RED DEER – Hockey Alberta has announced the roster for the Team Alberta U16 Male squad that is representing the province at the 2024 WHL Cup, taking place at the Peavey Mart Centurium in Red Deer.

The roster for this year’s squad is comprised of two goaltenders, seven defence and eleven forwards. Of the players on the twenty-man roster, seven players were taken in the first round of the 2024 Western Hockey League Draft, eight players were taken in the second round, three players were taken in the third round, and one player each was taken in the fourth and sixth rounds. This roster includes Aden Bouchard (Airdrie) and Ben Harvey (Edmonton) who were selected in the top five at third and fourth overall respectively, as well as Ossie McIntyre (St. Albert) and Owen Hayden (Calgary) who were selected in the top ten of the draft.

This year’s team includes players from eleven different communities across Alberta – Calgary, Edmonton, Cochrane, Blackfalds, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Sturgeon County, Airdrie, Rocky View County, Fort McMurray and Olds. Nine players play in the Alberta Elite Hockey League, while the other eleven players play in the CSSHL.

TEAM ALBERTA U16 WHL CUP ROSTER >

The selection process saw eighty players attend the Summer Selection Camp in Red Deer in July. A shortlist of thirty-five players was selected from that camp before the roster was finalized down to the twenty players representing the province at the WHL Cup.

“We’re excited with the group that we have selected for this year’s WHL Cup.” said Mike Kraichy, Manager, High Performance for Hockey Alberta. “We feel that we have a lot of depth at all three positions and look forward to getting to compete against the best players across Western Canada in October.”

The team’s staff this year includes Derrick Martin (Edmonton), Head Coach; Ryan Allen (Grande Prairie), Assistant Coach; Chad Scharff (Airdrie), Assistant Coach; Marcus Cheng (Calgary), Video Coach; Theo Zubot (Calgary), Goalie Coach; Matt Goertzen (Edmonton), Therapist; Dave Campbell (Grande Prairie), Equipment Manager; Bobby Fox (Calgary), Head Scout; Barry Medori (Spruce Grove), Coach Mentor; and Kraichy (Red Deer), Director of Operations.

The 2024 WHL Cup will showcase the top 2009-born players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Team Alberta, powered by Gatorade, kicks off the WHL Cup against Team Saskatchewan on Wednesday, October 23. The schedule is available below.

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.

MORE INFORMATION >

Hockey Alberta is hosting female-only coach clinics in Calgary for the 2024-25 season.

Taking place at the East Calgary Twin Arenas, there are three clinics available for the season. Coach 2 is scheduled for October 20, Intro to Checking Principles on October 27, and Coach 1 on November 2. Registration for these courses is now available below.

COACH 2 – OCTOBER 20 >

INTRO TO CHECKING PRINCIPLES – OCTOBER 27 >

COACH 1 – NOVEMBER 2 >

Female-only coach clinics provide an inclusive environment to all female to learn the game and become certified in the necessary clinics.

For questions and information on the upcoming clinics, please contact Danielle Wheeler, Manager, Female Development at [email protected].

Hockey Alberta staff as well as coaches from across the province gathered at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for The Coaches Site Live Conference. Over 400 attendees from 14 different countries participated in the three-day event, which featured on ice, breakout and main stage sessions involving some of the best coaches in the sport.

Some of the presenting speakers included Cail MacLean from the Calgary Flames, Moncton Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love and University of Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato.

“The Coaches Site Live is regarded as the premier coaching conference in the world,” said Mike McGinnis, Hockey Alberta’s Manager, Player Development. “Hockey Alberta is proud to partner with The Coaches Site and we send approximately 20 delegates to the annual event. Every year we see exponential growth in those who attend as it’s impossible to not pick up one or two things from each presentation. We truly look forward to this event each year and we are excited to continue expanding our relationship with The Coaches Site to offer more opportunities for coaches in Alberta.”

One of those Alberta delegates who attended the event was Sage Sansregret, who spent this past season as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Junior Oilers White.

“The experience was definitely worthwhile,” Sansregret said. "It was a lot of fun being there to network and learn from some of the best coaches in the world. I think the biggest takeaway for me from this event is always to be willing to learn. There’s a lot of new concepts that you hear about during the conference and they really challenge you to expand your view and knowledge of the game.”

Sansregret believes events like these are vital to ensuring the next generation of coaches are making the most out of their opportunities.

“I think it’s extremely important,” she said. "It’s great to connect with other coaches and share ideas and thoughts. I think it helps the game continue to grow and move forward and it’s also great for young coaches like myself who want to start building a network and create a foundation for their coaching careers. High-level coaching jobs are network based, so events like these are great opportunities.”

The 2025 event is once again set for June at the University of Michigan.

The Female Coach Development Network is back for the 2024-25 season! The second season of the network is scheduled to pick up October 14.

Featuring monthly and bi-monthly presenters, the program provides access to mentors and resources for coaches to help navigate their seasons. One call or two calls are scheduled each month, from October-March, with professional development and the opportunity to discuss situations coaches are going through.

The Female Coach Development Network was created for female coaches across the province to connect and learn from each other. Sixty-seven coaches registered for the first year of the network.

The network is free to join and open to coaches at all levels and ages. Coaches who were participants in the network last season are required to register again for this season. Meeting and presentations will be recorded and distributed to the group following the session.

REGISTRATION LINK >

Sharpen your skates and tape your stick, the 2024-25 season is around the corner.

Hockey Alberta has been working to ensure the game gives everyone a positive experience this season. The 2024-25 Season Puck Drop is here to share the changes coming this season, and information you need to know as you sharpen your skates for the new season.

On the webpage you can find what’s new in 2024, learn about Hockey Alberta’s strategic direction, how to play, coach and official clinics, how to report maltreatment, the new concussion protocols, information on Team Alberta programs, grants and funding and important dates.

2024-25 Season Puck Drop >

Good luck this season! And remember, hockey is supposed to be fun. Let’s give everyone a positive experience in 2024-25.

RED DEER – Bring memories that last a lifetime to your community. Applications are now open to host the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships presented by ATB.

The deadline to apply is November 15. All bids must follow the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships Bid Guidelines.

A total of 35 events will be held in communities around the province in 2025. With tournaments beginning March 20, events will run three consecutive weekends:

Most Minor Tiered and Minor Female events will feature eight teams – the host, a wild card and the champions from each division’s respective leagues: All Peace Hockey League, Central Alberta Hockey League, East Central Female Hockey League, Edmonton Federation Hockey League, Hockey Calgary, North Eastern Alberta Hockey League and the Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Female Hockey League, Alberta Elite Hockey League’s U18 AAA and Alberta Female Hockey League’s U18 AAA champions will be determined in a playdown format.

Provincial Championships are some of the most exciting and high-profile events each season, bringing together the top teams from across the province in each division. The thrill of playing in this exciting event makes hosting a Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship tournament a unique and special opportunity.

Bids should be emailed to [email protected].

The Recreational Hockey Model has been renamed to the Play Hockey Model by Hockey Alberta.

The Play Hockey Model, and the three streams within it, ensures families have access to affordable, fun, and safe opportunities to participate in youth hockey with a moderate to low time and financial commitment. The streams within the Play Hockey Model remain unchanged – Rec Hockey, Pond Hockey and Learn to Play.

PLAY HOCKEY MODEL >

To kick off the season, Hockey Alberta is hosting a Virtual Town Hall via Zoom on September 12, from 6-7 pm. The updated Play Hockey Model will be discussed, and Organizations and MHAs can connect and share best practices.

Please attend if you have sanctioned, are planning to sanction, or would like more information about sanctioning a Play Hockey Model program for the 2024-25 season.

Register at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqceGgpzIqHNYsOgXLhRSitNSYkZQY2zwS

Read all the information about the transition to the Play Hockey Model in the information bulletin.

INFORMATION BULLETIN 24-02 – PLAY HOCKEY MODEL >

RED DEER - Updates have been implemented to Hockey Alberta’s Coach Education Pathways, with new and/or updated requirements and qualifications for the 2024-25 hockey season.

The changes involve new names for online courses offered within the Hockey Canada Coach Clinic (previously HU-Online), and Hockey Alberta’s in-person Coach 1, Coach 2 and Checking Skills clinics. There are also updated online course requirements for coaches at the Intro to Hockey and Minor Leagues levels.

Full details on the name changes, the specific requirements for coaches at each level of hockey, and the process for registering in HCR are available under the Coach tab on the Hockey Alberta website.

COACH REQUIREMENTS >

The clinic structure itself is unchanged for the 2024-25 season, with a required Online component, and a required In-Person clinic (includes classroom and on-ice time). As well, requirements continue for completing Respect in Sport – Activity Leader, and Hockey Canada Safety Program – Level 1.

INFO BULLETIN 24-01 – UPDATED COACH REQUIREMENTS >

CALGARY – Forty athletes are gathering at Cardel Rec South in Calgary for Hockey Alberta’s 2024 Female U16 Summer Development Camp August 9-11.

Four goaltenders, 12 defence and 24 forwards are attending the camp. The development camp serves as an introduction to the Team Alberta process.

U16 SUMMER DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTERS >

Camp features on and off-ice activities including both physical and mental sessions and will wrap up with Team Blue versus Team Gold at 12:30 P.M. on Aug. 11.

CAMP SCHEDULE >

All athletes who are registered with a Hockey Alberta or Hockey Canada sanctioned minor hockey association are eligible for Team Alberta programming.

RED DEER – Team Alberta tryouts for the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) are taking place at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer, August 8-11.

Athletes are gathering in Red Deer to compete for a roster spot, with both Male and Female camps featuring on-ice sessions including small area games, practices and games. At 2PM on August 10, the Top 40 List for the Male team released. At 3:15 PM, the Top 33 List for the Female team relased.

TOP 40 MALE / TOP 33 FEMALE / CAMP SCHEDULE >

Hockey Alberta, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport Council – Alberta, are sending a U18 Male and U18 Female team to the 2025 tournament, scheduled for May 4-11 in Kamloops, British Columbia on the traditional territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

Team Alberta U18 Female won silver at last year’s event in Grande Prairie while the U18 Male squad won its placement game by a 10-2 score over Team Eastern Door & North.

NAHC was established in 2002 by the Aboriginal Sport Circle, to serve as the premiere competition for young Aboriginal hockey players in Canada.

The annual event provides a forum for elite U18 aged Indigenous male and female youth and attracts participation from First Nations, Métis and Inuit athletes across the 13 provinces and territories. This annual event helps foster cultural unity and pride to celebrate Indigenous athletes and sport.

Coaching Staff announced for 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

RED DEER – The coaching staffs have been named for Team Alberta Male and Female competing at the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

Team Alberta Female will be guided by head coach Richard Demery (Edmonton) who served as an assistant coach last year on the Male team. He is entering his ninth year of coaching, all of which has been at the U15 AA to U18 AA levels. Kendra Rosychuk (Calgary) returns to the team as an assistant coach with Chelsea Gauchier (Edmonton) rounding out the group.

Kevin Hasselberg (Dutchess) has been named the head coach of Team Alberta Male. Hasselberg is the current Head Coach and General Manager of the Drumheller Dragons and has more than 20 years of coaching experience. He also has been involved with Hockey Alberta’s development programs as he has taken part in the Alberta Cup and Prospects Cup tournaments. Damien Kulynuch (Calgary) is returning for a second year as an assistant coach along with Dallas Hines (Marwayne) who is working his first experience in the Team Alberta program.

RED DEER – Twenty-eight athletes have been selected to attend the Team Alberta Female Fall Camp.

Three goaltenders, nine defence and 16 forwards are competing for a roster position on Team Alberta’s U18 entry at the 2024 National Women’s Under-18 Championship in Quispamsis, New Brunswick Nov. 3-9.

TEAM ALBERTA U18 FEMALE FALL CAMP INVITES >

“There are a lot of talented players in these age groups, making the decision to get down to 28 players a tough one,” said Chris Leeming, Head Coach of Team Alberta’s U18 Female team. “Our staff is confident in these players that we’ve selected for the next process as they have demonstrated the ability to consistently execute our style of play, concepts and habits. We are excited to continue working with this group.”

Fall Camp takes place Sept. 27-29 in Red Deer, where the U18 hopefuls are participating in on and off-ice sessions including games against women’s teams from USports.

Team Alberta’s U18 Female, fueled by Gatorade, finished fourth at the 2023 National Women’s U18 Championship in Dawson Creek, B.C., losing a tight battle to Team B.C. in the bronze medal game.

The Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Alberta) is seeking qualified candidates for three (3) Director at Large positions on its Board of Directors. Deadline to submit a nomination package is AUGUST 31, 2024.

Hockey Alberta is the governing body for organized amateur hockey in the Province of Alberta. The Board of Directors builds and monitors the strategy of the organization through its vision, mission, values and strategic direction. The Board operates under a Policy Governance Model and delegates operations to the Chief Executive Officer. The Board is elected by and accountable to the members of Hockey Alberta. The Board holds regular meetings, either in-person in Red Deer or via phone/ online platform.

The Board of Directors is focused on being a diverse group comprised of individuals with a variety of skill sets and experiences. For 2024, criteria to be considered by the Nominations Committee for each candidate include:

Diversity

The Board of Directors believes in the benefits diversity brings and recognizes that diversity of thought makes prudent business sense. Having a Board composed of individuals with diverse skills, experience, backgrounds and perspectives, as well as individuals of diverse gender identity, will provide:

• competitive advantage;
• robust understanding of opportunities, issues and risks;
• inclusion of different concepts, ideas, and relationships;
• enhanced decision-making and dialogue; and
• heightened capacity for oversight of the organization and its governance.

For purposes of Board composition, diversity includes business and industry skills and experience, gender, and ethnicity. The Board will make good use of these differences and distinctions among individuals in recruiting for the optimum composition of the Board.

Recruitment for Board members must collectively reflect the diverse nature of the business environment in which the organization operates and be made on merit, in the context of the skills, experience, independence and knowledge which the Board requires to be effective.

The Board is committed to ensuring gender diversity and to diligently act to effect change, it aspires to maintain a Board in which no gender represents more than 2/3 of the board.

• The current composition of the six directors not up for election in 2024 includes five males and one female.

Target Skills, Experience and Background

Industry Knowledge

• Experience with aspects of the game at various levels
• Knowledge/ experience with Membership Relations (in medium and small sized communities)

Technical Skills

• Legal expertise; or
• Fund Development and Revenue Generation for Non-Profit expertise; or
• Communications/ Marketing/ Social Media expertise.
• Human Resources Management

Governance

• Experience in Advocacy – Government Relations/ Lobbying; or
• Diversity / Inclusion Strategy and Education expertise; or
• Environmental and Social Responsibility expertise.

In addition:

• Previous experience on a not-for-profit board and knowledge of the workings of a board from a good governance perspective are preferred.
• Experience and understanding of the workings of a Provincial Sport Organization is an asset.
• Passion for the sport of hockey and previous experience within amateur hockey.
• Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check is required.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE JOB DESCRIPTION >

APPLICATION / NOMINATION FORM >

Process Overview

The Governance Committee of Hockey Alberta has created an external three-person Nominations Committee that includes a former Chair of the Board of Directors.

All submitted applications are reviewed by the Nominations Committee. Through the application and interview process, the Nominations Committee will prepare a list of qualified candidates to be presented to the membership for election.

Board of Director positions are elected by the Members of Hockey Alberta at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Elected individuals will serve a term of three years.

Article 5 of the Bylaws of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association outlines the requirements that must be met for an individual to be considered eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors.

The links below to the Hockey Alberta website provide more information on Hockey Alberta Bylaws, and the Board’s Governance Model, Code of Conduct, and Conflict of Interest policy. Candidates are required to complete a conflict of interest declaration with their application.

I. BYLAWS AND REGULATIONS >

II. BOARD GOVERNANCE, STRUCTURE AND POLICIES >

For more information, please contact:

Rob Virgil

Nominations Committee Chair, Hockey Alberta

[email protected]

780-915-2873

Rob Litwinski

President & CEO, Hockey Alberta

[email protected]

403-967-0048

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is now accepting applications for key volunteer positions on the Operational Committees for the 2024-25 hockey season.

Currently, applications are being sought from interested individuals to fill volunteer roles on committees including: Minor Discipline, Minor Administration, MHA Liaison, Officiating, Senior Hockey, Player Safety, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, U11 AA and Maltreatment Investigator.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM >

Volunteers are the faces of Hockey Alberta within their communities and are positively representing themselves and the organization while communicating with and assisting participants on a daily basis.

Each year, hundreds of volunteers play integral roles in ensuring that Hockey Alberta delivers high quality and efficient programming as well as services to the more than 100,000 participants across the province.

All Hockey Alberta volunteers must act in accordance with the Vision, Mission and Core Values of Hockey Alberta. Hockey Alberta’s Core Values are:

• Integrity – do the right thing for the right reasons.
• Community – make a difference for all Albertans.
• Collaboration – work together to win together.
• Innovation – be curious, courageous, and creative.
• Passion – fuels our why, drives our what.

RED DEER – Six individuals and a Memorial Cup championship team were inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF) on Saturday evening.

The class of 2024 features four former National Hockey League players, a trailblazer for female hockey players, a world-renowned coach, and the 2001 Memorial Cup champions.

Billy Dea, Jarome Iginla, Dave King, Kelly Kisio, Craig MacTavish, Shannon Szabados and the 2000-01 Red Deer Rebels were inducted into the hall during the AHHF Gala at the Gary W. Harris Centre in Red Deer.

BILLY DEA

Billy Dea played 19 years of professional hockey, while also coaching several years in the NHL. He spent most of his playing career with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, where he set a longevity record by playing in 596 consecutive games which includes both regular season and playoffs. He also spent time with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I really didn’t think about it much,” Dea said of his ironman streak. “It was my job. You love the game, and you want to play, so you play.”

JAROME IGINLA

Most recognized for the 16 seasons he spent with the Calgary Flames, Jarome Iginla was one of the best NHL players of his generation. Iginla is the Flames all-time leader in games played (1,219), goals (525), and points (1,095). Iginla is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has won multiple gold medals at various levels with Team Canada, and won two Memorial Cups with the Kamloops Blazers. He spent his remaining four seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s a very nice honour,” Iginla said of being inducted. “It makes me think back of all the time I played hockey in Alberta from minor hockey to with the Flames in the NHL. It was a fun career; it went fast but it’s brought a lot of memories back. Times with my grandpa, my teammates and the games … I never thought I’d be in the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.”

DAVE KING

Dave King has had a distinguished career as a coach and mentor for over 40 years, developing a reputation as one of hockey’s finest tacticians and teachers of the game. He’s coached at every level of hockey around the world including major junior, Canadian university, Canada’s National Team, the National Hockey League and European and Russian pro leagues. For nine years, he was the head coach and general manager of Canada’s full-time national team. He is a two-time medalist at the Winter Olympics, helping Canada win silver in 1991-92 and bronze in 2017-18.

“Hockey Alberta has always been a leader,” King said. “It’s always been progressive and that’s why hockey in this province is one of the top programs in the nation.”

KELLY KISIO

Kelly Kisio made his impact both on the ice as a player and off the ice in the front office. After spending over 700 games in the National Hockey League and three seasons as the captain of the New York Rangers where he tallied 229 goals and 658 points, Kisio turned his attention to turning the Calgary Hitmen into one of the most successful franchises in the Western Hockey League. Under his guidance as the team’s head coach and then general manager, the Hitmen won six Central Division titles, four Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy’s as the league’s best regular season team, three conference championships and two Ed Chynoweth Cup’s as league champions. He is currently a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights.

“Just to wear a ‘C’ on your sweater (in the National Hockey League) was something special,” Kisio said of his time as captain of the Rangers. “But to do it in New York, in front of those fans was pretty neat.”

CRAIG MACTAVISH

Craig MacTavish is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion during his 17-year playing career in the NHL, three of them coming with the Edmonton Oilers and another with the New York Rangers. He played in 1,093 games and registered 480 points, including 213 goals. He also served as an executive, coach and assistant coach in the NHL, where he helped the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006-07, coached Team Canada internationally as well as coached in both Russia and Switzerland.

“My career with the Oilers was 25 plus years and you don’t have longevity in this game without the friendship and loyalty of your organization,” MacTavish said of his career. “I came into the organization in 1985 and I was very lucky to come in under the leadership of Glen Sather. I was very fortunate.”

SHANNON SZABADOS

Shannon Szabados is a trailblazer for female hockey players. She was the first female to play at the Calgary Macs AAA hockey tournament, first female to play in the Western Hockey League, playing in four exhibition games with the Tri-City Americans, first female recipient of the AJHL’s top goaltender award and first female to sign and play in the Southern Professional Hockey League. She is also the first female to win an SPHL game and first and only female to record a shutout in men’s professional hockey. She is the only goaltender in women’s hockey history to backstop her nation to two gold medals at the Winter Olympics, helping Canada win gold in both 2010 and 2014. Szabados also had a successful college and university career with the MacEwan University Griffins and NAIT Ooks men’s hockey teams, winning the ACAC silver medal in 2008 and setting a regular season record for shutouts (five) on route to an ACAC Championship.

“Incredible group of inductees,” Szabados said. “A little humbled myself to be included in this group, so a huge honour for me to be part of this.”

2000-01 RED DEER REBELS

The 2000-01 Red Deer Rebels went 54-12-3-3 over the course of the regular season, leading the Canadian Hockey League. They advanced through the Western Hockey League playoffs by dispatching the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Calgary Hitmen and Swift Current Broncos before defeating the Portland Winterhawks in the league final. Red Deer qualified for the 2001 Memorial Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan where they went 2-1 in the round robin after wins over Val d’Or and Ottawa and a loss to Regina. Their record was good enough to earn an automatic berth into the Memorial Cup final where they once again defeated Val d’Or in a come-from-behind 6-5 overtime victory.

“We could play any way you wanted,” said Colby Armstrong. “We had size and skill. We could win 1-0, we could win 6-5, we could go play in the back alley and get into the nitty gritty of the game too. It was a really special group.”

For more information on the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame and the Class of 2024, please visit www.ahhf.ca.

In addition to the Class of 2024, Robert ‘Bob’ Rawlusyk was honoured as the second recipient of the Robert Clark Legacy Award.

Rawlusyk spent over 40 years coaching multiple sports, both male and female athletes in Drumheller, Stettler, throughout Canada and in Japan. In 1991, he was tasked with organizing national games between Canada and Russia, advised the World Junior Hockey Committee in Red Deer and was the director of the World Under-17 Hockey Championship. For more than 20 years, he instructed coaching clinics and worked as an amateur hockey official.

Rawlusyk was a pillar in his community and in the game of hockey.

In 2022, the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced the Robert Clark Legacy Award for leadership in hockey. The award is presented to someone who has demonstrated similar passion, leadership, collaboration, and integrity in growing and improving the game.

The Robert Clark Legacy Award is named after Honoured Member of the AHHF and Hockey Alberta Life Member, Robert “Bob” Clark, who was a monumental figure in the hockey community. For over half a century, Clark was involved in hockey in Alberta, displaying a passion for growing and improving the game for athletes and administrators.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta recognized several groups and individuals on July 20 through the Hockey Alberta Membership Awards Program presented by ATB for the work they did during the 2023-24 season.

Awards handed out on Saturday included Volunteer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Minor Hockey Association of the Year, Official of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Provincial Championship Exceptional Host Site Award and Order of Merit.

All award winners made outstanding contributions to amateur hockey throughout the year and went over and above the minimum guidelines and standards set out by Hockey Alberta.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Debbie Northcott (Caroline). Northcott exemplifies the core values of Hockey Alberta through her interactions with players, parents, teams, associations, volunteers and staff. She has contributed to growing and developing amateur hockey in the province through her various volunteer roles with Hockey Alberta, which dates back two decades. Her involvement in the sport came well before she formally joined Hockey Alberta as the Zone 4 Minor Council Representative in 2005, holding the position for eight years while playing a key role in changing the player movement regulations and enhancing the Provincial Championship structure. She shifted her focus to registration and served on Hockey Alberta’s Minor Administration Committee for five years, four of which were as the Chair of the committee. Northcutt lobbied for changes that would not only benefit the players, but also ensure hockey would continue to grow and thrive in rural communities. She is currently part of Hockey Alberta’s Appeals Committee.

Volunteer of the Year

Geoff Stewart (Okotoks) is this year’s recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Stewart has served on the board of directors in Okotoks for the past 10 years, most recently as the president, a role he’s held for the past seven and a half seasons. As the president of one of Hockey Alberta’s largest members, he has prioritized the player experience within Okotoks Minor Hockey and has led with integrity when faced with challenging situations. His passion to give back to hockey is evident in that he is not only the president of Okotoks Minor Hockey, but he also coaches the U16 AA team. Stewart is actively engaged with Hockey Alberta, ensuring Okotoks is not only aligned with provincial and national standards, but are often one of the MHA’s leading the way.

Coach of the Year

Darren Gnam (Fairview) of the Fairview U15 Falcons has been named Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Year. Gnam had a significant positive impact on his players, taking the time to teach them the skills necessary to become comfortable, capable and confident with their transition into body contact. Gnam structures practices to ensure everyone has fun while learning the skills of the game, which created an environment that kept athletes involved in the sport.

Minor Hockey Association of the Year

Canmore Minor Hockey Association is being recognized as the Minor Hockey Association of the Year. Canmore’s desire to provide a fun and positive environment for children is directly aligned with the vision and mission of Hockey Alberta. They have established strong policies, procedures and is known for providing clear direction, training and support to their volunteers, allowing a fun, safe and positive environment to evolve. Canmore has also been active in seeking out grants to support player and coach development and have been proactive in offering flexible program options for families and working with neighbouring communities to provide opportunities for players outside of Canmore’s boundaries to access minor hockey.

Official of the Year

Hayley Butz (Duffield) is Hockey Alberta’s Official of the Year. Overcoming a broken leg, an injury suffered while playing rugby, Butz had a banner season on both the provincial and national level. She attended Hockey Alberta’s officiating summer development camp as well as Hockey Canada’s officiating program of excellence camp. Butz was selected to officiate the 2023 Canada Winter Games and the 2023 Women’s U18 National Championships, where she was picked to officiate the gold medal game at both events. In February, Butz was selected by Hockey Canada to be certified as a National High Performance Official – the highest ranking possible for an official within Hockey Canada’s program. On top of her two national events earlier in the year, she also officiated the Women’s USports Nationals in Saskatoon. When available, she also spends time giving back to officiating through coaching and supervision of other officials.

Provincial Championship Exceptional Host Site Award

Stettler Minor Hockey Association and the U18 Tier 1 Provincial Championship are this year’s winners of the Provincial Championship Exceptional Host Site Award. Stettler’s minor hockey program, the Town of Stettler and the community all played key roles in the event, including pre-event promotion and the opening ceremonies. Each team had a designated dressing room and equipment storage for the tournament and there was a banquet for the players and families. To leave a legacy for minor hockey, the host committee distributed a portion of the profits from the tournament to support local coach and officiating development programs.

Order of Merit - Officiating (Ernie Boruk Award)

Dominic St. Amand (Vermilion) has won the Ernie Boruk Award for the 2023-24 season. St. Amand’s passion for Hockey Alberta officiating has laid a strong foundation that will benefit the program for many years to come. As the Chair of the Northeast Official’s Sub-Committee, he facilitated a thriving officiating program that includes a robust grassroots program, annual summer camps for elite officials, as well as a officiating coaching initiative. He has spent countless hours on the road, away from his family to showcase and learn about development standards being implemented in his region and ensure that officials have the support they need.

Order of Merit - Officiating (Dave Ganley Award)

Brad Campbell (Calgary) has won the Dave Ganley Award. He has been a member of the Central Region Official’s Sub-Committee for over 10 years, focusing his efforts on grassroots development. Still an active official himself, Campbell has a keen eye for development and has impacted countless officials while being instrumental in developing the next generation of officiating talent in the Calgary area.

Order of Merit - Administration

Connie Anderson (Sundre) has been volunteering with Hockey Alberta since 2011 as the Zone 6 Minor Discipline Coordinator, a role that Anderson held for seven years. Anderson transitioned to the role of Chair, Minor Discipline in 2018 where he helped align Hockey Alberta’s investigation and suspension process while also contributing to national and provincial regulation changes that establish more consistency in discipline procedures.

Order of Merit - Administration

Neil Robertson (Calgary) has volunteered for more than three decades in minor hockey, including 17 years with Hockey Alberta. Robertson was part of the U18 executive for more than 20 years where he played a key role in creating Hockey Alberta’s ‘Alberta Development Model’ (ADM) for AAA hockey. He represented AAA hockey by serving on the ADM committee for 13 years. While on the committee, he helped establish Hockey Alberta’s Elite Male Hockey Model. In 2020 he accepted the position of Chair for Elite Male Hockey and has continued to help enhance the model, including the creation of the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL).

Order of Merit - Development

Doug Crashley (Calgary) has been invested in the development of hockey players in the province for decades. He has owned and operated ‘Crash Conditioning’ since 2004, providing strength and conditioning, mindset, nutrition, recovery and injury rehabilitation services to athletes. His involvement with Hockey Alberta started more than 15 years ago through the Team Pacific U17 program. He has been active with the U16 Male Team Alberta program since the introduction of the WHL Cup in 2009 and still attends the U16 camp each summer. He also has presented to players and coaches at various Hockey Alberta events and seminars. To help keep players motivated and active during the pandemic, Crashley partnered with Hockey Alberta’s ‘Hockey at Home’ initiative, developing training videos to engage and inform athletes.

To view previous recipients of the Hockey Alberta Membership Awards presented by ATB, click here.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is one step closer to naming the roster for Team Alberta’s Under-16 Male team that is representing the province at the WHL Cup in October.

Thirty-five athletes are in contention to make the final roster, with four goaltenders, 12 defence, and 19 forwards included on the shortlist.

TEAM ALBERTA UNDER-16 MALE SHORTLIST >

Athletes were selected to the shortlist based on their overall play throughout the Team Alberta scouting process, past Team Alberta programs, and at the Under-16 Summer Camp in Red Deer, July 2-7. Eighty players were invited to Red Deer and worked through high intensity on-ice sessions, as well as off-ice training and classroom sessions.

“There are a lot of talented players in this age group. We saw it at Alberta Cup, and we saw it at summer camp,” said Derrick Martin, Head Coach of Team Alberta’s Under-16 Male team. “We’re constructing a team that can compete at an elite level in short-term competition. The decisions don’t get easier and now it’s up to these 35 players to show us why they belong on the roster.”

Team Alberta, fueled by Gatorade, is slated to compete at the WHL Cup in Red Deer against Team B.C., Team Saskatchewan and Team Manitoba.

RED DEER – Forty-six athletes are gathering in Red Deer for the 2024 Team Alberta Female Summer Camp, July 16-20.

Six goaltenders, 16 defence and 24 forwards are attending the Under-18 camp. Athletes are going to be evaluated and shortlisted for Fall Camp, with hopes of securing a position on Team Alberta to compete at the 2024 National Women’s Under-18 Championship in Quispamsis, New Brunswick Nov. 3-9.

TEAM ALBERTA FEMALE U18 SUMMER CAMP INVITES >

Camp features on and off-ice sessions, as well as games. The groups are evenly split into Team Blue and Team Yellow with the first of 10 skill sessions beginning with Team Blue on Tuesday, July 16 at 4 P.M. Team Yellow has its first skill session at 5:30 P.M. that same day. The two teams are then scheduled to play the first of three contests against one another on Thursday, July 18 at 7 P.M.

Team Alberta’s U18 Female team finished fourth at the 2023 National Women’s U18 Championship in Dawson Creek, B.C., losing a tight battle to Team B.C. in the bronze medal game.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that its board of directors has approved a Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project for the 2024-25 season, following an extensive proposal submitted in collaboration from its four Western Members, their respective Junior A hockey leagues and the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The WCDM pilot project focuses on strengthening the delivery of sanctioned junior hockey to participants across Western Canada and will create unprecedented choice and flexibility for players and their families in a system that prioritizes their unique needs on and off the ice, while evolving the opportunities offered to athletes to develop at a level that is reflective of their ability.

“The unity between Hockey Canada and the 10 organizations that led the development of the pilot project has never been stronger, and we are grateful for the tremendous work by the Members and leagues that led to today’s announcement,” said Pat McLaughlin, chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy for Hockey Canada. “We all must continue to evolve to meet the needs of Canadians looking to participate in our National Winter Sport in a system that operates with an athlete-centred approach and ensures their development and safety on and off the ice is at the forefront of everything we do.

“By increasing flexibility for junior hockey players and families in Western Canada, we anticipate that we will see higher quality competition on the ice, all the way up to the National Team level when Canada is competing internationally in the years to come.”

The WCDM working group consists of representatives from BC Hockey, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Pacific Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta, the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Hockey Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Hockey Manitoba, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the WHL.

1. Standard of play and rules

By streamlining the application of Playing Rules for the same age group, athletes, coaches and officials participating in sanctioned Western Junior A leagues will gain experience and develop in a similar environment to the WHL.

• All participating Western Junior A leagues will adopt the WHL Rule Book, except for Section 1 – Playing Area, Section 3 – Equipment, Rule 34.6 – Television, Rule 38 – Video Goal Judge and Rule 46.14 – Major Penalty.
• Fighting in the Western Junior A leagues will continue to follow the existing Hockey Canada Rule 7.10.
• As part of the pilot, players 18 years of age or older as of December 31 of the current season may choose to wear half-face protection, while those under the age of 18 must continue to wear full-face protection, in line with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rule 202.

2. Roster composition

To increase flexibility in the development pathway for 15- and 16-year-old players in Western Canada, a number of changes will be implemented, including:

• All 15-year-old affiliate players will be eligible to play up to 10 games with their WHL Club, the same as 16-year-old affiliate players.
• Instead of rostering a maximum of five 15-year-old affiliate players in a season, WHL Clubs will be allowed to name up to nine by January 10.
• If a WHL Club cannot dress a full roster of 20 players for a game, the team will now be eligible to dress two 15-year-old affiliate players.
• WHL Clubs will be able to designate one 16-year-old player, who upon being returned to a Junior A, Canadian Sport School Hockey League or U18 team, will be allowed to play up to 15 games in the WHL.
• If one of the four Members participating in the pilot has granted a 12-, 13- or 14-year-old player special status to play in an advanced age category, any such player must be evaluated to ensure they currently meet and are deemed to continue with special player status in their 15-year-old year to qualify and continue to be eligible to play up to 34 games in the WHL.

“This unprecedented collaboration between the WHL, Junior A leagues and the Western Branches is an unmistakably player-first approach and is one that responds in a substantive way to the evolving demands of players and their families,” commented WHL commissioner Dan Near. “Each of these organizations share a common priority – developing players on and off the ice. The Western Hockey League sits atop the development pyramid for elite players in the West and we will always look for ways to enhance our delivery to players and their families.”

“Establishing this pilot project is a very important part of the exciting steps being taken to evolve our junior hockey pathways in Western Canada, and the initiative will provide our players with even more opportunity and flexibility in their development,” said Cameron Hope, chief executive officer of BC Hockey. “We look forward to the coming season and working together with our Junior A leagues, the WHL and Hockey Canada to ensure the sanctioned junior hockey system continues to strengthen and flourish in our Branch and beyond.”

“This collaboration resets the foundation for developmental opportunities for athletes across Western Canada,” stated AJHL commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk. “As a unified group, we can proactively approach the dynamic nature of our game while adapting and evolving over the duration of this initiative and beyond. We are appreciative of the trust placed in our collective hands and thank the Hockey Canada Board and staff for their support.”

The pilot project will be reviewed on an ongoing basis during the 2024-25 season, and it is anticipated that its scope will expand in future seasons.

Hockey Alberta is excited to announce several changes to Elite Hockey in Alberta, in an effort to align elite hockey across the province, starting in the 2024-25 season.

To unify the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL), Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) and AA Hockey, Hockey Alberta has formed an Elite Hockey Executive.

The Executive’s focus is to deliver a premier Elite Development pathway for families in Alberta, to continue to grow the profile of Elite Hockey in Alberta and ensure aligned operations between AA, AAA as well as both male and female hockey leagues.

The executive includes:

• Elite Commissioner, Aaron Rawlake
• AEHL Chair, Devin Selte
• AEHL Vice Chair, Lee Hellyer
• AFHL Chair, Jody Forbes
• AFHL Vice Chair, Lise Cote
• AA Hockey Chair, Trevor Hittel

In addition to the Elite Hockey Executive, Hockey Alberta has announced the following expansion plans for the 2024-25 season:

• U13, U15, U16 and U18 AA Hockey in Alberta operated by the AEHL, overseen by AA Hockey Chair, Trevor Hittel, and AEHL Commissioner, Aaron Rawlake.
• A U13 AAA Pilot in Northern Alberta, operated by the AEHL.
• The Alberta U11 AA Hockey League, operated by Hockey Alberta, culminating in awarding a Provincial Champion.

AEHL Expansion to AA Hockey

Hockey Alberta has been working alongside Minor Hockey Associations in the province, the Northern Alberta Hockey League, South Central Alberta Hockey League, Hockey Calgary AA League, and the AEHL over the last several months to unify the three pre-existing AA leagues under the AEHL.

“The expansion of the AEHL to include AA in the elite model is due to the collaboration and engagement of associations and members in the Hockey Alberta system,” Rawlake said. The AEHL is excited to welcome the AA stakeholders and players to the AEHL with a commitment to exceptional service. Hockey Alberta will continue to provide the premier destination for all levels of elite hockey in the province and we look forward to continuing work with our innovative partners to continue to grow our game.”

The AEHL is being led by Aaron Rawlake, Commissioner, Elite Hockey (AEHL and AFHL), with AA Division Operations being overseen by Trevor Hittel, Chair, AA hockey.

“Unifying AA hockey under the AEHL has been a priority of mine for years,” Hittel said. “We are thrilled to take these next steps to standardize AA league operations and work more closely with AAA divisions to continue to develop and promote AA players to AAA hockey.”

U13 AAA Pilot

The U13 AAA Pilot is being launched for the 2024-2025 season in Northern Alberta. This Pilot will provide valuable insight to Hockey Alberta in identifying the ideal structure required to provide this level of hockey to families across the entire province in the 2025-26 season. MHAs currently committed to participate in the Pilot are Hockey Edmonton (4 teams), Bonnyville, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Leduc, Lloydminster, Sherwood Park, and St. Albert.

Teams will compete within the structure of the AEHL, which includes access to livestreaming and video analytics to enhance the player development experience at this level of hockey.

Families registered with an MHA that is hosting a U13 AAA team are to access tryouts with that team. Athletes registered outside of an MHA hosting a U13 AAA team are permitted to pursue a U13 AAA tryout with an MHA that is accepting tryout players. Once families have found an Association that is accepting tryout players, athletes from outside the Host MHA will need a ‘Notification to Tryout’ form.

For more information on individual programs and tryouts, please contact the Host Associations for more details.

U11 AA

For the past two seasons, Hockey Alberta has worked with our Minor Hockey Leagues to operate the U11 HADP within Alberta. Hockey Alberta has decided to create the category of U11 AA, officially, for 2024-25 and beyond.

Teams within the U11 AA will play in the newly formed Alberta U11 AA Hockey League. The inaugural season of U11 AA will begin in October and the 48 participating teams will compete in regional play throughout the season with the season culminating in playoffs and a Provincial Tournament.

Please refer to Information Bulletin 23-11 for more information regarding the alignment and league operations.

Bulletin 23-11 >

RED DEER – Goaltending is one of the most scrutinized positions in sports. Through the Goalie Development Program, Hockey Alberta is providing young goaltenders the tools to succeed at all levels.

This program, led by Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Goalie Development, Matt Weninger, was designed to ensure Alberta’s goaltenders, and their coaches, are properly equipped to reach the next level of performance. Athletes and coaches are provided goaltender specific skills development, consistent coaching, and mental and physical resources that come with playing the position at a high level.

Goaltenders, Erika Lind and Jackson Unger both credit the program for the foundation of their development.

Lind grew up playing in the Edmonton minor hockey system, spending the final two seasons of her minor hockey career with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U18 Prep team. She had a great two years with the Xtreme, including her final season where she played in 21 games, putting up a .932 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against-average. Her suburb play earned her an opportunity to attend Mercyhurst University to play NCAA Division I hockey, where she made her debut between the pipes in the 2023-24 season as a freshman.

“I learned a lot through the Hockey Alberta stream, not only as a player, but life lessons and skills I’m able to use in my life now,” said Lind. “Throughout my years with Hockey Alberta, I’ve had the privilege of participating in quite a few of the elite (goalie development) camps. It gave me the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of the top-end goalie coaches in Alberta and that was always very beneficial to hear constructive feedback from them and get different perspectives.”

Lind’s time with Hockey Alberta’s Goalie Development Program began in 2019. While she’s reached an elite level of play, her foundation is still built on what she learned from the Hockey Alberta stream.

“By taking every piece of constructive feedback and applying it to my game to help develop my skills, I used that as an opportunity to grow as a goaltender, both physically and mentally,” said Lind. “Seeing my progression from my first year, when I was playing at the Alberta Challenge for North Yellow to now … I’m not sure I would’ve seen the growth in my game that I did, if it wasn’t for my time in the (goaltending) program.”

Unger played his minor hockey in Calgary with the Calgary Bisons and Edge U18 Prep team before moving onto the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors, where he’s spent the last three seasons.

The 2023-24 season marked Unger’s first full season as Moose Jaw’s starter. He went 35-15 with a .908 save percentage in the regular season before going 16-1-2 in 20 playoff games with a .910 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against-average, backstopping Moose Jaw to a WHL Championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.

Taking part in the Alberta Built Camps as a kid, Unger credits Hockey Alberta’s Goalie Development Program for setting him up for success later in his career.

“There’s nothing (that compares) to the calibre of Hockey Alberta camps, those are the toughest camps I’ve been to,” Unger said. “I’ve been participating in these camps since my U9 or U11 days and they’ve really pushed me the most. Hockey Alberta has the best coaches too. They know what they’re doing, and the program is set up really well to help young goaltenders find success.”

Weninger, who has lead the Goalie Development Program since 2017, first met Unger as a kid at the Hockey Alberta camps. Their relationship has grown throughout the years through Hockey Alberta and Weninger’s position as Moose Jaw’s goaltending coach.

“We’ve known each other for a long time,” Unger said. "I would see him every year through Hockey Alberta camps. Once I got drafted, I started going to his Lethbridge camps that he put on for WHL goalies. He’s developed me a lot and he’s been with me throughout most of my career, so it’s been good.”

Like Lind, Unger credits the Hockey Alberta Goalie Development Program for the development of the foundation of his game.

“One of the things they (Hockey Alberta) taught me was the off-ice mental stuff and all the nutrition,” Unger said. “They went through everything you need to know off the ice as well because that’s equally as important as the on-ice aspects. I still know all the stuff they taught me back then and it’s always in the back of my mind. The big game preparation, having all those tools from those camps is big for sure.”

Unger and Lind are now guest coaches for Hockey Alberta and they are working with Weninger to develop the foundation of the next generation of Alberta goalies.

For more information on the Hockey Alberta Goalie Development Program, visit:

HOCKEY ALBERTA GOALIE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM >