2015 Esso Cup Set To Begin In Red Deer

The puck is about to drop on the 2015 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, at the Red Deer Arena in Red Deer, Alta.

The seventh annual event, presented in partnership by Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta, the Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission and the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League, starts this Sunday, April 19 and runs through to Saturday, April 25.

The Host Team Red Deer Chiefs join five regional champions, the Edmonton Thunder (Pacific - Alberta), Central Plains Capitals (West - Manitoba), Saskatoon Stars (West - Saskatchewan), Sudbury Lady Wolves (Ontario) and Moncton Rockets (Atlantic), in a five-day preliminary round, followed by semifinals and medal games.

“We’re excited to welcome the top female Midget teams from across the country to Red Deer,” said Todd Thiessen, chair of the 2015 Esso Cup host organizing committee. “Red Deer is a passionate hockey city and we’re thrilled to host some of Canada’s future women’s hockey stars as they aim to become Esso Cup champions.”

The 2015 Esso Cup awards banquet is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. MT on Friday, April 24 at the Pidherney Curling Centre in Red Deer, and will feature Red Deer’s Mayor, Tara Veer, as guest speaker. The event is open to the public and includes breakfast, tickets are $20 each.

For more information on the 2015 Esso Cup, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/essocup.

The North Predators have been crowned champions of the 2015 ATB Alberta Challenge tournament in Medicine Hat. In second place following round robin action, the Predators faced off against the South Lightning in today’s final at1:30 pm at the Medicine Hat Arena. The Predators defeated the Lightning by a score of 2-1 with Brandy Steinman and Jayme Doyle netting the two goals for the Predators that won them the game.

Results from Sunday, May 3, 2015

Championship Game: North Pedators 2 - South Lightning 1
B Final - North Royals 4 - South Coyotes 3
C Final - South Flyers 3 - North Red Wings 1

With the North Predators win, the South Lightning claimed second place at the at tournament, while the North Royals defeated the South Coyotes by a score of 4-3 to claim third place. The South Flyers and North Red Wings claimed 5th and 6th place in the tournament, respectively.

The ATB Alberta Challenge program runs every second year with more than 300 players trying out in their respective regional tryout selection camp. Each of the 120 athletes playing in the ATB Alberta Challenge are competing for one of 60 invites to the U16 Female Provincial Camp in July in Camrose. The U16 Female Camps are the final stage in the first year of the Team Alberta Program.

The invitations have been accepted, and 160 athletes are ready to participate in Hockey Alberta’s inaugural ATB Peewee Prospects Cup.

The ATB Peewee Prospects Cup is a new component of the Team Alberta program. This year’s event is for male athletes born in 2002, and will be held in Olds from May 7-10. It will feature a tournament format along with off-ice sessions focusing on the principles of Long Term Player Development.

Eight teams – two selected from players attending each of four regional camps held April 17-19 – will compete in the tournament. Twenty athletes comprise each roster, along with volunteers serving as head coach, assistant coaches, coach mentor, trainer, and director of operations.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEEWEE PROSPECTS CUP ROSTERS

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition held at the OldsSportsplex. Preliminary round play will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with final games on Sunday.

“Last weekend’s zone camps showed that Alberta has an immense amount of young hockey talent across the province,” said Dustin Moore, coordinator for Team Alberta. “We are pleased these athletes will be able to compete against each other, but also learn from one another and a very knowledgeable group of coaches, as they begin their journey through the Team Alberta program.”

More than 750 players from across the province participated in zone camps. Games at the Peewee Prospects Cup tournament are open to the public.

For 120 female athletes from across Alberta, they are preparing for a significant milestone in their young hockey careers.

These athletes have been named to the rosters of six teams that will compete in Hockey Alberta’s 2015 ATB Alberta Challenge, April 29-May 3 in Medicine Hat. The 2000-01 born players were selected from more than 300 who attended a North zone camp held April 10-12 and a South zone camp held April 17-19.

The tournament will feature three squads selected from each of the zone camps. Twenty athletes comprise each roster, along with volunteers serving as head coach, assistant coaches, coach mentor, trainer, and director of operations.

Click here for all rosters from the 2015 ATB Alberta Challenge.

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition held at the Medicine Hat Arena. Preliminary round play will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with playoffs on Sunday.

“Based on the high level of skills that we saw on display at the zone camps, we are looking forward to some very competitive games during the ATB Alberta Challenge tournament,” said Stacey Pattison, Hockey Alberta coordinator of development programming. “Spectators in Medicine Hat will have the opportunity to see some of the top young female athletes in the province, and will definitely be impressed by their talent.”

In addition to pursuing the ATB Alberta Challenge championship, the athletes are also vying for 60 spots at the U16 Female Summer Camp in July in Camrose. The Summer Camp is the final stage in the first year of the Team Alberta program.

A number of officials from Alberta will be officiating at two prestigious tournaments in April.

15 officials have been selected to work at the Keystone Cup in Cold Lake, taking place April 16-19. They include (provincial zone listed in brackets):

Referees: Steven Cousens (North), Beau Gavin (Central), Brent Ramsay (North Central), Brad Shura (Peace) and Daniel Gadowski (Northeast)

Lines: Clayton Brown (Northeast), Cedric Erzinger (Northeast), Craig Morrow (Northeasat), Justin Geeraert (Central), Mason Stewart (Central), Will Moss (Central), Devin Kohlhauser (North), George Hart (North), Taylor Burzminski (North) and Greg Lightburn (North Central).

Ten officials have been selected to work at the Esso Cup in Red Deer taking place April 19-25. They include:

Referees: Michelle Barry and Erica Holmes (Calgary), Carrie Keller (Lethbridge) and Jessica Trombley (Sherwood Park).

Lines: Alana Cabana and Cassandra Gregory (Edmonton), Ashley Schneider (Leduc), Jacqueline Fitz and Shannon Kline (Calgary), and Megan French (Lethbridge).

For 160 male hockey players across Alberta, the week of April 29-May 3 will be a significant milestone in their young hockey careers.

These players have been named to the rosters of eight zone teams that will compete in Hockey Alberta’s 2015 ATB Alberta Cup. The 2000-born players were selected from more than 700 who attended zone camps held March 27-29.

The teams include two from each of Calgary and Edmonton, and one each representing the South, Central, Northeast and Northwest zones of the province. Twenty players comprise each roster, along with volunteers serving as head coach, assistant coaches, trainer, and director of operations

ATB ALBERTA CUP ROSTERS

Click here for all rosters from the 2015 ATB Alberta Cup.

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition held at the Canmore Recreation Centre in Canmore. The event also features an education seminar hosted by the Western Hockey League (WHL).

“Last weekend’s zone camps were very competitive, and the coaches had to make some tough decisions. It will be exciting for the athletes who have earned a roster spot at the ATB Alberta Cup. Competing is an accomplishment in itself, and there is the extra significance when you consider this is the last chance for these players to impress ahead of the WHL’s Bantam Draft,” said Michael Kraichy, manager of hockey development with Hockey Alberta.

Eighty players will be invited to the U16 Male Provincial Camp in July. This year, players are also vying for spots on Team Alberta at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, October 27 to November 1, in Calgary.

ATB Alberta Cup graduates include Matt Dumba, Braden Holtby, Jay Bouwmeester, DionPhaneuf, Scott Hartnell, Jordan Eberle, DevanDubnyk, and Andrew Ference.