall play throughout the Team Alberta scouting process. The process includes past Team Alberta programs, the U16 Summer Camp and play with their club teams through the fall. Eighty players were invited to the U16 Summer Camp, with 33 shortlisted and evaluated through the fall.
Apparel
Hockey Alberta has set up an online store to purchase additional Team Alberta apparel. Please feel free to share the link with family and friends who wish to cheer on Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games. There are a number of items to choose from, but jerseys are not available for purchase. The store is open until January 3. Orders will be shipped by February 1.
Any questions related to merchandise can be directed to – [email protected].