Minor Leagues to implement U15 non-checking/body contact only for tiers 4-6

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s Minor Leagues Committee, represented by Alberta’s six (6) tiered Minor Hockey Leagues (CAHL, NAI, NEAHL, All Peace, Edmonton Federation & Hockey Calgary) have unanimously supported the implementation of non-checking/body contact only hockey at the Tiers 4 – 6 categories of the U15 division for the 2020-2021 season.

This decision to implement non-checking/body contact only at the Tier 4 – 6 categories of the U15 division comes after a thorough review of the survey feedback received from Hockey Alberta’s membership with regards to the proposal to implement non-checking hockey.

An FAQ document has been created to assist Minor Hockey Associations in the planning and implementation of non-checking/ body contact only hockey (Non-Checking) at the Tiers 4-6 categories of the U15 division. Hockey Alberta is also drafting a Parent Resource Document around Checking Education that will be made available.

Bulletin 19:10 - U15 Non-Checking/Body Contact Only

U15 Non-Checking Hockey FAQ >

RED DEER – The structure of AAA male hockey in Alberta will have a different look for the 2020-21 season.

The Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) was announced on Saturday as the new home for Hockey Alberta’s elite male players.

“The new Alberta Elite Hockey League brings all elite male hockey in Alberta under one set of operating standards which is an important step in ensuring that players within the AAA hockey stream are offered a consistent program and experience, regardless of their age division of hockey or location,” said Neil Robertson, chair of the Elite Male Committee.

The decision was made in December to restructure elite male hockey in the province. An extensive review process concluded that a restructured program would be more cost-effective for the members and stakeholders, while helping raise the status of elite male hockey programming, consolidating volunteer workload at the team and organizational levels, and aligning league operations. There was also a Name the League contest.

The AEHL is comprised of the U18 AAA Division (formerly the Alberta Midget Hockey League), U16 AAA Division (formerly the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League), and U15 AAA Division (formerly the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League). Renaming the divisions, to align with Hockey Canada’s new Age Division Names policy, was a key impetus to the overall restructuring decision.

In addition to the new league and divisional structures, the AEHL will be housed on a new, state-of-the-art website platform currently being designed by HockeyTech. The AEHL website is being built in conjunction with a new web platform for the Alberta Female Hockey League, with the goal of providing a one-stop location for all news and information pertaining to elite hockey in the province.

RED DEER - The South Central Alberta Hockey League (SCAHL) and Hockey Calgary, in partnership with Hockey Alberta’s AA Hockey Committee, have agreed to operate a U16 AA division during the 2020-21 season, in order to review and determine the place for this category of hockey going forward.

This Pilot Project stems from ongoing conversation in Alberta about providing additional options for 15-year-old players entering the U18 division (formally Midget), so that they can continue their development with like sized and like skilled players. Currently, the U16 AAA category of hockey is the only opportunity for 15-year-old players across the entire province to participate exclusively together. Additionally, the Rural & Edmonton Hockey League (REMHL) provides this option for players in select areas north of Red Deer.

The AA Hockey Committee has identified 11 host Minor Hockey Associations, who will each operate one team within the U16 AA division. Of those 11, seven currently host AA programs in the SCAHL, while four operate AA programs within Hockey Calgary. Additionally, those seven Host MHAs from the SCAHL have had Recruitment Areas assigned to them, which will allow them to draw 15-year-old players from their designated Recruitment Area to form their team.

Full details on the Pilot Project are outlined on the New for 2020-21 page.

NEW FOR 2020-21 >

ALIX, AB - As parents arrive at the rink on frigid Saturday mornings throughout the winter, they joke to themselves about seeing Tyler Copland’s truck parked in "his spot", as he is always the first to arrive before a game. Whether it’s as a board member, coach, friend, mentor, parent, or sponsor, Tyler wears many hats in the town of Alix.

Since his boys began playing hockey with the Alix and Clive combined association, Tyler has been involved as a volunteer on different levels. He invests a great deal of time and energy into helping mentor the kids during every practice and game. When one game ends, he is typically gearing up to head to another arena to support his other son’s teams.

"Tyler has only missed a handful of practices and games over the years. His commitment is impressive, as is the message he has for the kids: just keep showing up, regardless of what struggle might be in front of you, just keep showing up," said Lori Gibson, who shared the story with Hockey Alberta. "He doesn’t tell the kids what dedication is, he lives it every day."

Tyler’s positive attitude is infectious throughout the teams he coaches. He is always quick to flash a smile and joke around with the kids, and holds nothing back when it comes to helping the players achieve their goals. Always keeping things light and fun, he loves nothing more than celebrating an accomplishment for anyone on his team whether it’s a goal, assist, win, or just a great shift.

As the first guy to the rink to open the rooms and set out the pucks, a supporter of the concessions and 50/50 draws, and yearly corporate sponsor, Tyler values the deep roots he has created in his community, and they would like to thank him for everything he has done.

If you have a great story or volunteer that you would like Hockey Alberta to highlight, please send the information to [email protected].

CALGARY – Hockey Canada, in partnership with BFL CANADA, announced the first winners of the BFL Female Coach of the Year awards. Samantha Holmes-Domagala of Calgary has been named as the National Community Winner, and Shanya Shwetz of Edmonton has been named a Regional High Performance winner.

Giving back to the game that has given her so much, Holmes-Domagala coaches her daughter’s teams with Girls Hockey Calgary, serves as director of coaching for Timbits U7, U9 and U11 with the organization and runs skills clinics in Calgary for young girls. The Mississauga, Ont., native played 10 games with Canada’s National Women’s Team, winning gold at the 4 Nations Cup in 2000 and 2004. After playing with the Brampton Thunder of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), she moved west to join the Calgary Oval X-Treme of the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL), winning gold at the Esso Women’s Nationals in 2003, and co-founded the Strathmore Rockies (WWHL) in 2008.

Alberta’s High Performance BFL Female Coach of the Year regional winner is Shanya Shwetz of Edmonton. Shanya spent the 2019-20 season as head coach of the Edmonton Pandas Bantam Elite team (AFHL). She has also worked with the Team Alberta Female program, most recently as a Head Coach at the 2020 Alberta Winter Games and Video Coach at the 2019 National Women’s U18 Championship.

A complete list of winners for each category by province and territory can be found HERE.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Hockey Alberta Awards. 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 2019-20 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 2020 Hockey Alberta Award recipients are:

• Volunteer of the Year: Shane Hainstock (Chestermere). Shane been on the board of Chestermere Minor Hockey for 17 years, including 11 years as president. Shane also volunteered two years with the Referee Association and spent 11 years as a minor hockey referee. Shane is also involved in the community, supporting great causes such as the annual Can Struck food bank drive, and has helped the Ice Edge Figure Skating Club facilitate the Battle of the Blades.
• Coach of the Year: Mike Lees (Edmonton). Mike was the head coach of Hockey Edmonton’s KC St. Matthew Thunder Novice team and an assistant coach in the Timbits program last season - his ninth season coaching hockey in Edmonton. Mike enjoys building the lasting relationships with the players that are created through coaching. He takes the time to go around the room, and have a brief, personal interaction with each athlete, letting them know they are important to the coach and achieving the team’s common goals.
• Player of the Year: Elise Hugens (Sherwood Park). Elise was named the top goaltender in the Alberta Female Hockey League’s Midget AAA division in 2019-20 as she finished her minor hockey career with the Edmonton Female Athletic Club Pandas. She led the league in goals against average (.960) and shutouts (six).
• Official of the Year: Fraser Lawrence (Edmonton). Fraser is a Level 6 official from Edmonton who represented Canada internationally last season at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic. He has been involved provincially and regionally as an Instructor and Supervisor at Hockey Alberta’s Officials Development Camp and supervising the Alberta Cup.
• Ernie Boruk Award: CJ Senkow (Grande Prairie). CJ has been involved in various capacities in both the North Central and Peace Region executives since 2001. He has worked all levels of hockey in Alberta and the WHL, officiated numerous Provincial and National championships, and just retired this year from the AJHL.
• Dave Ganley Award: Geoff Da Silva (Calgary). Geoff has been officiating since the age of 16. Through Geoff’s efforts, Central Region has been able to identify and develop officials effectively and efficiently. Geoff’s ongoing contributions include participation as a league supervision in both the Alberta Junior and Midget AAA levels.
• Team of the Year: Crowfoot Coyotes Peewee AA (Calgary). Calgary’s Crowfoot Coyotes Peewee AA team gained national recognition as Alberta’s finalist in the 2020 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup. As a regional finalist, the team won $2,000 for the charity of their choice – Team Naomi Get Well Now – a program to support children’s cancer research.
• 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 – Tania Horseman (Hythe). Tania is the president of Horse Lake Minor Hockey Association, serving in that role for more than 10 years. Tania has worked countless hours, to finish up whatever paperwork is required. She even helps with rides to and from games and practices, or with fuel and meal money.
  • Administration – Michael Tymko (St. Albert). Michael has been with St. Albert Minor Hockey Association for more than 10 years, starting as Peewee Director and moving to Vice President of Hockey Operations. He is committed to improving and bettering St. Albert’s programs to help the players develop.
  • Coaching/Development – Fran Gow (Sherwood Park). Fran is the Coach Mentor in Hockey Development for Hockey Alberta, a role he has held for six years. As a Coach Mentor, Fran is leading instructor at coach clinics across the province, and shares his knowledge with coaches of all levels, and even speaks at sessions for on-ice officials to help them understand the perspective of hockey bench staff.
  • Coaching/Development – Rick Swan. Rick has been the Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL) Head Coach and General Manager since 2013, where he is the winningest coach in franchise history. Rick was named Head Co-Coach for Team AJHL (AJHL All-Stars) who played in the 2019 Junior Club World Cup in Sochi, Russia winning a silver medal.
• Minor Hockey Association of the Year: Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association. Lethbridge Minor Hockey has been a leader in its attempts to grow the game in Alberta, especially with their Female program. Lethbridge has shown growth at all levels of Female hockey, with the increased registration numbers coming from a combination of player development and retention.

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 2020-21.