Inaugural Female Hockey Day showcases "Why We Play"

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s inaugural Female Hockey Day was an overwhelming success, with hundreds showing up to take part in the day-long celebration.

Over 160 athletes took part in activities throughout the day, which included on-ice sessions for players and officials of all levels, and off-ice sessions, such as dryland training, parent education sessions, and sport ambassador sessions.

In addition to players from Red Deer College, young athletes also had the chance to hear from a handful of players from the Calgary Inferno, who were in town to play the Toronto Furies in the first-ever Canadian Women’s Hockey League game to be played in Red Deer.

“This wasn’t just a Red Deer event it was truly a Central Alberta event,” said Kendall Newell, Hockey Alberta’s Manager, Female Hockey. “Definitely to grow the game and give it a big platform to showcase and highlight female hockey. We’ve had a strong push in our office to grow the female game and introducing it to new participants.”

The game served as the exclamation point for Female Hockey Day, and drew a crowd of over 600 fans to the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Valerie Gill, the captain of the gold medal-winning Team Alberta U18 Female squad at the 1991 Canada winter games, carried out the ceremonial puck drop before the game. One lucky athlete, Rozene Sabeti-Seidel, took to the ice with the Inferno during the pre-game skate, and stood with the team during the National Anthem - an honour she earned as the winner of the ’Experience the Dream’ contest.

Through a "chuck-a-puck" contest and a silent auction, the Hockey Alberta Foundation also raised over $1,000 for the Every Kid Every Community program during the game.

Female Hockey Day Photo Gallery >

RED DEER - Just days after being selected to Team Alberta U18 Female for the 2019 Canada Winter Games, three Albertans were named to the National Women’s Under-18 Team for the 2019 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Forwards Danielle Serdachny and Rachel Weiss, and blueliner Stephanie Markowski will all suit up for Team Canada in Obihiro, Japan, just over a month before stepping on the ice in Red Deer for the Canada Games.

All three athletes competed as part of Canada’s National Women’s U18 team in a three-game series against the United States in August, and have all previously played for Team Alberta at the U18 Nationals - Serdachny in 2017, and Markowski and Weiss in both 2016 and 2017.

The 2019 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship runs January 6-13, with the Canada Winter Games running February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer, with the Female Hockey competition set for February 24 - March 2.

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].

RED DEER - William (Doug) McKenzie, a Life Member of Hockey Alberta, died on Tuesday, December 4 at the age of 94.

Doug was involved with amateur hockey for more than seven decades – working at the local, regional, provincial and national levels.

His lifelong involvement with hockey began as a minor and junior player with Edmonton’s Canadian Athletic Club. After years of administrative involvement with the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association, Doug became involved with Hockey Alberta as Minor Council North Vice Chair and Vice President. Doug served as President of Hockey Alberta from 1975-80, and Past President for six years. In 1981, Doug became involved at the national level with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, serving as a Director and Senior Hockey Chair.

Doug was instrumental in building hockey relations with Japan and the Hokkaido Ice Hockey Federation. He first travelled with the University of Alberta Golden Bears to play in the Pacific Rim Tournament. This led to many exchanges with Japan and Hockey Alberta over the years. During his last trip to Japan, Doug presented the "McKenzie Friendship Cup" to the Hokkaido National Team.

Among his numerous accolades, Doug received Hockey Alberta’s President’s Award in 1981, was named a Hockey Alberta Life Member in 1992, and was inducted into both the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (1989) and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2009). As well, in 1993, the McKenzie Cup, awarded to the Alberta/British Columbia Senior AAA champion, was named in his honour.

Doug is lovingly remembered by his wife of 71 years, Peggy; sons George (Gloria), Richard (Marla), Alex (Wendy), and Tom (Karen); grandchildren Kim (Scott), Sheri (Marc), Maria (Mike), Jordie (Jen), Melissa (Mark), Ashley (Myles), and Michelle (Sam); and great-grandchildren Makayla, Jordan, Tristan, Taisyia, Kaleah, Brooklynn. Doug is predeceased by his parents, George and Francis, and sister Anita.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, December 11 from 4-8 pm at Evergreen Funeral Home (16204 Fort Road) in Edmonton. A funeral is scheduled for Mount Zion Lutheran Church (11533-135 Street NW) in Edmonton on Wednesday, December 12 at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Zion Lutheran Church or Youth Emergency Shelter Society.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the Team Alberta roster for the 2019 U18 Female team that will represent the province at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

Team Alberta U18 Female Roster >

"Our staff is really excited about this team," said Head Coach Carla MacLeod. "It has been a process to get to this point and all the girls involved have been a pleasure to work with. The 20 girls selected are all individually skilled and driven and we are looking forward to the next step of becoming an Alberta Built team. To play at the Canada Winter Games in Alberta is an honour that we cannot wait to experience."

Team staff includes: Carla MacLeod (head coach), Cassea Schols and Craig Perrett (assistant coaches), Amanda Tapp (goalie coach), Ally Bendfeld (video coach), Doug MacLeod (head scout), Farah Mukadam (athletic therapist), Amanda Bergen Henengouwen (equipment manager), Heather Osgood (strength and conditioning), Kendall Newell (Director of Hockey Operations), and Barry Medori (Coach Mentor).

The 2019 U18 Female roster features six returning players from the 2017 U18 Nationals team: Kassy Betinol, Teghan Inglis, Stephanie Markowski, Jordan Mortlock, Danielle Serdachny, and Rachel Weiss. This will be the third time representing Alberta for Markowski and Weiss, who also played in the 2016 U18 Nationals.

Alberta’s Minor Hockey Associations are well-represented amongst the team, with 13 different associations represented on the roster: Beaverlodge, Calgary, Cochrane, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Irma, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Okotoks, St. Albert, Wainwright and Whitecourt.

Team Alberta is coming off a bronze medal finish in women’s hockey at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC, a feat also accomplished by the 1999 team in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Team Alberta is a two-time gold medalist at the Canada Winter Games, most recently in 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the inaugural gold medal in 1991 in Charlottetown, P.E.I., the first year women’s hockey was incorporated into the Games.

The Team Alberta selection process began at the Team Alberta U18 Spring Camp in May, followed by Summer Camp in July and Fall Camp in September. The Canada Winter Games run February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer, with the Female Hockey competition set for February 24 - March 2.

The roster for Team Alberta U16 Male will be announce at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 6.