Registration now open for 2019-20 NHL/NHLPA First Shift program

Do you have a child aged 6-10 years who is ready to fall in love with hockey? Registration is now open for the 2019-20 NHL/NHLPA First Shift program.

The First Shift is a truly unique experience for new-to-hockey families, designed to help your child fall in love with hockey before you buy all the gear. The six-week learn to play program focuses on having fun while learnin Blog g basic skills. Registration is just $199, which includes full head-to-toe equipment.

The First Shift will be offered in eight locations across Alberta in the fall, and another three locations in the winter:

Fall Programs:

• Brooks
• Grande Prairie
• Calgary (Wednesday sessions)
• Calgary (Saturday sessions)
• Edmonton
• Leduc
• Lethbridge
• Onoway
• Strathcona

Winter Programs:

• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Ponoka

To register for a First Shift program near you, click here.

The First Shift’s mission is to change the way hockey is offered, to inspire new families to join our community and enrol their kids in our sport. Because we believe in all that hockey has to offer kids, their families and our communities, we designed The First Shift to break down barriers to entry by offering a program that is accessible, affordable, and most importantly, fun!

CALGARY - Five members of Team Alberta’s 2017 U16 Male squad have earned the opportunity to suit up for Team Canada’s National Men’s Summer U18 Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.

Defenceman Kaiden Guhle (Sherwood Park), and forwards Ridly Greig (Lethbridge), Connor McClennon (Wainwright), Jake Neighbours (Airdrie) and Ozzy Wiesblatt (Calgary) are among the 22 players selected to represent Canada for the annual international under-18 tournament.

Hockey Canada finalized its roster Tuesday following a five-day selection camp that saw 44 players participate in on and off-ice sessions, including three intrasquad games, at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

The 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup runs August 5-10 in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.

CALGARY - Six Albertans will head to Calgary in August for Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Development and Under-18 team selection camps.

Forwards Jaden Bogden (Edmonton), Taze Thompson (Sherwood Park) and Sarah Wozniewicz (Cochrane) will attend the BFL National Women’s U18 selection camp, while goaltender Kirsten Chamberlin (Cochrane) and forwards Malia Schneider (Millarville) and Danielle Serdachny (Edmonton) will skate in the BFL National Women’s Development Team selection camp.

Coming off a gold medal at the 2019 Canada Winter Games as the Head Coach of Team Alberta U18 Female, Carla Macleod (Calgary) will serve as an Assistant Coach on the Development Team, while former gold medal-winning Team Alberta U18 coach Howie Draper (Edmonton) will serve as the Head Coach of the Under-18 team.

The BFL National Women’s Development and Under-18 Team selection camps run August 2-11 at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary. Both teams will compete in a pair of three-game series against the United States in Lake Placid, NY, August 14-17.