Hockey Alberta and Lacombe Ford/Drayton Valley Ford announce new partnership

LACOMBE - A new partnership between Hockey Alberta and Lacombe Ford/ Drayton Valley Ford will make Hockey Alberta vehicles much more recognizable when travelling around the province.

The partnership sees Lacombe Ford/Drayton Valley Ford providing Hockey Alberta with a 2018 Ford Flex and Ford Explorer for the next two years.

The vehicles will be easily identifiable as belonging to Hockey Alberta thanks to eye-catching wraps on each vehicle. The wraps feature the Hockey Alberta logo as well as real-life photos captured at Hockey Alberta events that recognize the participants in our sport across the province.

“Hockey Alberta is pleased to be able to partner with Lacombe Ford and Drayton Valley Ford in a way that provides prominent exposure and recognition of our brand and our participants. When you see one of these vehicles at an arena in Alberta, that means there is important programming occurring to help in the development and training of the players and stakeholders in our great game,” said Mike Klass, Director of Business Operations for Hockey Alberta.

The logos for Lacombe Ford and Drayton Valley Ford are prominent on the vehicles, which have already been parked in key locations at Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships the past two weekends. Provincial Championships wrap up this weekend with Junior B in Wetaskiwin. As well, on the Hockey Alberta website, there is a direct link to learn more about the exclusive Free Tires 4 Life program only available through Lacombe Ford and Drayton Valley Ford.

“Lacombe Ford and Drayton Valley Ford are excited to be partnered with Hockey Alberta. Our dealerships have always been involved and supported minor sports in our local communities, so this felt like a natural fit and partnership for us. We believe that getting involved and supporting our young athletes and the organizations that continue to develop and grow their skills in sport, and in life, is a true win-win for everyone involved,” said Andy Kotowich, VP of Fixed Operations for Lacombe Ford and Drayton Valley Ford.

For more information on programs and events offered by Hockey Alberta, go to hockeyalberta.ca. For more information on the Tires 4 Life program through Lacombe Ford and Drayton Valley Ford, go totires4life.ca.

SUDBURY, ON. - A year after becoming the first team to repeat as Esso Cup champions, the St. Albert Slash have made history again, by becoming the first team to win Canada’s National Female Midget Championship three straight years after a 4-1 victory over the host Sudbury Lady Wolves.

“Unbelievable. Surreal.” St. Albert Slash head coach Dan Auchenberg said of his team after the game. “They don’t even know what they just did, three straight Esso Cups. That’s unheard of.”

The Slash finished the preliminary round with a 2-0-1-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record before Madison Willan scored the overtime winner to defeat the Saskatoon Stars 2-1 in their semifinal.

Down by a goal after 20 minutes Saturday, goals from Taylor Anker (Sherwood Park, Alta.) and Mackenzie Kordic (Edmonton, Alta.) put St. Albert up heading to the third period. Kordic added a second goal on the power play, and Dayle Ross (Spirit River, Alta.) sealed the deal with an empty-netter with 40 seconds left. Slash goalie Brianna Sank made 33 saves in the victory.

Jaden Bogden, Isabelle Lajoie, and Brooklyn Schroeder cap off their terrific season by adding this Esso Cup championship to the gold medal they each won as a member of Team Alberta U18 Female at the Canada Winter Games, held in Red Deer in February.

Anker, Lajoie, Sank, Makenna Schuttler, and Willan have been on the team for all three Esso Cup Championships.

RED DEER - This past Sunday, April 28, Hockey Alberta presented their annual Hockey Alberta Awards in conjunction with the Alberta Cup. These Awards allow Hockey Alberta and the Alberta hockey community to recognize outstanding individuals and teams for their hard work and accomplishments in making a positive difference for our participants in the game of hockey during the 2018-19 season.

The Hockey Alberta Awards program includes awards that are open to nominations from Hockey Alberta member organization, staff member or volunteer, and others that are determined by Hockey Alberta through a review of eligible candidates.

The 2019 Hockey Alberta Award recipients are:

• Volunteer of the Year: Jody Forbes (Calgary). Presented to a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.
• Coach of the Year: Kent Beagle (Rimbey). Presented to a coach who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.
• Player of the Year: Kason Buffalo-Rain (Maskwacis). Presented to a player who has achieved significant achievements, performances and contributions within amateur hockey during the current season.
• Official of the Year: Lacey Senuk (St. Albert). Presented to an official who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.
• Ernie Boruk Award: David Mousseau (Red Deer). Presented for outstanding dedication and contribution to Hockey Alberta Officials Committee.
• Dave Ganley Award: Michael Roberts (Calgary). Presented for outstanding contribution to hockey officiating in Alberta
• Team of the Year: Springbank Peewee AA Rockies. Presented to recognize a Team’s significant achievements, performances and contributions within amateur hockey during the current season.
• Order of Merit: These awards recognize exceptional leadership and distinguished service to amateur hockey in Alberta for 10 years or more. Awards may be presented in the categories of Administration, Coaching/Development and officiating. Recipients have dedicated significant time, effort and leadership to the growth and development of amateur hockey, not only in their own community, but across the province.

• Administration - Chris Hurley (Edmonton)
• Coaching/Development - Bobby Fox (Medicine Hat)
• Coaching/Development - Ally Bendfeld (Innisfail)
• Exceptional Provincials Host Site: Vermilion Minor Hockey Association (Bantam B) and Olds Minor Hockey Association (Peewee Female A). Presented to the Minor Hockey Association/ Host Committee judged to have implemented the most outstanding Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship during the current season.
• Minor Hockey Association of the Year: Lacombe Minor Hockey Association. Presented to recognize a Minor Hockey Association (MHA) judged to have made a significant impact on the game through their day to day operations.

Congratulations to all of the Award recipients and nominees and Hockey Alberta and the hockey community thank you for your contributions to our sport.

We encourage everyone to look at the full overview of the Hockey Alberta Awards program and consider who makes a difference to you, your team and your community in 2019-20.

RED DEER - Team Alberta Red defeated Alberta Black 3-1 to win the 2019 Alberta Cup.

After trailing Alberta Black 1-0, Alberta Red scored three unanswered goals in the period en route to a 3-1 victory.

Kaiden Wiltsie scored two for Alberta Red, with Timothy Tychonick scoring the game-winner seven minutes into the third. Ian Mills made 23 stops for the win, and was named Alberta Red’s Player of the Game.

Earlier in the day, Bowden Singleton broke out for eight points (3G, 5A) as Alberta Green defeated Alberta Yellow 10-2 in the B Final. Alberta Blue won the C Final over Alberta Grey 5-1.

Standings > | Leaders > | Schedule > | Day One Recap > | Day Two Recap > | Day Three Recap >

2019 Alberta Cup All-Stars

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the 2019 Alberta Cup All-Stars:

Goaltender

#1 Nicholas Jones - Alberta Red

GP: 3 | MP: 152 | W: 3 | L: 0 | OTL: 0 | T: 0 | SO: 0 | SA: 51 | GA: 2 | SVS: 60 | GAA: 0.79 | SV%: .960

Defence

#4 Keaton Dowhaniuk - Alberta Black

GP: 5 | G: 2 | A: 2 | Pts: 4 | PIM: 8

Defence

#6 Jamie Weller - Alberta Red

GP: 5 | G: 0 | A: 4 | Pts: 4 | PIM: 0

Forward

#14 Rieger Lorenz - Alberta Green

GP: 5 | G: 4 | A: 8 | Pts: 12 | PIM: 6

Forward

#18 Bowden Singleon - Alberta Green

GP: 5 | G: 8 | A: 8 | Pts: 16 | PIM: 6

Forward

#17 Liam Watkins - Alberta Red

GP: 5 | G: 3 | A: 5 | Pts: 8 | PIM: 0

All-Star Official

Stephen Doane - Calgary

C Final

Alberta Blue 5 - Alberta Grey 1

Players of the Game: Alberta Blue: #6 Grayden Gotaas | Alberta Grey: #20 Koehn Ziemmer

Boxscore >

B Final

Alberta Green 10 - Alberta Yellow 2

Players of the Game: Alberta Green: #18 Bowden Singleton | Alberta Yellow: #20 Matt Savoie

Boxscore >

Championship Final

Alberta Red 3 - Alberta Black 1

Players of the Game: Alberta Red: #31 Ian Mills | Alberta Black: #2 Carson Brisson

Boxscore >

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

RED DEER - Red Deer College honoured its longtime partner Hockey Alberta this afternoon in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre/Centre des Jeux du Canada at a celebration recognizing Hockey Alberta’s $1.5 million donation toward building the facility.

The Centre is now the home of Hockey Alberta’s head office and provincial training centre, and the site of conferences, competitions and training events for many of the programs the organization coordinates including the Alberta Cup this weekend, featuring the top bantam-aged players in the province.

The partnership between these two organizations began with a Charter in 2011, when Hockey Alberta moved its head office onto RDC’s Main Campus. The partnership has allowed both organizations to increase the ways they serve Albertans through collaboration. The partnership also allowed RDC and Hockey Alberta to pursue a new facility to support the development of the sport, a vision which contributed significantly to the planning and execution of the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

“While this facility is home for Hockey Alberta’s head office and is a tremendous addition to central Alberta, Hockey Alberta’s vision is to use it as a central hub for hockey in the province,” said Rob Litwinski, CEO of Hockey Alberta. “This long-term strategy for Hockey Alberta has always been about more than the facility. It has been about having a centre where Hockey Alberta could operate its many programs and events in a central location.”

Since its opening in the fall, Hockey Alberta has hosted thousands of coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators and players from around the province for various programs, training seminars, events. “We believe this is only the start as Hockey Alberta adds more of its own programming and events in Red Deer, and pursues hosting National and International events,” says Litwinski. “The decision to make an investment into the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre was based on a business model which will allow Hockey Alberta to enhance its opportunity to diversify its revenue with added programs, events, brand growth and partnerships.”

Creating this competition and training space as a part of RDC’s significant infrastructure development project provides an unparalleled opportunity for athletes at all levels. Hockey Alberta accesses the fitness zone along with boardrooms, classrooms, gymnasium, residence and arena facilities for its wide array of off-ice and on-ice development programming for coaches, administrators, and officials. This includes Hockey Alberta’s Leadership Development Weekend in June for coaches, mentors, and development directors.

Hockey Alberta’s presence on campus creates enhanced practicum and field placement opportunities for RDC students from a leadership, business or sports perspective, as well as collaborative programming opportunities in these areas. In this way, the unique collaboration provides opportunities for current as well as future learners.

“Hockey Alberta is a true partner,” says Joel Ward, RDC President and CEO. “We’ve shared the vision for developing leaders in our region - through education and through sport - for a long time, and we’re dedicated to helping each other serve these needs in our community.”

The generous donation from Hockey Alberta was key to construction of the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, and the unique, collaborative partnership is critical to the way that RDC can support the learning needs of Albertans. “As we look toward becoming Red Deer University, we’re proud of the practical, applied learning opportunities that our partnerships help us provide, opportunities which further set us apart as a leader in innovative approaches to learning,” says Ward. “In addition to the practicum and placement opportunities, having Hockey Alberta located in our new Centre will further blur the line between learning and work experience, seamlessly transitioning our business and sport studies students into careers in industry.”

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the nine Officials selected to work the 2019 Alberta Cup.

Stephen Doane (Calgary), Quinn Dunnigan (St. Albert), Nick Fedori (Edmonton), Aidan Forester (Okotoks), Kent Hanna (Medicine Hat), Mike Knoblauch (St. Albert), Chris Lopes (Calgary), Kael Maltais (Spruce Grove) and Tyson Phillips (Lethbridge) will all take the next step in their officiating careers.

The Alberta Cup is the first step in the Hockey Alberta Official’s Development Program. The nine Officials were selected based on their performance at the three Alberta Cup Regional Camps recently held in Blackfalds, Calgary and Spruce Grove.

The 2019 Alberta Cup runs April 25-28 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer.