Highlights From Hockey Alberta’s 106th Annual General Meeting; Hockey Alberta Award Winners

Hockey Alberta’s 2013 Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was attended by over 250 delegates from across the province, concluded Sunday in Red Deer.

Hockey Alberta’s 2013 AGM brought together the governing body’s board of directors, officers, life members, and member organizations, as well as from councils that oversee female hockey, junior hockey, minor hockey, senior hockey and hockey development.

Highlights from Hockey Alberta’s AGM include:

- Hockey Alberta hosted a Body Checking Forum on Friday, where the membership received information on how the decision to remove body checking at peewee came about. Delegates also provided Hockey Alberta with information on how the organization can better help Minor Hockey Associations (MHAs) transition with the new ruling.

- The memberhsip was presented with information on the Alberta Hockey Summit which will take place August 22-24, 2013 at the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta.

- Terry Engen (Eckville) was acclaimed as Chair of the Board.

- Fran Zinger (Sherwood Park) was acclaimed as Vice-Chair of the Board.

- Rob Virgil (Edmonton) moves to the position of Past-Chair of the Board.

- David Sevalrud (Calgary) was acclaimed as Director at Large

President’s Award Winner – Fran Zinger (Sherwood Park) – Hockey Alberta Board Member 

2013-14 Board of Directors

On Saturday, the Hockey Alberta Foundation hosted the Hockey Alberta Awards Gala. Over 450 people attended and over $20,000 was generated supporting the Hockey Alberta Foundation. The following people and organizations were presented with a Hockey Alberta Award for 2012-2013:

Hockey Alberta Award Winners:

Minor Hockey Association Executive of the Year: Jacki Cook – Cold Lake Minor Hockey

Minor Hockey Association of the Year: Slave Lake Minor Hockey Association

Meritorious Award winners:

- Dennis Aspeslet (Grimshaw Minor Hockey)

- Donald Roberts (AMHL)

- Sherri Barrett (Nanton Minor Hockey)

Hockey Alberta Development Award Winners:

- Lance McKinnon (Calgary)

- Gary Snydmiller (Camrose)

Investors Group Exceptional Provincials Host Site Award:

- Oyen Minor Hockey Association

- Redwater Minor Hockey Association

Hockey Alberta Officiating Award Winners:

Zone Awards:

Brad Buchinski (Peace Zone); Ron Oscroft, Sanjeev Bhagrath, and Ryan Weyland (North Zone); Chris Reid (North East Zone); CJ Senkow (North Central Zone); Rick Oberton, Beau Gavin and Jan Kruis (Central Zone); Todd Sharpe (South Zone)

Ernie Boruk Award (Officiating): Mark Woytkiw (Elk Point)

Dave Ganley Award (Officiating):

- Scott McNabb (Calgary)

- Dean Ziegler (St. Albert)

Future Leader Scholarship Winners (Distinguished Leaders):

- Brett Bartman (University of Calgary) - $4,000.00

- Drew Nichol (University of Alberta) – $4,000.00

Future Leader Officiating Scholarship Winners (Distinguished Leaders):

- Brendan Balagus (SAIT) - $2,500.00

- Chris Rebus (University of Alberta) - $2,500.00

The 2013 inductees into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame were also recognized at the Hockey Alberta Awards Gala.

Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees:

- 1980-81 SAIT Trojans Men’s Hockey Team

- Don Phelps (Calgary) – Calgary Canucks and Drumheller Minors

- Richard (Rick) Polutnik (Red Deer) – Founding Member of Hockey Canada’s National Coach Mentorship program and current IIHF Ambassador and Coach Mentor

- John (Jake) Jacobs (Stettler) – Former Referee-in-Chief and Referee Council Member

- 1947-48 Edmonton Flyers Men’s Senior Hockey Team

Hockey Alberta would like to congratulate its 17 alumni that were selected in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft this past June 29 in New Jersey.

“Watching these players develop from a young age until their draft day, we couldn’t be prouder,” said Hockey Alberta’s Senior Manager of Development, Tim Leer. “They’ve worked their whole lives to get to this point and it’s a great sense of accomplishment, not only for them but for the parents, the Minor Hockey Associations, coaches and teammates that help along the way as well; it’s such a positive for hockey in Alberta.”

Of the Hockey Alberta based players drafted, 13 participated in Team Alberta programs between 2010 and 2012. 17 players were also selected in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Two of the Hockey Alberta picks; Soucy and Williamson were selected out of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). The other 15 played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season.

The 2013 NHL Entry Draft had seven rounds where a total of 211 prospects from all over the world were selected by one of the 30 NHL teams.

The Team Pacific Management Committee (BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Western Hockey League and Hockey Canada) announced Wednesday the staff for Team Pacific that will compete at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be held December 29, 2013 - January 4, 2014 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Steve Hamilton has been an Assistant Coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings since 2010. Prior to this position he was the Head Coach/General Manger of the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He served as an Assistant Coach with Team Pacific last year when the event was held in Quebec.

“It’s quite a privilege to be selected as head coach and I’m excited for the opportunity to work with this coaching staff and the Team Pacific Management Committee,” said Head Coach, Steve Hamilton. “With the modified format of taking the top 22 players, the staff has the opportunity to build a greater connection with the players and shape this roster with a winning formula.”

Team Pacific will be comprised of the top 22 players from the Pacific region. Each province identified 23 players (3 G, 7 D, 13 F) to move on to the Team Pacific Summer Development Camp that will consist of 46 players. The Team Pacific Summer Development Camp will be held July 24-28 in Calgary, AB. From this camp players will be scouted with their club team until the Team Pacific roster is named in November.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SUMMER DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTER

“I can’t remember a group that is this deep and special; both Alberta and BC were in the Gold medal game at the Western Canada Challenge Cup and what many of these players have already done with club teams is very exciting to the staff,” says Head Scout, Wade Klippenstein. “We can’t wait to get all 46 athletes on the same sheet of ice to see who will fit in the best in terms of short-term competition and leadership so we can have the best team possible.”

Team Pacific has included some of the top hockey players that Canada has ever produced. Some notable graduates who have competed on Team Pacific include:

- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2010)

- Evander Kane (2008)

- Brent Seabrook (2002)

- Dion Phaneuf (2002)

- Mike Green (2002)

- Jarome Iginla (1994)

- Joe Sakic (1986)

The Under 17 program is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. Many players who compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge go on to represent Canada with the National Men’s Under 18 Team, National Junior Team and National Men’s Team.

Hockey Alberta announced on Tuesday the inline rosters that will represent the province at the Canada West Cup inline hockey tournament, July 4-7, 2013 in Sherwood Park, Alberta.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CANADA WEST CUP ROSTERS

In total, 21 players and four goalies born in 1997 or later were selected to compete against teams from Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Players attended an identification camp from May 31st to June 2nd in Red Deer before getting selected.

“This is Hockey Alberta’s premier inline competition,” says Hockey Alberta’s Coordinator of Programs and Recruitment, John Engelhardt. “The competition is modeled after international competitions to help athletes better prepare themselves for competitions at the next level.”

The players competing in the Canada West Cup are eligible to try out for the Team Alberta team that will compete at next year’s State Wars competition.

Inline hockey is played on inline roller skates with its own unique puck within the confines of a hockey rink or indoor soccer pitch. Games are played four-on-four plus goalies and there are no line violations like icings and off sides. Penalties are similar to ice hockey, but body checking is not allowed at any level even in international play. The equipment used is the same as ice hockey with the exception of the skates and pants. Hockey pants are allowed, but most players prefer inline pants.