Regional And National Championships

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the Alberta representatives participating in regional and national championships beginning this week as well as the results of the 2013 Allan Cup Final.

The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) will face the champions of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the Hosts of the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup for the right to play for the Royal Bank Cup in the only remaining regional championship.

For national championships, Bentley Generals from the Chinook Hockey League hosted the Allan Cup (Senior AAA) and won gold, defeating the Clarenville Caribous. 

The Red Deer Optimist Chiefs of the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) will represent the Pacific Region at the Telus Cup (Midget AAA). The Edmonton Thunder of the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League (AMMFHL) will represent the Pacific Region at the Esso Cup.          

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

JUNIOR A (Western Canada Cup) – April 27-30, 2013 – NANAIMO, BC

Apr-27              Brooks Bandits             VS        BCHL Champions        3:00PM MT

Apr-27              Yorkton Terriers             VS        Nanaimo Clippers       8:00PM MT

Apr-28              Steinbach Pistons         VS        Yorkton Terriers             3:00PM MT

Apr-28              Nanaimo Clippers       VS        Brooks Bandits             8:00PM MT

Apr-29              BCHL Champion         VS        Steinbach Pistons         8:00PM MT

Apr-30              Brooks Bandits             VS        Yorkton Terriers             3:00PM MT

Apr-30              BCHL Champion         VS        Nanaimo Clippers       8:00PM MT

RBC Cup – May 11-19 – Summerside, PEI

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SENIOR AAA – ALLAN CUP – APRIL 15-20, 2013 – RED DEER, ALBERTA

Gold Medal Game

Clarenville Caribous (0)                VS                    Bentley Generals (3)

MIDGET AAA - TELUS CUP – APRIL 22-28, 2013 – SAULT STE. MARIE, ON

Valley Wildcats (Atlantic)                                Red Deer Optimist Chiefs (Pacific)

Ottawa Jr. 67’s (Central)                                 Rousseau Royal de Laval (Quebec)

Sault Ste. Marie North Stars (Host)                   Saskatoon Contacts (West)

MIDGET AAA FEMALE - ESSO CUP – APRIL 21-27, 2013 – FRASER VALLEY, BC

Metro Boston Pizza (Atlantic)                          Edmonton Thunder (Pacific)

Fraser Valley Phantom (Host)                           LHFDQ Nord (Quebec)

North Bay Ice Boltz (Ontario)                           Regina Rebels (West)

Northeast defended their 2012 championship and defeated Calgary North 5-3 on Sunday at the Strathmore Family Centre to capture the 2013 ATB Alberta Cup.

Calgary North opening the scoring in the first minute of play when Brayden Dunn (Calgary, AB) had an open net after the puck bounced off the end boards.  It only took a few minutes before Dallas Hines (Marwayne, AB) blasted a slapshot through to even the scoring at one. Jacob Elmer (Calgary, AB) then restored the Calgary North lead with a wrist shot from the top of the slot mid way through the period. Eight minutes later, Josh Logel (Calgary, AB) set up Dunn for his second of the game to push Calgary North’s lead to two, but with one minute left in the period, Mason Shaw (Lloydminster, AB) took advantage of a power play to cut Calgary North’s lead to one.

The second period was relatively quiet until Sam Steel (Sherwood Park, AB) took over, scoring two goals, including a highlight reel goal that gave Northeast the lead with 20 seconds left in the period. With the goal, Steel moved into a tie for third in All-Time scoring at the event with 15 points, passing Devin Setoguchi of the Minnesota Wild.

Northeast then added two goals in the third period to seal the victory. Kole Gable (Fort McMurray, AB) and Kale Clague (Lloydminster, AB) were the goal scorers.

Northeast is the only team to have ever repeated, accomplishing the feat in 1993-94 and again in 2003-04, which was also the last time a team won two years in a row.

**All-stars were selected by WHL scouts and Team Alberta staff**

The 2013 Source for Sports Play SMART Award was handed out to Team Northwest for their exceptional sportsmanship, respect and attitudes both on and off the ice throughout the tournament. This award is voted on by each team, the officials and staff at the ATB Alberta Cup.

Hockey Alberta is also proud to have the Western Hockey League, Reebok/CCM, Source for Sports, Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation and Gatorade as event sponsors.

The ATB Alberta Cup Program begins in March each year with close to 800 players trying out at their respective zone camps. Each of the 160 athletes playing in the ATB Alberta Cup is competing for one of eighty invites to the U16 Male Provincial Camp in July. The U16 Male Provincial Camp is the final stage in the first year of the Team Alberta Program.

The ATB Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top male players in Alberta.  It is well attended by scouts as they prepare for the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft. In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers and referees to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta Program.

Former ATB Alberta Cup graduates include such players as Braden Holtby, Matt Dumba, Jordan Eberle, Devan Dubnyk, Dany Heatley, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf, Scott Hartnell and Devin Setoguchi. 

ATB Financial is the title sponsor of all Team Alberta programs, including the ATB Alberta Cup and the ATB Alberta Challenge. The Team Alberta Male Program is a two year progression for elite athletes that begins at the ATB Alberta Cup, a U15 age level event, and progresses to the U17 age level. The Team Alberta Female Program is a four year progression for elite athletes that begins at the ATB Alberta Challenge, a U16 age level event, and progresses to the U18 age level. Team Alberta programs feed into Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.

The Red Deer Chiefs (Pacific) have won the 2013 TELUS Cup, claiming Canada’s 40th National Midget Championship with a 5-0 win over the Ottawa Jr. 67’s (Central) in Sunday night’s gold medal game at the Essar Centre.

The victory makes the Chiefs just the fourth team in the history of Canada’s National Midget Championship to win back-to-back gold medals, joining the Couillard/Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy (1978, 1979), Prince Albert Mintos (2006, 2007) and Notre Dame Hounds (2009 and 2010).

Red Deer got goals from five different players and 27 saves from goaltender Matt Zentner in winning the gold medal game with the largest margin of victory since Magog beat Montréal-Bourassa 6-0 in the final of the 2000 tournament in Montreal, Que.

Chase Thudium opened the scoring on a Red Deer power play late in the first period, poking the puck past Ottawa netminder Simon Hofley, and Trey Degraaf and Ryker Leer scored 67 seconds apart early in the second period for a three-goal advantage.

Chris Gerrie’s third goal in two games made it 4-0 after two periods and Ian McLellan rounded out the scoring with 6:21 to go, providing more than enough offence for Zentner, who posted only the third gold medal game shutout in national championship history.

It was the fifth gold medal game appearance for the Chiefs, who improved to 2-3 in the final. In addition to last year’s double-overtime win over the Phénix du Collège Esther-Blondin, Red Deer lost in double overtime to Regina in 1994 and Prince Albert in 2007, and suffered a one-goal defeat to Thunder Bay in 1995.

In Sunday morning’s bronze medal game, the Rousseau Royal de Laval-Montréal (Quebec) topped the Saskatoon Contacts (West) 3-2 to take third place. Julien Nantel scored the game-winning goal with 6:18 on the clock and Joël Giguère had a goal and an assist to help the Rousseau Royal win the bronze medal for the second time in five years. 

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Canada’s National Midget Championship, TELUS has given $40 for each goal scored during the TELUS Cup to the Sault Major Hockey Association. With 129 goals scored, this amounts to a gift of $5,160, which TELUS has generously raised to a total of $10,000. 

“As a long-time friend of Hockey Canada, we are thrilled again to be a part of the TELUS Cup, the pinnacle of minor hockey in the nation,” said Nicholas Cartmell, TELUS’ director of strategic initiatives. “Because hockey matters to our customers and our customers matter to us, we’ve committed to the ongoing development and future success of young athletes across Canada. Our support here will amplify this development and leave a lasting legacy for the Sault community.”

The 2014 TELUS Cup will be held in April 2014 in Moose Jaw, Sask., with the Moose Jaw Generals of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League serving as the host team.

For the second time in five years, the Bentley Generals have won the Allan Cup, claiming Canada’s 105th National Senior Championship with a 3-0 victory over the Clarenville Caribous in Saturday’s championship game at Red Deer Arena.

Chris Neiszner broke a scoreless tie 14 minutes into the second period, Scott Doucet doubled the lead four minutes later and Keenan Desmet rounded out the scoring in the third as Bentley became the fifth host team in the last decade to win the national championship. Dan Bakala stopped all 35 shots he faced for the first championship game shutout since 2004.

The Generals, who appeared in the final for the fifth time in the last six years, went through the tournament undefeated, beating the Rosetown Redwings 2-0 and Kenora Thistles 5-2 in preliminary round play before a 3-2 win over Kenora in Friday’s semifinal.

Bentley won the Allan Cup in 2009, and lost in the championship game in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Jason Churchill made 30 saves for the Caribous, who were looking for their second national title in three years.

The Allan Cup is one of the oldest club-team hockey competitions in North America, having been first competed for in 1908. Only once in the past 106 years, in 1945, has an Allan Cup champion not been crowned.

Dundas, Ont., will host the 2014 Allan Cup in April 2014.

Hockey Alberta announced Monday the 12 officials that will represent their zones at the 2013 ATB Alberta Cup set for April 25-28 in Strathmore, Alberta as well as officials selected to participate in national and regional championships.

ATB ALBERTA CUP – STRATHMORE, AB

The ATB Alberta Cup is the second stage in the Provincial Officiating Development Program. Each one of the selected officials first attended a zone camp where 8-18 officials are put through on and off-ice testing as well as game evaluations. Two officials from each zone are selected from the zone camps to work the ATB Alberta Cup.

“The talent pool at the zone camps was excellent once again, making the decisions difficult on each referee zone,” said Hockey Alberta’s Coordinator of Officiating and Operations, Kyle Baltimore. “The selected officials are deserving of their opportunity to further showcase their talent at the ATB Alberta Cup. We’re looking forward to watching and helping them progress as officials.”

Officials selected to work at the ATB Alberta Cup are evaluated and critiqued on their on-ice performance.

After the ATB Alberta Cup, officials are chosen to attend the third stage of the program; the Provincial Development Camp. This camp is held in July in conjunction with the U16 Male camp. The Provincial Camp is one week in length and includes classroom sessions, guest speakers, on and off ice training sessions, and game time evaluation.

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The following officials have been assigned to officiate at the following regional and national championships.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN/HELSINKI, FINLAND

Referees: Matt Kirk – Calgary

Derek Zalaski – Edmonton

Linesman: Chris Carlson – Edmonton

IPC WORLD SLEDGE ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS – GOYANG, KOREA

Kevin Webinger – Calgary

CIS Nationals

Female Referee: Lacey Senuk – St. Albert

Male Linesman: Scott Sharun – Calgary

ESSO CUP – BURNABY, BC

Referee: Rikki Lee Gavin – Calgary

Linesperson: Dana Argue – Sylvan Lake

WESTERN CANADA CUP (JUNIOR A) – NANAIMO, BC

Referee: Craig Domke – Edmonton

ALLAN CUP – RED DEER, AB

Referees: Jonathan Spurgeon – Edmonton

Colin Watt – Edmonton

Ryan Bonnett – Airdrie

Linesman: Matt Beaudry – Sherwood Park

Dwayne Yakubow – Edmonton

Michael Roberts – Calgary

Chad Huseby – Red Deer

Cody Huseby – Red Deer

Cory Lundquist - Blackfalds

Hockey Alberta announced Wednesday the rosters for the eight zone teams that will compete at the 2013 ATB Alberta Cup set for April 25-28 in Strathmore, Alberta.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ATB ALBERTA CUP ROSTERS

Eight zone teams from across the province - South, Calgary South, Calgary North, Central, Edmonton South, Edmonton North, Northeast and Northwest - will be competing at the 2013 ATB Alberta Cup. The rosters are made up of 20 athletes, three coaches, one trainer and one Director of Operations from each zone.

“We’re extremely excited for the 2013 ATB Alberta Cup,” said ATB Alberta Cup Program Coordinator, Chris Neiszner. “The zone camps were a clear indication of the depth we have in the 1998-born athletes here in Alberta. It will be a very competitive and fun week in Strathmore. “

The eight zone teams will play in a four day, tournament format competition while also taking part in an education seminar put on by the Western Hockey League (WHL). All tournament games will take place at the Strathmore Family Centre in Strathmore.

The ATB Alberta Cup program begins in March each year with over 800 players trying out at their respective zone camp. Each of the 160 athletes playing in the ATB Alberta Cup are competing for one of eighty invites to the U16 Male Provincial Camp in July. The U16 Male Provincial Camp is the final stage in the first year of the Team Alberta Program.

The ATB Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top male players in Alberta. It is well attended by scouts as they prepare for the WHL’s bantam draft. In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers and officials to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta Program.

The ATB Alberta Cup began back in 1986 as a program for midget hockey players. It was held again in 1987 and 1988 then it disappeared until 1993 when it re-emerged as a bantam level competition. The ATB Alberta Cup aids in the preparation, evaluation and identification of potential players for Hockey Alberta’s Team Alberta Program.

Former ATB Alberta Cup graduates include such players as Braden Holtby, Mathew Dumba, Devin Setoguchi, Zach Boychuk, Kyle Brodziak, Dany Heatley, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf, Scott Hartnell, Jordan Eberle, Devan Dubnyk, Andrew Ference and Chris Phillips.

ATB Financial is the title sponsor of all Team Alberta programs, including the ATB Alberta Cup and the ATB Alberta Challenge. The Team Alberta Male Program is a two year progression for elite athletes that begins at the ATB Alberta Cup, a U15 age level event, and progresses to the U17 age level. The Team Alberta Female Program is a four year progression for elite athletes that begins at the ATB Alberta Challenge, a U16 age level event, and progresses to the U18 age level. Team Alberta programs feed into Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.