HIGH PERFORMANCE 1 SEMINAR

Deadline to apply for High Performance 1 seminar is May 1. Coaches applying for the NCCP High Performance 1 seminar must be currently coaching in a competitive stream of hockey and be able to commit to attending all Virtual and In-Person components. Thirty-six successful candidates are going to be notified of their acceptance by May 7. The seminar takes place virtually in May and June with an in-person seminar in Red Deer in July.

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RED DEER – Kayla Cordingley is looking to be a trailblazer and bring more diversity to professional sports.

Cordingley, who is spending this weekend with Alberta Green at the 2024 Alberta Cup and next weekend with South Black at the 2024 Alberta Challenge as the head trainer, wants to bring more female representation within the professional hockey, and sports in general.

In January 2022, Aisha Visram became the first, and so far only, female staffer to work on the bench of an NHL regular season game when she served as an athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Kings in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Along with that, a recent study by National Library of Medicine reveals that only 1.3 percent of head athletic trainers in the major sports leagues – the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NFL and NHL – are women.

“It’s been tough for females to gain that same recognition and representation as men, especially in hockey. It takes an effort and I know there are so many females in the profession now that are working towards the same goal as me. I’m just grateful that we support one another and that I’m part of that group,” said Cordingley.

Cordingley has become a familiar face at Hockey Alberta events over the past few years, getting her start from a recommendation from someone at the Circle K Classic in Calgary.

“He said I would be a good fit for Hockey Alberta and gave me Dave Campbell’s contact information. I bugged him a little bit, but it was during COVID so I couldn’t really get on. (Dave) probably had me bugging him for about two years … I finally got on and now I’m in my third year. I love it,” said Cordingley

So, what is it about Hockey Alberta and Spring Showcase that continues to bring her back?

“It’s the people. I love getting to meet new coaches, all the Directors (of Operations), and the athletes as well. Every year is so fun, and I gain so much out of it that it’s hard not to come back,” she said. “Just in terms of the networking, in terms of the experience, Hockey Alberta really builds you up.”

Cordingley has a major role in ensuring that the coaches and players can solely focus their attention and energy on the game. As the Trainer, she’s in charge of but not limited to; managing and preventing injuries, taping, manual soft tissue work, making sure the athletes are hydrated and prioritizing nutrition, setting up the dressing room, sharpening skates and fixing anything that happens in the middle of the game whether it be injury or equipment related.

“We’ve got to have that quick reaction to be able to manage anything that comes our way,” Cordingley said. "You have to be someone who thrives under pressure, and I’ve always been that person. I look forward to those moments because you do anything you can to get the players back in the game. Honestly it becomes a bit of a blur because you just lock in and do your job.”

Cordingley has gained a ton of experience since embarking on her journey towards working for a professional sports team. Some of the previous roles she’s held includes being the Trainer for the Calgary Royals program, Trainer for the Rocky Mountain Raiders U18 AAA team, Student Athletic Therapist at the University of Calgary working with the women’s basketball and football, as well as participating in several events with Hockey Alberta such as Spring Showcase, WHL Cup and National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

Once she’s finished tending to the athletes these next two weekends, Cordingley is off to Saskatchewan as she earned an internship with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“I wanted to go into medicine my whole life, that was something I always knew I wanted,” said Cordingley. “I applied for a medical company when I was younger, not expecting to do this, but my first shift was with a hockey team. From that day forward I wanted to stick to hockey and sports. I love the people, love the culture and it’s something that once you’re in it, you’ll never want to leave.”

Similar to athletes and coaches, there are some subtle changes that need to be made in order for Cordingley to transition from dealing with a team for an entire season versus short term competition that she’ll be seeing over the next two weekends.

“You have to emphasize a bit more on team building and building those relationships,” she said. “I find in hockey that a lot of these kids and coaches are used to the short-term competition. While there are some differences, I find that it’s easier to build those relationships quickly because you’re all working towards a common goal. It is sad though because it’s shorter. So, it’s always heartbreaking for me when it’s done because you only get a few months with them during the buildup and tournament itself.”

Eight athletes who previously went through Hockey Alberta’s system were crowned champions on both sides of the border.

Defenceman Sam McGinley (Calgary) was part of the undefeated University of New Brunswick Reds that went 43-0 en route to winning their second consecutive University Cup on March 17. UNB took out eighth seeded Brock University 4-0, blew by Toronto Metropolitan 7-0 before finishing off their perfect season with a 4-0 victory over Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). The 21-year-old defenceman suited up in 11 games for the Reds, posting four assists while also adding a goal in five playoff games. McGinley assisted on UNB’s third goal in the championship game, while also going +3.

McGinley played for the U15 and U16 AAA Calgary Royals, and Edge School before going onto the Western Hockey League where he played for both Regina and Swift Current. McGinley also played in the Alberta Cup.

After her fourth season at Clarkson University, Stephanie Markowski (Edmonton) played a crucial role this season in helping the Ohio State Buckeyes win the NCAA Division I Female National Championship on March 25. Ohio State took down Minnesota Duluth 9-0 to punch its ticket to the Frozen Four tournament. There the Buckeyes defeated Clarkson 4-1 and Wisconsin 1-0 to win the school’s second national championship. Markowski finished with 27 points in 39 games while also keeping the oppositions top forwards off the scoresheet.

Markowski played for the St. Albert Slash, Pursuit of Excellence and suited up twice with Team Alberta at the National Women’s U18 Championship.

Six Albertans were part of the University of Denver Pioneers national championship squad that defeated the University of Boston College 2-0 in the Frozen Four championship game on April 13. Goaltenders Matt Davis (Calgary) and Freddie Halyk (Cochrane); defencemen Cale Ashcroft (St. Albert) and Kent Anderson (Calgary); and forwards Rieger Lorenz (Calgary) and Carter King (Calgary) were part of the Pioneers victory with all six members playing key roles on the road to the Frozen Four. Lorenz assisted on the game-winning goal and scored the insurance marker in the win over Boston College. Denver had three 2-1 victories over Massachusetts, Cornell, and Boston University to earn their way to the championship game.

Davis, Ashcroft, Lorenz, and Anderson all participated in the Alberta Cup at various points over the past several seasons.

Merrimack College defender Raice Szott (Daysland) was nominated for the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award in the NCAA. Szott launched the Merrimack College Women’s Hockey Community Service Committee, which has led to several volunteer and fundraising opportunities in the Merrimack Valley. She has coordinated fundraisers to support local nonprofits, including first responders and the Ellie Fund, a local foundation that assists men and women suffering from breast cancer. Szott has coordinated volunteers for Merrimack’s Relay For Life, local girls’ hockey programs and after-school programs at local elementary schools.

Connor Bouchard named USports men’s hockey player of the year

Sullivan Trophy as USports men’s hockey player of the year.

Bouchard scored 23 goals and 34 assists in 25 games with the Cougars (2.28 points per game), becoming the first player in 23 years to surpass the 50-point plateau. His totals were aided by a 24-game point streak and 12 power play goals.

Brock University’s Connor Ungar (Calgary) won the Clare Drake Trophy for rookie of the year. Bouchard was named First Team All-Canadian, with Ungar and University of Calgary defenceman Colson Gengenbach (Edmonton) named Second Team All-Canadians. Ungar also was named to the All-Rookie Team.

After a dominant 2023-24 campaign, it’s no surprise the Calgary Buffaloes qualified for the 2024 Telus Cup in Membertou, Nova Scotia.

That doesn’t make the achievement any less special for Buffaloes captain Tyson Murray, who said it’s surreal the team is one of the top U18 AAA teams in Canada after defeating Vancouver North East Chiefs in the Pacific Regional Championship.

“It’s super special,” Murray said. "It means a lot. We have a great group of guys, and they show up to work every day. Everyone has earned it and it took all of the players and coaches to get here. I’ve always wanted to play in a tournament this big … it’s going to be a lot of fun, I can’t wait.”

The Buffaloes went 27-9-2 in 38 regular season games. Murray said he knew early on that this season could be a special one for the group.

“Honestly it was probably pretty early in the season,” Murray said. “It was probably the fourth or fifth game. We started to get on a run, started playing better and I thought we started clicking. Everyone connected so well to each other. I thought we had a good group from the start and I’m just super happy we’ve been able to make it this far.”

The Telus Cup features the best teams and players from across the country. Murray, who finished the season with 34 points in 35 games, says it’s a great opportunity for him and his teammates to measure themselves up against other top competitions. The Buffaloes begin their tournament this evening (April 22) against the hosting Sydney Rush.

“It’s super exciting to play against the best. That’s always what you want to do. You always want to play against the best and be the best. But we’re not satisfied with just getting here. “We want to do our thing and try to have some success,” he said. “We know how good we are and while it’s going to be a bit different since we’ve never played these teams, I feel confident. I like our group of guys, I think we have a great team, great coaches and a great gameplan.”

Murray is a dependable 200-foot forward that can produce offence but is also responsible defensively. Due to his attention to detail and work ethic, he was named the Buffaloes captain for this season.

“I’m very proud to wear the ‘C’. It’s an honour to have that distinction, especially for a team like this,” he said. “I just try to give it everything I have, whether it be dry land, practice or on the ice. I try to go 100 percent all the time, not leave anything out there and try to lead by example. I’m not the most vocal guy so I have to lead by example on the ice. Everyone has bought into what we’re trying to do and hopefully we can cap this season off the right way.”

The team’s full schedule can be found below:

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 >

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.

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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 >

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

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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.

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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).

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.

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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.

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