RED DEER - Fourteen new provincial champions were crowned on Sunday, highlighting a busy first weekend of the 2018 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial.
Six Bantam Teams, one Peewee team, and seven Atom teams skated away from their respective tournaments with gold medals: Springbank Rockies (Bantam A), Athabasca Hawks (Bantam B), Westlock Warriors (Bantam C), Valleyview Icebears (Bantam D), Okotoks Oilers (Bantam Female A), Lloydminster Blazers (Bantam Female B), Olds Grizzlys (Peewee Female B), Whitemud Warriors (Atom AA Major), Canmore Eagles (Atom AA Minor), Drayton Valley DV Meter All Stars (Atom A), Didsbury Ramblers (Atom B), Drumheller Dragons (Atom C), Bentley Canucks (Atom D), and Vermilion Selte Fuels Tigers (Atom Female).
In addition to the on-ice action, seven host communities held a True Spirit of Hockey Day to celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport: Beaverlodge, Bentley, Chestermere, Elk Point, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler and Whitecourt.
Provincial championships set for March 22-25 include: Senior AA (Bonnyville), Minor Midget AAA (Lethbridge), Midget A (Sherwood Park), Midget B (Wetaskiwin), Midget C (Rimbey), Midget D (Taber), Midget Female AAA (Red Deer), Midget Female A (Strathcona), Midget Female B (Lac La Biche), Bantam Female Elite (Grande Prairie), Peewee A (Edmonton), Peewee B (La Crete), Peewee C (Thunderstars), Peewee D (Oyen), and Peewee Female A (Okotoks).
Five more host communities will host a True Spirit of Hockey Day this week: Daysland/Forestburg (Thunderstars), La Crete, Okotoks, Oyen, and Taber.
It was a busy weekend for post-secondary teams as well, as the MacEwan Griffins Men’s team repeated as ACAC Champions, one week after the Griffins’ Female team captured the ACAC title on the women’s side.
Meanwhile, the University of Alberta Golden Bears continued their winning ways, repeating as the U-Sports National Men’s Hockey champions.
2018 HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENTS
Gold Medal Games
Bantam A - Springbank Rockies 3, Innisfail Flyers 0
Bantam B - Athabasca Hawks 5, Okotoks Oilers 2
Bantam C - Westlock Warriors 2, Duchess Storm 0
Bantam D - Valleyview Icebears 3, Hanna Colts 2 (OT)
Bantam Female A - Okotoks Oilers 3, SPS Fuzion 2
Bantam Female B - Lloydminster Blazers 3, Warburg Wolves 0
Peewee Female B - Olds Grizzlys 2, Medicine Hat Wildcats 1 (OT)
Atom AA Major - Whitemud Warriors 4, St. Albert Lightning 2
Atom AA Minor - Canmore Eagles 4, Bonnyville Pontiacs 2
Atom A - Drayton Valley DV Meter All-Stars 9, Innisfail Flyers 3
Atom B - Didsbury Ramblers 7, Stettler Storm 3
Atom C - Drumheller Dragons 5, New Sarepta Eagles 1
Atom D - Bentley Canucks 10, Mallaig Monarchs 8
Atom Female - Vermilion Selte Fuels Tigers 5, Okotoks Oilers 1
2018 HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PLAYDOWN SERIES
Senior AAA - Stony Plain Eagles VS. Lacombe Generals
Lacombe Generals lead best-of-seven series 3-1
Game One: Stony Plain 2, Lacombe 4
Game Two: Lacombe 3, Stony Plain 4
Game Three: Stony Plain 2, Lacombe 7
Game Four: Lacombe 6, Stony Plain 3
Game Five: Wednesday, March 21, 8:00 p.m. - Stony Plain @ Lacombe
Game Six (if necessary): Friday, March 23, 8:00 p.m. - Lacombe @ Stony Plain
Game Seven (if necessary): Wednesday, March 28, 8:00 p.m. - Stony Plain @ Lacombe
Allan Cup - April 9-14 - Rosetown, Saskatchewan
Midget AAA - Lethbridge AAA Hurricanes vs Knights of Columbus Pats
Game One: Saturday, March 24, 3:00 p.m. - KC @ Lethbridge
Game Two: Sunday, March 25, 1:00 p.m. - KC @ Lethbridge
Game Three: Wednesday, March 28, 7:45 p.m. - Lethbridge @ KC
Game Four (if necessary): Thursday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. - Lethbridge @ KC
Game Five (if necessary): Sunday, April 1, 3:00 p.m. - KC @ Lethbridge
Telus Cup - April 23-29 - Sudbury, Ontario
Bantam AAA - Airdrie Xtreme vs. St. Albert Sabres
Best-of-five series tied 2-2
Game One: Airdrie 3, St. Albert 2 (OT)
Game Two: Airdrie 3, St. Albert 2 (3OT)
Game Three: St. Albert 7, Airdrie 6 (OT)
Game Four: St. Albert 4, Airdrie 3
Game Five: Wednesday, March 21, 6:45 p.m. - Airdrie @ St. Albert