Reflecting on 30 years of the Alberta Cup: Jamie Steer

The 2016 Alberta Cup marks the 30^th anniversary of the very first Alberta Cup, played in Edmonton in 1986. We asked a handful of past participants of the Alberta Cup to share their memories with us.

Jamie Steer not only played in the inaugural tournament in ’86, he was a part of the Calgary South team that claimed the first ever Alberta Cup championship. He went on to play in the NCAA with Michigan Tech on a scholarship, followed by 11 years of professional hockey, including a year with the Canadian National team. Steer is now the Operations Coordinator for Okotoks Minor Hockey, and now, exactly 30 years after winning the Alberta Cup with Calgary South, will serve as the head coach of that very same team.

How did the Alberta Cup help shape your future - in hockey or otherwise?

It definitely drove me to be better. After seeing the best in the province all in one tournament, it opens up your eyes to how many good hockey players there are.

What other involvement did you have with Hockey Alberta?

As a player I went on from Alberta Cup to what was sort of the top 80 in today’s terms. That was as far as I got. As a coach I have coached Peewee Prospects, Alberta Winter Games and have taken my High Performance 1 certification all in this calendar year.

What has it meant to you to be involved with the Alberta Cup from multiple perspectives?

Okotoks hosted two Alberta Cups which I was the tournament chairman for. I was a player 30 years ago, and now I am a head coach. I love the tournament, as it brings so many good players and coaches together. Everyone guesses it is a highlight for the players, but as a coach it’s a great teaching tool to better anyone involved. It means a lot that Hockey Alberta has given me so many chances to be involved in this, and other events.

How does it feel to coach the very team (Calgary South) this year that you won the very first Alberta Cup with in 1986?

Excitement for sure, also a challenge to give these kids and my coaches an experience like I had, one they won’t forget.

How have you seen the Alberta Cup Change over its 30 years?

The obvious is it went from Midget to Bantam. That change has brought in the WHL as it is the league’s last chance to see Alberta players before the draft. Also, the change from it being just a player event to an overall team event. Coach Mentors helping coaches, experienced directors of operations, and qualified trainers being graded. I also think the rural players have improved greatly since the start of this event. Then, you add in the top 80 camp which is feather in the cap for all players involved.

Steer and the rest of Team Calgary South celebrate winning the first ever Alberta Cup.

How has the game of hockey changed since you played in the Alberta Cup?

The game is so fast now which everyone knows, but it also has improved in skill as well. Add in that every team is well coached and it is a great game. Also, there are so many more good players. Back then there were so many more mistakes, you had more time, and every team had weak players. I still think players back then were great and would have been great in this era as well because they would have adapted but watching today’s hockey amazes me with the speed, skill and how quick decisions are being made.

Do you still talk to any friends from your Alberta Cup Team?

I have one real good friend still from that team but it is amazing that about half the team I still see every so often and can get caught up with a short conversation. Most from the team that still live in Calgary I have talked to in the past 10 years.

What’s your favourite Alberta Cup memory?

Obviously winning it was the best. The second best, I would say, was playing in the Northlands Coliseum when the Oilers were in there prime (although I am not an Oilers fan!!), and third best was the lousy hotel we stayed at. No way Hockey Alberta would allow kids to stay there these days, but we had so much fun in that hotel even with the rif-raf, police sirens and much more.

Any advice for this year’s players?

Enjoy more than the hockey, meet friends and make lasting memories.

Steer (bottom row, centre) hopes to have the same result as the head coach of team
Calgary South as he did as a player in 1986.

Get the sights and sounds behind the bench with Calgary South Head Coach Jamie Steer and Northeast Head Coach Jack Redlick:

Steer and Redlick will go head-to-head Friday night at 6, with first place in Pool B on the line. Follow along with the game at abcup.ca or on Twitter.

CANMORE - As 160 of the top 2001-born hockey players in Alberta arrived in Canmore on Wednesday for the 2016 Alberta Cup, there was plenty of excitement in the air. But, for four players, it was an extra-special moment.

Twin brothers Adam and Justin Hall (Edmonton Blue) and cousins Kirby and David Dach (Edmonton Yellow) have the opportunity to share their Alberta Cup experience with a family member.

Adam and Justin say their time with the Alberta Cup so far has been nothing short of incredible, even more so because they can take it all in together.

“It’s a pretty cool experience, I get to play with the best players in Edmonton, and I get to play against the best players in Alberta, it’s cool,” said Adam. “It’s kind of like (Justin and I) are at home, because we know each other so well, and we’re so close.”

“It’s great, we’ve both had a lot of success, and we’ve been working really hard lately, and it’s good to be here with my brother,” said Justin. “We play really well together, so I think we can create some offense together and win some games.”

While playing together isn’t necessarily a new experience for the Halls, who play together in Edmonton, it’s a new experience for the Dach cousins. Kirby and David say they’re looking forward to hitting the ice together this weekend.

Cousins Kirby (left) and David Dach. (Credit: LA Media)

“It’s been really fun, and you get to experience almost what it’s like in the pros, and it’s really good,” said David of his experience so far.

“We know each other pretty much inside out, so that should help us get over our nerves,” said Kirby of playing with his cousin. “It’ll maybe bring more excitement instead of nervousness.”

Alberta Cup Website >

The 2016 Alberta Cup marks the 30^th anniversary of the very first Alberta Cup, played in Edmonton in 1986. We asked a handful of past participants of the Alberta Cup to share their memories with us.

Current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters spent two years with Team South at the Alberta Cup – in 2003 as the head coach, and as a coach mentor in 2004. His coaching career began in 1996, where he was an assistant coach with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs until 2002. His first head coaching job came with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, which he held until the 2004-05 season.

Peters then returned to the Spokane Chiefs, this time as head coach, leading the team to a WHL and Memorial Cup Championship in 2008. After spending time as the head coach of the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, and as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Peters landed his first ever NHL head coaching job in 2014 with the Hurricanes.

Internationally, Peters was the head coach of the gold medal-winning Team Canada squad at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and will serve as the head coach of Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships in Russia.

Q: Can you still recall your very first day at the Alberta Cup?

A: It’s an exciting time for sure, I remember it clear as a bell. We had a really good team, we had a bunch of the guys from that Airdrie Bantam team that had won the Western Canadian championship, they were a real good group of young men to work with, and I enjoyed every bit of.

I remember having a side bet with Team North, which was coached by Tom Keca, for a case of beer, and I lost the bet. Or you know what, I think I won; I better look up in the standings. If we won, I’m still waiting to get paid, if we lost, I paid the very next day.

Q: Are you still in contact with anyone from the Alberta Cup?

A: For sure I am, Tom Keca is one of them for sure, my assistant coach was a guy who was coaching the Brooks Bandits at the time, he’s over in Europe right now, but he sends me a text every once and awhile. Any time you’re coaching in any of those types of events, there’s always bonds, and there’s always people you stay in touch with, and that’s part of the hockey community. It’s a small community as you go along.

Q: Although it was in different years, but with you coaching a goalie in Cam Ward that also took part in the Alberta Cup, do you two ever share those experiences?

A: You know what, we do. We talk about that a little bit, we talk about that the first time I ever saw Wardo play, he was with the Red Deer Rebels, he was a very good goalie on a very good team. You always talk about that, and as you go along, it’s amazing how many people you cross paths with either at those events, or they played in the same events you either played in or coached in.

Q: How did your time at the Alberta Cup help you in your development as a coach?

A: Well, that’s what it’s all about, it’s all about developing and finding new ways and opportunities to develop, and the Alberta Cup gives that to both players and coaches. As a coach, you’re always looking for experiences, and you always learn from your experiences and grow, and it’s no different on what I’m going to depart on now (The World Championships in Russia).

Q: Was the Alberta Cup one of, if not the first experience for you as a head coach in short-term competition?

A: Yeah it was, and I thought it served me well. I went on from there to doing the World Under-17 with Team Pacific, and then from there did the Ivan Hlinka Team Canada Under-18 team, and after this World Championship would be two World Championships, and we have the World Cup of Hockey coming up in August and September. It’s been outstanding, and the Alberta Cup and that program is there for coaches to take advantage of the opportunity to improve.

Q: Do you have a favourite memory from the Alberta Cup?

A: I just remember more so the excitement. We had a couple practices with our team, and I just remember the excitement of the guys getting prepared to play in the Alberta Cup. I remember going over in a van, we were in Medicine Hat going to the rink to practice, how excited the guys were to be there and to spend time with each other. A lot of those guys knew each other but weren’t teammates, and for that special opportunity for them to be teammates for a weekend is something I’ll never forget.

Q: Do you have any advice for this year’s coaches and team staff?

A: I think the biggest thing is you have to go in with a plan, make sure as a coach you’re prepared, make sure you’re respectful of your players in the situation, and go in there and it’s all about the players. Obviously it’s an identification process for the Western Hockey League for the Bantam Draft, but also for you as a coach to coach against peers that are like-minded. Everyone’s competitive, but you have to go in there with a healthy attitude and do a good job, make sure you put your players on display, and the rest takes care of itself.

The 2016 Alberta Cup marks the 30^th anniversary of the very first Alberta Cup, played in Edmonton in 1986. We asked a handful of past participants of the Alberta Cup to share their memories with us.

Tim Leer first started working with Hockey Alberta in 1997, and has been a part of just about every Alberta Cup since then. Now the Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, Leer has seen countless players and coaches come through the Alberta Cup who would go on to experience success at all levels. He has seen the Alberta Cup grow into a top level development program which focuses all parts of the game. Leer says the primary goal is player development, but the Alberta Cup has also become a development opportunity for coaches, officials, support staff and administrators, which truly makes the Alberta Cup what is today.

Can you recall your first time at the Alberta Cup?

My first Alberta Cup was in Lethbridge, and it was the first time as Hockey Alberta we awarded the Alberta Cup to a host association. The excitement by the host, community and the energy in the rink was something that I will never forget as young program coordinator for Hockey Alberta.

How have you seen the Alberta Cup grow and change over the years?

Every year we try and raise the bar with the program and its operation/execution. But the players, coaches and officials have all gotten better over the years – the talent level of the players with skills and hockey IQ, the coaches with their level of preparation and knowledge of the game and the officials on their level of commitment to their craft in terms of professionalism and training.

In your mind, how does the Alberta Cup benefit the players?

It is a great opportunity to play best-on-best and gauge where you at with others players outside of your community. But, more importantly, it is a great life and growth experience for the players. Making new friends, team building, new coaches, learning about Team Alberta and being an Alberta Built player are all life lessons that will last far beyond hockey. Embrace the opportunity with a positive mind set and the rest will take care of itself.

What about the coaches, trainers and other team staff?

They are the ones that make it all happen. Without these key people the 30 years of the Alberta Cup doesn’t happen and the program does not become a top level development program in country without the great volunteers in Alberta. To me I am amazed by the level and commitment of the local coaches, trainers, Director of Operations that involved year after year in the Alberta Cup to give back and to also grow and develop themselves. The commitment and level of professionalism we get year after year is very impressive and something we are lucky to have in Alberta.

What’s your favourite Alberta Cup memory?

I would have to say the first year we were in Medicine Hat, as that was the first Alberta Cup that I was responsible for as the lead program staff person. Working closely with the host, other staff and volunteers it was came with a few challenges but was also rewarding and I will remember it and the people for a long time.

Who were the most memorable people you’ve dealt with at the Alberta Cup?

Jerrold Lemko – Director of Operations for the North East Team and then held the Provincial Coordinator position. We developed a friendship that still last today and we also took the program to a new level together – formalizing the coach mentorship program, trainer program and the evaluation process. Jerrold was a key member in building the program.

John Kobal – Lead Provincial Coordinator for the referee program from the South Zone. Relationships are key, and I felt John and I had an excellent relationship and rapport and I think together we moved the referee portion of the Alberta Cup forward. John has a great sense of humour and I always enjoyed spending my Alberta Cup weekends with him.

Coaches, Trainers and Director of Operations – both good and bad! But, they are all there for the players. Regardless of the interaction I had with them and in all situations it was always professional and respectful and through the program many friendships have been formed. Bill Peters, Marty Palechuk, Jerrold Lemko, John Kobal, Blair Becker, Boris Rybalka, Tom Keca and Tyler Broderson, Barry Medori and Larry Pearson, to name a few are all friends as a result of the Alberta Cup program and to me it doesn’t get any better then that.

Do you have any advice for this year’s players?

As mentioned earlier, approach the weekend with a positive mind set and one that you will fully take advantage from a growth and enjoyment perspective. Be a positive team player and treat people right and the hockey will take of itself.

The 2016 Alberta Cup marks the 30^th anniversary of the very first Alberta Cup, played in Edmonton in 1986. We asked a handful of past participants of the Alberta Cup to share their memories with us.

Serge Lajoie has a long history of involvement with Hockey Alberta, starting way back in 1986 with the inaugural Alberta Cup in Edmonton, where he won a silver medal with team Northeast. He would then go on to play a handful of games for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, followed by one season with the St. Albert Saints of the AJHL. From there, Lajoie enjoyed five seasons with the University of Alberta before playing four more seasons of Division I hockey in Germany.

Lajoie, now the head coach of the U of A Golden Bears, developed as a coach through various Hockey Alberta programs, including many years as a coach or coach mentor in the Alberta Cup, and serving as Head Coach of the Team Alberta U16 Male Program in 2013, winning a gold medal at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. Just this past weekend, Lajoie served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship. Prior to joining the Golden Bears, Lajoie spent five seasons as head coach of the Nait Ooks’ mens team, leading the team to two ACAC championships and two silver medals, while capturing the ACAC Men’s Hockey Coach of the Year award in 2014 and 2015.

Q: How did the Alberta Cup help shape your future - in hockey or otherwise?

A: It was my first experience of short term completion. The Alberta Cup got me noticed by the Kamloops Blazers. It helped me start my Junior career in hockey which prepared me for University hockey a few years later.

Q: What other involvement did you have with Hockey Alberta before/after the Alberta Cup?

A: I have been involved with Hockey Alberta as a Coach and Mentor in Alberta Cups, Head Coach with Team Alberta U16 and various quest speaking engagements with Hockey Alberta Coaching Conferences.

Q: What do you believe coaches can/should take away from their time at the Alberta Cup?

A: It provides a great opportunity to learn from other coaches and allows you to challenge your coaching knowledge.

Q: What has it meant to you to be involved with the Alberta Cup in multiple ways – as a player, coach, and mentor?

A: It has offered me the opportunity to grow as a person and as a coach.

Q: How have you seen the Alberta Cup Change over its 30 years?

A: It not only develops players, but coaches as well. The Alberta Cup has helped raise the level of coaching and player development in our province.

Q: How has the game of hockey changed since you played in the Alberta Cup?

A: The skill level of players has improved tremendously. There is a stronger emphasis on the details and habits. The coaching is much more refined.

Q: Do you still talk to any friends from your Alberta Cup Team?

I still keep in touch with a few guys. Cory Clouston and I played together at the UofA and I have stayed in touch with him over the years.

Q: What’s your favourite Alberta Cup memory?

A: I don’t remember too much about the 1986 year when I played. My most recent memory would be the year I mentored the Northeast team with Sean Beissel as the Head Coach. We had a tremendous team with players that have moved on to prominent WHL careers. Some of those players will be drafted this year in the NHL and I suspect will have strong professional careers. We had Sam Steel, Kale Clague, Carter Hart to name only a few.

Q: Any advice for this year’s players?

A: Enjoy the process and the journey. Embrace pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Build new friendships. Play with passion. Bring your best effort every day. Be a positive contributor to the success of your team.