Hockey Canada announces change to Age Division names

CALGARY – At its Winter Congress this weekend in Montreal, the Hockey Canada membership approved a regulation change proposed by the board of directors to revise the naming of the age divisions used in minor hockey across Canada.

Following the recommendations of a task team, the age divisions will become U7, U9, U11 and up, impacting all minor and female hockey programs under the Hockey Canada umbrella. The change was initiated by Hockey Canada and its 13 provincial and territorial members and will be implemented nationally with their input and support for the 2020-21 season.

Age divisions can continue to be subdivided as they currently are in some parts of the country. For example, in the Intro to Hockey model in Alberta, where Major and Minor Novice divisions are used by some Minor Hockey Associations, division names would become U8 for Minor Novice and U9 for Major Novice.

“We believe everyone should feel welcome in the game and in our ongoing effort to make hockey more inclusive, the Members at the Hockey Canada Annual Meeting determined that the names of our age Divisions will change,” said Michael Brind’Amour, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “Following a comprehensive review, we believe this change will simplify the system for families who may be new to the game. The new age Division names will be implemented for next season.”

The following is a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada from Tom Renney, chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer, on the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Without question, this an unprecedented period of difficulty for the sports world. The health and safety of all participants in sport, including players, coaches, staff, officials, fans, family, volunteers and the general public, is of the utmost importance to Hockey Canada.

After much consultation with the Hockey Canada membership, our chief medical officer and public health officials, the Hockey Canada Board of Directors has made the decision to cancel all Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities*, including our national championships, until further notice, effective Friday, March 13, 2020.

We recognize the tremendous effort that has been put forth all year by individuals across the country as they participate in Canada’s game. Although it is difficult to process the hockey season ending abruptly, we feel this is the best course of action in order to do our part in keeping our country safe.”

*Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities include all Hockey Alberta-sanctioned activities. This means that all Hockey Alberta league games, playoffs, practices, camps and Provincial, Regional and National Championships are cancelled at the Minor, Female, Junior, Senior and Sledge levels.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the host communities for the 2024 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB.

Host communities for 25 of the 33 provincial championships have been confirmed. Five events are still in need of hosts (deadline for submissions is today). The remaining three provincial champions are determined through league playoffs.

Championship tournaments are being hosted in locations across the province – from Peace River to Okotoks, and Cold Lake to Grande Cache.

2024 Provincial Hosts >

ATB is returning as the presenting sponsor of the 2024 Provincial Sponsorships.

Participating teams for the provincial championship tournaments are determined through league playoffs.

Most Minor tiered provincial championships feature eight teams – the host, the champions from each division’s respective leagues, and one or more wild cards. Most Minor Female events feature six teams. Hockey Alberta’s Tiered and Female leagues include: Hockey Calgary, Edmonton Federation Hockey League, Central Alberta Hockey League, All Peace Hockey League, North Eastern Alberta Hockey League, Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League, and East Central Female Hockey League.

Week one (March 21-24) is the busiest weekend, with the following tournaments on the schedule: U18 Female AAA, U18 Female Tier 1, U16 AA, U15 AAA, U15 AA, U15 Female AA, U15 Tier 1, U15 Tier 1 NBC, U15 Tier 2, U15 Tier 3, U13 Tier 1, U13 Tier 2, U13 Tier 3, U13 Tier 4, and U13 Female Tier 1, and U13 Female Tier 2.

Week two (March 28-31) features: Junior C, U18 Female AA, U18 AA, U18 Tier 1, U18 Tier 2, U18 Tier 3, U15 Female Tier 1, U13 Female AA and U13 AA.

The final weekend (April 3-7) showcases Junior B and U17 AAA.

Junior A, Junior Female, and U18 AAA provincial champions are decided through league playoffs.

The following events still require a host, and will be cancelled if no bid applications are received: U18 Female Tier 2, U15 Tier 1 NBC and U13 Female Tier 1 (March 21-24); U18 Tier 1 NBC and U15 Female Tier 2 (March 28-31).

For all the details on this year’s Provincial Championship, please visit the new-look Provincials website at www.haprovincials.ca.

Hockey Alberta wants to remind you that Hockey is Back.

- Minor Hockey has started.

- Travel is permitted.

- Tiering games will happen.

Hockey Alberta under the guidance of the Government of Alberta and Hockey Canada has developed a comprehensive Return to Hockey Plan.

The plan has been designed to ensure the safety of the players, coaches, officials, volunteers and all involved in the game, is the top priority.

It is a document that Hockey Alberta will continue to review, adapt and evolve as the COVID-19 situation and guidelines implemented by the Government of Alberta and Hockey Canada change.

But, in short - HOCKEY IS BACK.

TIERING GAMES WILL HAPPEN

Group: Minor Hockey

Tiering Phase: Competition Cohorts (Pairs and/ or Groups of Teams)

Dates: Teams Selected & Ready to Participate by November

Important to Note:

• Hockey Alberta and our Minor Leagues have a plan for a transition into a ‘Modified Competition Season’.
• Using existing cohort guidelines from AHS, teams will be grouped to participate in Tiering play.
• Teams must be prepared for Tiering Play by ensuring they take a 14-day break after any Exhibition Play.
• Leagues will switch Competition Cohorts within Tiering Play by utilizing a 14-day break from cohort activity.

TRAVEL IS PERMITTED

Important to Remember for Minor Hockey:

• AHS has removed the limitation of cohort groups remaining in respective health zones, when Cohort Guidelines are followed.
• NO TOURNAMENTS are permitted at this time, as they DO NOT comply with Cohort Guidelines.
• Travel will be permitted. Hockey Alberta and its leagues are working together on timelines, and exhibition games could occur as early as October’.
• When travel occurs, all teams must follow the proper Cohort Guidelines – a 14 day break when switching to play a new team.

Related Links:

• AHS Sport and Recreation Guidelines

MINOR HOCKEY HAS STARTED

Current Phase: Prep skates/ Physically Distanced Sorting (try outs, camps, etc) are currently in progress

Rough dates: September 7 – October 8

Related Links:

• Player Selection Resource
• Lane Formations
• Station Formations
• Physical Distance Practice Tips

RED DEER - The rosters have been announced for Hockey Alberta’s 2016 Alberta Cup.

Eight teams will take to the ice at the Canmore Recreation Centre April 28-May 1. The teams include two from each of Calgary and Edmonton, and one each representing the South, Central, Northeast and Northwest zones of the province.

Twenty 2001-born players comprise each roster, along with volunteers serving as head coach, assistant coaches, trainer, and director of operations. Rosters were selected based on performances at zone camps held March 25-27 throughout the province.

The 2016 Alberta Cup marks the 30th Anniversary of the very first Alberta Cup which was held in Edmonton in 1986.

2016 Alberta Cup Rosters

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition. The event also features an education seminar hosted by the Western Hockey League (WHL).

“The coaching staffs were faced with some very difficult decisions when it came to selecting the 20 players for each team. For the athletes who have earned a roster spot, congratulations. But the work is just beginning, not just for this edition of the Alberta Cup, but also in the competition to earn a spot on the Team Alberta squad that will compete later this year,” said Michael Kraichy, Hockey Alberta’s manager of Team Alberta.

Eighty players will be invited to the U16 Male Provincial Camp in July. This year, players are also vying for spots on Team Alberta at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup in October in Calgary.

Alberta Cup graduates include Matt Dumba, Braden Holtby, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf, Scott Hartnell, Jordan Eberle, Devan Dubnyk, and Andrew Ference.

Click here for more information on the Alberta Cup.

Team Alberta U18 Female defeated Team Ontario 3-2 Saturday night to capture the Gold Medal in female hockey at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

After a scoreless first period, Alberta came out of the gates flying in the second. Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary, Alta) opened the scoring at the 6:08 mark. Less than a minute later Brittney Fouracres (Airdrie, Alta) found the back of the net giving Alberta a 2-0 go-ahead. Panchuk would add another marker late in the frame putting Alberta up 3-0 heading into the third. Ontario would not roll over.  Cayley Mercer (Exeter, Ont) put Ontario on the board early in the third and Emily Fulton (Stratford, Ont) tallied late in the period pulling Ontario within one, but it was too little too late. Alberta would hang on for the final three minutes battling off Ontario’s last minute strike to hold on to the victory. 

This is Team Alberta Female’s first Gold Medal at the Canada Winter Games since 1991 when they won with a team led by Hayley Wickenheiser.

Team Alberta’s Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary, Alta) led the tournament in scoring with 18 points (9 Goals, 9 assists) while Team Alberta goaltenders Emerence Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta) and Courtney Vinet (Camrose, Alta) only allowed a total of five goals against in seven games played throughout the tournament.

Team Alberta finished the round robin 4-0. They defeated P.E.I. 12-0 in the placement round and Saskatchewan 6-2 in the semi finals.

The Canada Winter Games is the final stage of the Team Alberta Female Program and leads into Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.

Former Team Alberta players that have competed at the Canada Winter Games include Hayley Wickenheiser (1991), Meaghan Mikkelson (2003) and Carla MacLeod (1999).


Below is Team Alberta U18 Female’s round robin schedule for the Canada Winter Games:
 

GAME SUMMARIES:

Team Alberta 6 - Saskatchewan 2

Team Alberta would score early and often in the 1^st frame and would take a 5-0 lead into the intermission. Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary, AB), Katy Josephs (Calgary, AB), Heather Kashman (Edmonton, AB), Melissa Kueber (St. Albert, AB) and Erika Sowchuk (Cochrane, AB) all found the net for the home team. Team Saskatchewan would make a brief comeback by closing the gap to 3 goals in the second but Team Alberta would put the game on ice when Amy Helfrich (Cochrane, AB) scored the team’s 6^th goal of the game. Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, AB) won her 3^rd consecutive game in the net for Team Alberta.

Team Alberta 12 – Team PEI 0

Team Alberta had leads of 2-0 and 9-0 after the first two periods, on route to a 12-0 victory. Karlee Odland (Vauxhall, AB) led the way with 3 goals, Melissa Kueber (St. Albert, AB) and Erika Sowchuk (Cochrane, AB) chipped in with 2 a piece while Amy Helfrich (Cochrane, AB), Sam Sutherland (Cochrane, AB), Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary, AB), Eden Murray (Medicine Hat, AB) and Jessica Kampjes (Bon Accord, AB) all had singles in the win. Panchuk and Helfrich also had 3 assists a piece. Courtney Vinet (Camrose, AB) stood tall once again for Team Alberta recording her 2nd shutout of the tournament. Team Alberta will move on to face Team Saskatchewan in the semifinals, Friday at 7:30 pm (AST).

Team Alberta 4 – Team Ontario 1

The games first goal wouldn’t come until the thirteen minute mark of the 2nd as Taryn Baumgardt (Innisfail, AB) point shot found the back of the net. Erika Sowchuk (Cochrane, AB) would increase the lead to 2-0 and a minute later Melissa Kueber (St. Albert, AB) would add to that lead giving Alberta a 3 goal advantage. Team Alberta would score their 4th power play maker of the period as Karlee Odland (Vauxhall, AB) would score with one second remaining in the 2nd. Ontario would score the only goal of the 3rd period which saw them pull the goalie for the final ten minutes of the game. Courtney Vinet (Camrose, AB) stood tall between the pipes for Team Alberta stopping 32 shot for the victory. Team Alberta finished the round robin in 1st place in their pool with a record of 4-0 and now awaits their opponent for Thursday’s quarter-final.

Team Alberta 3 – Team Saskatchewan 0

Team Alberta would open the scoring in the 2nd period on a goal by Heather Kashman (Edmonton, AB) which was followed up nine minutes when Taylor Sakundiak (Calgary, AB) converted her 1st of the tournament. Team Alberta would ice it in the final frame as captain Katy Josephs (Calgary, AB) scored her 3rd of the tournament. Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, AB) recorded her second consecutive shutout turning away 22 shots, while Team Alberta threw 28 shots on the opposition.

Team Alberta 10 – Team Newfoundland 0

This game got off to a slow start for Team Alberta as they weren’t able generate any offense in the 1st period with it ending 0-0. Team Alberta would come alive in the second as Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary, AB) would light the lamp 3 times for a natural hat trick, while  Jessica Kampjes (Bon Accord, AB) also found the back of the net giving Team Alberta a 4-0 advantage heading into the final frame. The 3rd period saw flood gates open with Team Alberta scoring 6 times. Heather Kashman (Edmonton, AB), Melissa Kueber (St. Albert, AB), Karlee Odland (Vauxhall, AB), Erika Sowchuk (Cochrane, AB), Katy Josephs (Calgary, AB) and Panchuk would find the twine. Panchuk would finish the game with 6 points, while linemates Kampjes and Kueber would end up with 5 and 3 points respectively. Courtney Vinet (Camrose, AB) made 9 saves to earn the shutout victory while Team Alberta peppered the Newfoundland goaltenders with 67 shots on goal. 

Team Alberta 4 – Team BC 0 

Captain Katy Josephs (Calgary, AB) opened the scoring seven minutes into the game and Bryanne Panchuk (Calgary, AB) would add another two minutes later as Team Alberta would take a 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. Team Alberta would add to their lead in the 2nd  when Melissa Kueber (St. Albert, AB) capitalized  on a breakaway chance early in the period. The scoring would be rounded out in the 3rd as Sam Sutherland (Cochrane, AB) notched her first of the tournament. Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, AB) made 18 saves for the shutout, while Team Alberta would throw 34 shot at the Team BC goaltender.

Team Alberta Female won Gold in 1991 and Bronze in 1999 while finishing in 9^thplace in 2007.

Former Team Alberta players that have competed at the Canada Winter Games include HayleyWickenheiser (1991), MeaghanMikkelson (2003) and Carla MacLeod (1999).