Becoming Player X

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta has partnered with the House of Leaders to offer an exciting education-based program focused on developing young leaders.

Becoming Player X is a remote learning, three-credit high school course available to students currently in grades 10-12. Those registered with Hockey Alberta are eligible to participate at no cost.

Becoming Player X was created by Willie Desjardins and Mike Valley. Currently the General Manager and Head Coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Desjardins has dedicated his life to the game with a resume that includes coaching stints with the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings. After an extensive professional playing career, Valley proceeded to become a goaltender coach with the Dallas Stars, before transitioning to Director of Player Development and now offers mentorship and training to developing athletes. The course features 26 lessons from sports legends and mentors, including Desjardins and Valley, who have been to the top of the game.

“The concept originated from the Navy Seals. We looked at how great it would be to get leadership qualities in our young athletes,” said Desjardins. “Leadership can be learned as well. I think it’s inside all of us, but I think it can be learned and taken to a different level with training.”

Students receive a new 25-minute lesson every Monday, Wednesday and Friday that is sent directly to their phones. Following each video, students must answer questions to complete the lesson. As a division of the Prairie Rose School Division, students have access to a teacher throughout the course.

To date, over 275 students have completed the course, including Nate Corbet and Tyler Mackenzie.

For Corbet of the U16 AAA Northwest Calgary Flames, Becoming Player X has helped in more than just his hockey career.

“Through hockey you learn so many life lessons, but learning these lessons through Becoming Player X is obviously going to translate to real life,” said Corbet. “If you’re passionate about the game and passionate about the learning and trying to better yourself, you have to take this course. It’s only 20-25 minutes out of your day every second day and it’s going to help you tremendously.”

For Mackenzie of the Medicine Hat Tigers, the course changed his outlook on life.

“One thing you can take away from the course is leadership and becoming a great person. There’s a lot that talks about who you are off the ice just as much as who you are on the ice,” said Mackenzie. “I think it’s a huge thing in building great character and becoming the best version of you in life. It teaches you a lot about becoming a great teammate, good whatever it may be. It really changed my outlook on a lot of things toward hockey – not just hockey, but life.”

Players considering taking the course need to be registered by November 4. The course begins November 7. For more information visit becomingplayerx.com.

REGISTER >

Program mentors include:

• Willie Desjardins (former NHL coach)
• Marc Crawford (NHL coach)
• Glen Gulutzan (NHL coach)
• Ken Hitchcock (former NHL coach)
• Stu Barnes (former NHL player, coach, and current scout)
• Paul Jerrard (former NHL coach)
• Mike Valley (former NHL goalie coach)
• Shawn Horcoff (former Edmonton Oilers Captain)
• Brandon Sutter (NHL player)
• Brian Elliott (NHL goalie)
• Brianna Decker (USA Olympian)
• Derek Dorsett (former NHL player)
• Mel Davidson (former Head Coach and GM of Team Canada)
• Cassie Campbell (former Olympian and Sportsnet Broadcaster)
• Corey Hirsch (former NHL goaltender, coach, broadcaster, and mental health advocate)
• Dallas Cowboys Social Media team
• Gary Roberts (former Calgary Flames Captain, and sports performance coach)

RED DEER – The house won as more than $165,000 was raised at the Curtis Glencross Invitational Charity Event.

Proceeds from the event go to the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta.

“We are thrilled to be able to host the Glencross Invitational once again. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support,” said Curtis Glencross. “Hockey is a huge part of my life and I believe that all kids should experience a love for the game like I have. Having friends who have used the Ronald McDonald House, it’s a home away from home in times of need. Having the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta as beneficiaries to our event was a natural fit.”

The October 19 event started with four teams facing off for the Glencross Charity Camp Championship at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer. Each team featured 15 skaters (including four NHL alumni) and one goalie, with celebrity coaches Tim Hunter, Joel Otto, Ron Stern and Brian Sutter behind the bench. After going undefeated, Team Sutter skated away with the inaugural championship.

That evening, players put it all on the table in the ninth annual Charity Poker Event at Westerner Park. Knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em rewarded Jason Volk as he took home the trophy buckle at the ninth Glencross Invitational Charity Poker Event.

“It’s an honour to continue to work with Curtis, his family and the organizing committee on this event,” said Dennis Zukiwsky, Chair of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. “The impact from this event is felt throughout the province as we work to provide grant opportunities to help get kids on the ice in all Alberta communities. Curtis and his committee have been long time supporters of the Hockey Alberta Foundation and we can’t thank them enough for all they have done and continue to do in Alberta.”

To cap off the event, the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta presented Curtis with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to the province. Curtis is one of only 7,000 Albertans to receive the Platinum Jubilee Medal which commemorates the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II to the Throne as Queen of Canada.

“Curtis Glencross has contributed so much to Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta. We were honoured to acknowledge his impact by presenting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal at the Glencross Invitational while he was surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues,” said Jason Evanson, CEO of RMHC Alberta. “Curtis is an advocate and supporter of families with sick children who have to travel for medical care and need a home-away-from-home. His efforts to fundraise and bring awareness to our cause have profoundly impacted innumerable Albertans. We could think of no more deserving award recipient.”

In total, more than $1.8 million has been raised by the Glencross Invitational for charities across Alberta. This year marked the ninth annual Glencross Invitational. Previously the Glencross Invitational Roughstock Rodeo, the committee chose to send the broncs to pasture and instead feature a charity hockey camp.

-30-

About the Hockey Alberta Foundation (HAF)

The Hockey Alberta Foundation’s goal is to raise funds to provide EVERY KID in EVERY COMMUNITY the opportunity to play hockey in Alberta. We work in collaboration with partners to fund those who need us, invest in those who will lead us and honour those before us. For more information on the HAF or to make a donation, visit hockeyalberta.ca.

For more information from Hockey Alberta Foundation contact:

Tim Leer

403-967-0053

[email protected]

About the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta

RMHC Alberta helps keep families together when they need it most. Our Houses in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and Medicine Hat provide a home-away-from-home to over 1,200 families each year who must travel for their child’s vital medical treatment. By enabling families to stay together, in close proximity to a hospital, Ronald McDonald House vastly improves the quality and experience of the care of the child and the wellbeing of the family, while reducing the family’s stress, sense of isolation, and financial burden.

For more information from RMHC Alberta contact:

Suzanne Pescod

780-904-2885

[email protected]

MISSISSAUGA – The 13 leaders of the provincial and territorial Hockey Canada Branches gathered for critical meetings on Saturday. Branch leaders embraced the recommendations of Justice Thomas Cromwell, C.C. in his Interim Governance Review Report and approved a number of Hockey Canada bylaw changes to support upcoming Hockey Canada Board elections on December 17, 2022.

Branch leaders felt that the frank and sometimes difficult conversations resulted in a productive day that puts us on a path to a better structure, greater transparency and restoring trust.

There was unanimous sentiment that this is a critical first step in support of the transformational change needed to get more and diverse voices to the table and the game in Canada to where it needs to be.

The full Cromwell Report, which will be received later this month, will serve as the blueprint for the 13 provincial and territorial Branches as well as the interim Hockey Canada Board.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is proud to announce that Loren Krukowski of Warburg has been recognized with Life Membership status for his decades of service to minor hockey.

Life Membership is the highest honour which may be bestowed by Hockey Alberta, recognizing individuals who have dedicated their time and support to making the game of hockey better in Alberta.

"Loren Krukowski was an exceptional representative for minor hockey from the Warburg area, before becoming a key volunteer at provincial level, including serving as a President of Hockey Alberta. We are pleased to be able to recognize his commitment to hockey for life in Alberta,” said Fran Zinger, a member of the Hockey Alberta Board of Directors, and Chair of the Life Member committee.

Krukowski originally got involved in minor hockey in Warburg when his children started to play, coaching both his sons and his daughter throughout their careers. Along the way, he attended numerous coaching clinics to help his players improve their skills. His coaching philosophy focused on team spirit, fairness and respect for others.

In addition to coaching, Krukowski was instrumental in starting a female hockey program in Warburg, and eventually became a board member and president of the local association. He was Warburg’s representative for the Sturgeon Hockey League including overseeing discipline.

Krukowski believed in the importance of development in all areas of the sport, and he was known as a great problem solver. He organized and instructed skills clinics, player development camps and management seminars, and was involved provincially with the Alberta Cup, Alberta Winter Games, and various jamborees. He also served as the Hockey Alberta representative on a team tour to Czechoslovakia.

Provincially, Krukowski was elected to Minor Council for Zone 4 1n 1992 and served until 1997. He also served in the following roles:

• 1997-2000: Hockey Alberta, Minor Council Chair, including representing Alberta at Hockey Canada meetings.
• 2000-2003: Zone 4 Director, and Hockey Alberta Vice President
• 2003-2005: President, Hockey Alberta
• 2005-2007: Past President, Hockey Alberta

Krukowski passed away in October 2021

He will be recognized formally at Hockey Alberta’s 2022 annual general meeting on December 1.

RED DEER – Seventeen players will be suiting up for Team Alberta North Junior Female. The team will participate in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games hosted by Wood Buffalo, January 29 – February 4.

Two goaltenders, six defence and nine forwards will make up the team. Three players have participated in a Hockey Alberta sanctioned short-term competition (Jordan Brown - 2022 Alberta Challenge, Taylor Breen and Victoria Willsey – 2020 Alberta Winter Games).

Roster >

To be eligible to participate in the Arctic Winter Games, athletes and coaches must reside in a community located north of the 55th parallel. Tryouts were held in Manning, October 7-9 for athletes born in 2004-2009.

Team Alberta North Junior Female will participate in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding for the medal-round pairings in hopes of qualifying for the playoffs to compete for the gold ulu. The tournament will be played at Centrefire Place in Fort McMurray.

The Arctic Winter Games are the world’s largest northern multi-sport and cultural event. The Arctic Winter Games are a celebration of athletic completion, culture, friendship and cooperation between northern contingents. Teams that regularly participate in ice hockey include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Hockey Alberta is committed to making our game safer and more inclusive for participants in Alberta and across the country.

Hockey Alberta has identified that allegations of maltreatment, regardless of where or when they occur in our sport, need to be investigated and adjudicated by individuals with specialized skills. As a result, for the 2022-23 season, we have appointed a new Maltreatment Officer, and four new Maltreatment Investigators.

Hockey Alberta has also identified that Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives require leaders with special skills and experience. An EDI Task Force was created in October 2021 to help improve the experience of everyone in our sport. That Task Force has been shifted to full Committee status, with its members helping set a new and improved direction for our sport across Alberta.

Hockey Alberta has requested that Hockey Canada take certain actions and provide answers by specific deadlines. We have outlined that a lack of action may lead to Hockey Alberta taking other actions which include, but are not limited to, withholding participant fees.

We believe it is important to establish a set of actions within a national framework to improve the overall culture of our sport. We have provided input for Justice Cromwell’s governance review, and we are awaiting the report’s final recommendations. Our participation will continue during review sessions this month, and other processes moving forward.

Hockey Alberta continues to meet with Hockey Canada and our Branch partners across the country. We continue to ask the questions for which our Members and stakeholders are seeking answers. That is our commitment – to continue working towards an improved and stronger hockey system for Albertans and participants across the country.

Finally, to the entire hockey community in Alberta – hockey is being played across the province. That is not going to stop regardless of what is happening at the national level. Thank you to the tens of thousands of individuals – Members, volunteers, and parents – who continue to work hard every day to ensure that games and practices occur for our players.

Previous Member Updates

Member Update, August 26 >

• Hockey Canada Statement to Stakeholders
• Statement from the Interim Chair of Hockey Canada

Member Update, August 9 >

• Hockey Canada Memo - National Equity Fund
• Hockey Canada Action Plan