Hockey CanadaBC HockeyHockey AlbertaHockey SaskHockey ManitobaHockey Northwestern OntarioOntario Hockey FederationHockey Easern OntarioQuebec Hockey NetworkHockey New BrunswickHockey PEIHockey Nova ScotiaHockey NLHockey North

Home Ice Feature

Twelve Albertans named to Team WHL for Canada Russia Series

RED DEER - Alberta will be very well-represented during the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series, with 12 Albertans named to Team WHL’s roster.

On Tuesday, the Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Current Broncos and Hockey Canada, announced today the roster for Team WHL, which will compete against Team Russia in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Forwards Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Calgary), Tyler Benson (Edmonton), Dillon Dube (Cochrane), Matthew Phillips (Calgary), Sam Steel (Sherwood Park), and Tyler Steenbergen (Sylvan Lake) will all suit up for Team WHL up front. On defence, Jake Bean (Calgary), Kale Clage (Lloydminster), Josh Mahura (St. Albert), and David Quenneville (Edmonton) will all be part of an Albertan-heavy blueline, in front of goaltenders Carter Hart (Sherwood Park) and Stuart Skinner (Edmonton).

Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 1 of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series in Moose Jaw on Monday, November 6, before continuing on to Swift Current for Game 2 on Tuesday, November 7. The Ontario Hockey League will host Games 3 and 4, while the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will welcome the festivities surrounding Games 5 and 6.

For more information on the Canada Russia Series, click here.

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

News

Photo credit: Derek Leung/WHL

BC defeats Team Alberta in overtime to win 2017 WHL Cup

CALGARY - Team Alberta narrowly missed out on another gold medal at the WHL Cup, falling 4-3 to Team BC in overtime on Sunday.

Alberta opened up the scoring once again, with Kaiden Guhle scoring his fifth goal of the tournament on the power-play halfway through the first, with Connor McLennon adding to the lead midway through the second.

BC answered back minutes later on the power-play, before scoring again late in the second period and early in the third to take a 3-2.

McClennon scored his sixth, and most important goal of the tournament on the power-play with just 1:44 left to tie the game, and force overtime.

It was the second straight year the WHL Cup would be decided in overtime between Alberta and BC, but this time it was BC who sealed the victory, as Ben King scored 2:37 into the extra frame.

In his second start of the tournament for Team Alberta, Sebastian Cossa saw 31 shots come his way, allowing four goals. His counterpart, Dylan Garand, stopped 24 of Alberta;s 27 shots in the victory.

Kyle Crnkovic added to his tournament-leading points total with two assists in the game, giving him a total of 12 in five games. Assists were also tallied by Jake Neighbours (2) and Guhle.

Boxscore > | Game One Recap > | Game Two Recap > | Game Three Recap > | Semi-Final Recap > | Team Alberta Roster >

McClennon was fittingly named Team Alberta’s player of the game for his efforts,, while King earned the honours for BC.

The gold medal is the second for Team BC in the tournament’s seven year history, last winning it in 2012.

Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Team Manitoba took the bronze medal after defeating Team Saskatchewan 4-2.

2017 WHL Cup All-Stars


G - Bryan Thomson (Team Saskatchewan) - Moose Jaw, Sask - Lethbridge Hurricanes
D - Kaiden Guhle (Team Alberta) - Sherwood Park, Alta. - Prince Albert Raiders
D - Daemon Hunt (Team Manitoba) - Brandon, Man. - Moose Jaw Warriors
F - Justin Sourdif (Team British Columbia) - Surrey, B.C. - Vancouver Giants
F - Kyle Crnkovic (Team Alberta) - Chestermere, Alta. - Saskatoon Blades
F - Connor McClennon (Team Alberta) - Wainwright, Alta. - Kootenay ICE

Leading Scorers


1. Kyle Crnkovic (AB; Saskatoon Blades) - 3G-9A - 12pts
2. Connor McClennon (AB; Kootenay ICE) - 6G-4A - 10pts
3. Kaiden Guhle (AB; Prince Albert Raiders) - 5G-4A - 9pts
4. Jake Neighbours (AB; Edmonton Oil Kings) - 1G-6A - 7pts
5. Tyler Horstmann (BC; Edmonton Oil Kings) - 0G-5A - 5pts

Home Ice Feature

Photo credit: LA Media

Nine Team Alberta alumni to represent Canada at World U17 Challenge

RED DEER - Nine players from Team Alberta’s 2016 gold medal-winning U16 squad have been selected to play in the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Goaltender Taylor Gauthier (Calgary), defencemen Bowen Byram (Lethbridge), Jake Lee (Sherwood Park), Rhett Rhinehart (Lloydminster), and Matthew Robertson (Sherwood Park), and forwards Connor Bouchard (Cochrane), Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan), Peyton Krebs (Okotoks), and Brayden Tracey (Calgary) are among the 66 players chosen to represent Canada.

The 66 players will be divided into three teams representing Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White when they compete against the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States in their quest for a gold medal.

In July, 111 players were invited to the week-long national under-17 development camp, marking the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.

The tournament opens Nov. 5 at the Encana Events Centre in an all-Canadian affair as last year’s silver-medallist, Team Canada Black, takes on Team Canada White at 2:30 p.m. The opening day concludes with Sweden facing Russia at North Peace Arena in Fort St. John.

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email [email protected].

News

Photo credit: LA Media

2017 Team Alberta U16 Male roster announced

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is proud to announce the Team Alberta roster for the 2017 U16 Male provincial team.

The U16 Male squad will compete in the 2017 WHL Cup, formerly known as the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup.

Team Alberta U16 Male Roster >

The U16 Male squad won the 2016 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. The team will seek to continue Alberta’s success at the event, Oct. 18-22 at the Markin MacPhail Centre (WinSport) in Calgary.

"We’re heading into the WHL Cup with a very talented group of players,” said Team Alberta Manager Mike Kraichy. “These 20 young men have earned the right to represent their province, and we’re confident in their ability to compete hard at the competition, and make Alberta proud."

The 2017 WHL Cup will feature the highest-rated players in the under-16 age category from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The four-team round robin tournament is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence for players.

The majority of players participating in the event were selected in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft or have since been listed by WHL Clubs. The WHL Cup is made possible through financial support provided by the WHL and Hockey Canada.

News

Photo credit: Matthew Murnaghan/Hockey Canada Images

2017 Team Alberta U18 Female roster announced

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is proud to announce the Team Alberta roster for the 2017 U18 Female provincial team.

The U18 Female team heads to the National Women’s U18 Championships in Quebec City, Nov. 1-5, looking to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish.

Team Alberta U18 Female Roster >

"We saw a very talented group of individuals during this year’s Team Alberta selection process,” said Coordinator of Team Alberta Female, Mathieu Provencher. “We’re confident in the 20 players we’ve selected to represent their province, and look forward to seeing what they can do on the ice in November."

Prior to the Nationals, the U18 Female squad will play two exhibitions game in Calgary on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 4:00 p.m. against the Bantam AAA Calgary Royals, and Sunday, October 15 at 11:15 a.m. against the Bantam AAA Calgary Bisons. Both games will be played at the Edge School for Athletes, 33055 Township Road 250 in Calgary.

The National Championship event brings together the top U18 female players from across Canada in an eight-team tournament, featuring teams from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario (Red and Blue), Quebec and Atlantic.

For schedule and ticket information for the National Women’s U18 Championships, click here.

Hockey Alberta Foundation

From left: G.H. Dawe Community School Principal Sue Carmichael, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation Tim Leer, and Math/Gym teacher Daryl Puzey stand with a handful G.H. Dawe students as the Foundation presents a grant through the Every Kid

G.H. Dawe School among Every Kid Every Community quarterly grant recipients

RED DEER - The G.H. Dawe Community School in Red Deer is one of five recipients of quarterly grants recently awarded by the Hockey Alberta Foundation.

Along with the G.H. Dawe School, grants were awarded to the Sturgeon Hockey Club, the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association, St. Albert Minor Hockey Association, and Bashaw Minor Hockey Association through the Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program.

G.H. Dawe School has earmarked its $4,250 for a learn-to-play program for students, where all the necessary equipment will be provided.

"Last year, we did an informal survey to find out how many students owned skates," said Sue Carmichael, Principal of G.H. Dawe. "Out of a couple classes, with over 30 students each, only four students owned skates. The vast majority of our students have never played or been exposed to skate-related sports. We currently have two large cupboards to house skates. The skates are well-used and often we don’t have enough sizes to fit students.”

Carmichael explained that last winter, the school had a sports expert assess the skates. It was determined that at least half need replacing, and that the school also was in short supply of helmets.

“With the generous grant from the Every Kid Every Community program, we will be able to purchase many pairs of used skates, and new helmets,” said Carmichael. “For the first time, we will be able to start a learn-to-play hockey program during Middle School options. A huge thank you to the Hockey Alberta Foundation!"

Through all of the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s TEAMMATES, including ATB Investor Services, Quinn’s Energy Group of Companies, the Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer, the Glencross Legacy Fund, and Serdachny Hockey, these grants are made possible for communities throughout the province.

The deadline to apply for the next set of quarterly grants through the Every Kid Every Community program is November 30. For more information on how to apply for a grant, click here.

About Every Kid Every Community

The Every Kid Every Community program was launched in 2011, with the goal of ensuring a gateway to play hockey for any child in Alberta who is interested in the sport. The goal is to provide every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time.

Funding through Every Kid Every Community is available to assist amateur sports organizations, minor hockey organizations, youth groups, recreation groups, or any community group with an idea, project or program that helps establish an event or program to get local children active in hockey. Hockey is a great way for kids to be active, healthy and surrounded by positive leaders in their community. Keeping kids active in sport helps reduce childhood obesity, creates a safe and fun environment and forms friendships.