2014 Pajak Engineering Western Shield Championship Begins

The 2014 Pajak Engineering Western Shield Women’s Hockey Championship, hosted by the Red Deer Bandits and Hockey Alberta kicks off Thursday, April 10th at the Kinsmen Twin Arenas in Red Deer, AB.

“The Bandits are extremely proud to have the opportunity to host the 2014 Pajak Engineering Western Shield Women’s Hockey Championship,” said Host Committee Chair, Jenn Lenn, who also plays for the Red Deer Bandits. “Being able to coordinate this event and having the top Senior Female teams come together from across Western Canada showcasing the female game and talent is something we are proud to be a part of.”

This Western Shield Championship will feature ten of the top Senior Female teams, in the A and B divisions from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Participating Teams:

“Red Deer and Central Alberta, with its legacy of solid volunteers, have a strong history of successfully hosting major sporting events. We have had great community support in planning this event, beginning with our title sponsor Pajak Engineering and as a host committee, excited to have the first puck drop of the event finally arrive,” added Lunn.

The two-time Western Shield champions, Saskatchewan Wheat Queens will be defending their title.

Admission for the 2014 Western Shield Championship is free all week.

Calgary North defeated Northeast 5-4 on Sunday at the Strathmore Family Centre to capture the 2014 ATB Alberta Cup.

Calgary North allowed the opening goal just 11 seconds into the game, but were able to escape without damage, as the teams skated to a 2-2 ties after the first period.

In the second period, Calgary North opened up a two goal lead on goals from Akito Hirose and Christopher Monden, even though they were outshot by Northeast 11-9 in the frame.

The first half of the third went by without any scoring, it wasn’t until Jaxan Kaluski (Lloydminster, AB) scored with 8:34 left in the game to pull Northeast to within one goal.

Monden would score his second goal of the game on the empty net to give Calgary North an insurance goal with just over a minute left to play. The goal would prove to be the difference-maker.

Zane Franklin (Marwayne, AB) scored for Northeast with eight seconds left in the game, but the team wasn’t able to complete the comeback

It’s the first Alberta Cup championship for Calgary North since 2005, when the tournament was held in Edson, AB.

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

The 2014 Source for Sports Play SMART Award was handed out to Team Central 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 officially announced Sunday that Canmore, Alberta will host the 2015 ATB Alberta Cup. The Canmore hosting group is made up of Tourism Canmore/Kananaskis, the Canmore Eagles, the Town of Canmore and Canmore Minor Hockey. The 2015 ATB Alberta Cup will take place at the Canmore Recreation Centre, April 29 – May 3, 2015.

“We look forward to welcoming the top hockey players in the province for next year’s ATB Alberta Cup,” said John Borrowman, Mayor of Canmore. “Strathmore has done a wonderful job hosting the tournament this year and we know that the experience in Canmore will be just as memorable and meaningful for all participants.”

Hockey Alberta is proud to have the Western Hockey League, Reebok/CCM, Source for Sports, Alberta Sport Connection 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 1999-born athletes will also be the group that will represent Team Alberta at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC.

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 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.

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the championship results from the 2014 Investors Group Hockey Alberta Provincials through April 06, 2014.

2014 INVESTORS GROUP HOCKEY ALBERTA PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENTS

Junior B – Grande Prairie

Gold Medal Game: Grande Prairie JDA Kings (0) at Blackfalds Wranglers (6)

The Blackfalds Wranglers will represent Alberta at the 2014 Keystone Cup in Abbotsford, April 17-20, 2014.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

MIDGET AAA – Pacific Regional Championship – Red Deer Optimist Chiefs VS. Okanagan Rockets

Apr. 4 Okanagan (3) at Red Deer (1)

Apr. 5 Okanagan (1) at Red Deer (7)

Apr. 6 Okanagan (3) at Red Deer (2) OT

Okanagan Rockets advance to the Telus Cup

Telus Cup – April 21-27, 2014 – Moose Jaw, SK

BANTAM AAA – Western Canada Bantam Championship – Lloydminster Universal Heat

Apr. 3 Yorkton Terriers (1) at Lloydminster Heat (12)

Apr. 4 Lloydminster Heat (3) at North Shore Winter Club (4)

Apr. 4 Lloydminster Heat (8) at Kelowna Rockets (0)

Apr. 5 Winnipeg Monarchs (1) at Lloydminster Heat (3)

Apr. 6 | Gold Medal Game

Lloydminster Heat (3) at North Shore Winter Club (4) 2OT

SENIOR AAA – McKenzie Cup – Bentley Generals VS. Powell River Regals

Apr. 3 Powell River (0) at Bentley (5)

Apr. 4 Powell River (1) at Bentley (5)

Apr. 5 Powell River (5) at Bentley (6) OT

Bentley Generals advance to the Allan Cup

Allan Cup – April 14-19, 2014 – Dundas, ON

Hockey Alberta announced Wednesday the rosters for the eight zone teams that will compete at the 2014 ATB Alberta Cup set for April 24-27 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 2014 ATB Alberta Cup. The rosters are made up of 20 athletes, three coaches, one trainer and one Director of Operations from each zone.

“The ATB Alberta Cup is always an exciting event, especially since this is the last chance for these players to impress ahead of the WHL Bantam Draft,” said Michael Kraichy, manager of hockey development with Hockey Alberta. “These athletes competed hard last weekend at zone camps and it seems like the 1999-born players are going to give everyone quite a show 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 current NHLers Braden Holtby, 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 two 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.