Deadline set for reviewing Minor Hockey league play

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta, in conjunction with its sanctioned Minor Leagues (male and female), is currently reviewing the sustainability of league play for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. If there is no new information from the Government of Alberta by February 1, a decision will be made about whether to continue planning League play.

Please note that any decision regarding league play will not mean the end of hockey activity for the 2020-21 season.

All timelines of when hockey will be allowed to return and the required safety protocols that may be in place if that happens are still uncertain. Hockey Alberta Members should discuss deadlines and options for a return with their facility/ municipality.

Members also need to consider options for flexible programming, such as skill development programming and/or exhibition or mini-league games (ie: 3 on 3 / 4 on 4), that could be implemented to complete the year.

It also will not end Hockey Alberta’s work with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services to implement a relaunch plan for our sport. Hockey Alberta remains focused on working with government officials to develop a plan that will permit teams to return to practice and eventual game play and keep our youth active for their physical and mental well-being.

To date, representatives of Hockey Alberta have met with Alberta Health and Government of Alberta representatives on several occasions, as recently as last week. Discussions have focused on how hockey can be relaunched in a way that ensures the safety of all participants.

Episode Six of the Center Ice Podcast focuses on the importance of keeping hockey - and sport in general - accessible to everyone.

Canadian Long Drive Champion Lisa ’Longball’ Vlooswyk, the newest member of the Hockey Alberta Foundation Board of Directors, joins us to discuss the Foundation’s Every Kid Every Community program and why she chose to join the board, while Executive Director of Heros Hockey, Kevin Hodgson, shares the incredible programming Heros Hockey offers for vulnerable youth across the country.

Episode Links: Every Kid Every Community > | Female Hockey Day > | Hockey for Life Story Submissions > | Maschmeyer, Mikkelson to attend BFL National Women’s Team Training Camp > | Six Albertans to Attend Canada’s National Para Hockey Team Training Camp > | Heros Hockey >

More Episodes >

Centre Ice is the brand-new Hockey Alberta podcast, featuring the latest news and views on amateur hockey across the province. Subscribe now on your favourite podcast app!

CALGARY – Six Albertans are among the 14 players selected to attend the National Para Hockey Team Training Camp, presented by Canadian Tire, set for Jan. 16-26 in Calgary.

Attending the training camp from Alberta are forwards Cody Dolan (Calgary), Auren Halbert (Calgary), Zach Lavin (Okotoks), Zach Savage (Westlock) and defense Micah Kovacevich (Edmonton) and Branden Sison (Edmonton).

Several Albertans also join the coaching and support staff. Team Canada alumnus Steve Arsenault (Edmonton) joins as an assistant coach, Ashton Murley (Beaumont/University of Alberta) and Blair Smook (Airdrie) will serve as the equipment managers and Charley Hasselaar (Millarville/University of Calgary) joins as the Athletic therapist.

The 11-day training camp includes practices and three-on-three intrasquad games at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, and will take place in a bubble environment closed to the public.

Throughout the 2020-21 season, Canada’s National Para Hockey Team will continue to prepare for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. The team intends to hold additional camps prior to the 2021 IPC World Para Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic in May, while future camps and international competitions remain dependent on further impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta has made a difficult decision regarding this season’s Provincial Championships. With the uncertainty we are facing in the fight against COVID-19, the decision has been made to cancel all tournaments for the 2021 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial. These tournaments will not be rescheduled for the 2021 season.

This decision has been made with the safety of all our members and participants in mind. Within the current environment in Alberta related to COVID-19, hosting tournaments will likely not be possible, and making this decision now will ensure that members do not waste time, money and other resources in planning to host tournaments.

Hockey Alberta remains focused on working with government officials to develop a plan that will permit teams to return to practice and game play and keep our youth active for their physical and mental well-being. Working with League representatives at each level of hockey we hope to be able to salvage the season. The cancellation of Provincial tournaments provides leagues with the opportunity to plan the remainder of the season, scheduling play through until the end of the season for all teams.

Establishing the meaningful competition that is required to identify and move Teams from League play into Playoffs will not be easy. However, as we return to play this season, Leagues will have the ability to still find ways to determine a champion. Hockey Alberta remains optimistic that we can regroup and host the 2022 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships.