Joe Quinn, Melody Davidson, and Sam Steel to speak at Development Leadership Weekend

RED DEER - As a part of Hockey Alberta’s strategy to continue educating minor hockey administrators and coaches, a Development Leadership Weekend will be held at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer on June 22-23.

The weekend will feature three different learning opportunities for minor hockey volunteers: Coaching Skills Seminar, Intro to Hockey Seminar (free), and Development Directors Seminar (free). Following the seminars, a keynote address and hotstove will be held for all delegates featuring Power Edge Pro Founder Joe Quinn, Olympic gold medal winning coach Melody Davidson, and Anaheim Ducks Forward Sam Steel.

Joe Quinn is the Founder and President of the revolutionary hockey training system Power Edge Pro (PEP). Power Edge Pro is an on-ice player development system utilizing propriety equipment and training patterns. The system focuses on Reactive Countering Trainingâ„¢, engaging multiple motor skills simultaneously to develop a player’s small area game performance. Quinn, who was named to The Hockey News Top 100 People of Power and Influence in 2018, has worked with such players as Connor McDavid, Taylor Hall, John Tavares, Matt Duchene, Dylan Larkin, and Aaron Ekblad.

Melody Davidson, a native of Oyen, AB, has been the head scout for Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Programs since 2010. Prior to that, she led Team Canada to back to back Olympic gold medals in 2006 in Turin, and 2010 in Vancouver. Along with her two gold medals as head coach, she was also an assistant on the 2002 winning team. Davidson has also coached at the national level in a number of world championships and other competitions. She was also the head coach of Team Alberta at the 1995 Canada Winter Games.

Sam Steel, a native of Ardrossan, AB, is just beginning his NHL career after being drafted by the Anaheim Ducks 30th overall in 2016. Steel was a standout player for the Sherwood Park Midget AAA Crusaders before graduating to the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, which included a 131 point season in 2016-17. He was an important part of Team Canada’s 2018 World Junior gold medal winning team with nine points in seven games. Steel played 22 games for the Ducks during the 2018-19 season, notching 11 points.

COACHING SKILLS REGISTRATION > | INTRO TO HOCKEY REGISTRATION > | DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS REGISTRATION >

RED DEER - It was another solid year for Alberta at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver.

A total of 12 players with Alberta roots were selected, including seven in the first two rounds.

Four Team Alberta alumni were taken in the first round alone, with Fort Saskatchewan’s Kirby Dach going third overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, making him the highest-drafted Albertan since Jay Bouwmeester went third overall to the Florida Panthers in 2002.

Dach’s Team Alberta teammate Bowen Byram was selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the next pick, while Peyton Krebs and Brayden Tracey went 17th and 29th to the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, respectively.

Carter Gylander of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Sherwood Park Crusaders was the lone Alberta netminder selected in the draft, going to the Detroit Red Wings in the seventh round.

A full list of Albertans/Team Alberta alumni drafted can be found below:

ST. ALBERT - Grade 4 classes at Lois E. Hole Elementary School in St. Albert held a True Spirit of Hockey Day event in March, putting their creative abilities to work while showcasing their passion for hockey. The students each illustrated and explained their suggestion for a Hockey Alberta Digital Mascot, which could be used to highlight the positive impact of hockey. With such overwhelming participation, and to thank the students for their incredible effort, Hockey Alberta presented a plaque and hosted a pizza party for the classes.

It’s no surprise that these students showed great passion for this project, as Lois E. Hole Elementary School boasts a Hockey Academy as part of their programming. The Hockey Academy is open to male and female students of all skill levels who are passionate about the game, want to improve themselves, and have a desire to learn and commit to improvement and progression. Their philosophy is one of growth and development. The academy promotes both on-ice and life skills in student athletes, creating quality citizens who will make wise choices, be respectful, enthusiastic, confident, cooperative and independent.

The students were also provided with a number of different items to keep their fandom for the game burning, including foam fingers, clappers and thunders sticks. Thank you to Melissa Kueber and Cindy Jeffery, who were instrumental in leading this initiative and making this day special for their students. Hockey Alberta would also like to extend a special thank you to Dominos St. Albert, who generously donated all of the pizzas for this event.

RED DEER - John Jacobs, an Honoured Member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame and a Life Member of the Hockey Alberta Referee Council, passed away on Thursday, May 30 at the age of 65.

John’s officiating career begin in 1967. Over the course of his career, John obtained a Level 4L the highest ranking a linesman can achieve. He worked numerous national and international events, including serving as a linesman in six Viking Cups and several Team Canada Cups. Off the ice, John worked as a supervisor at three Viking Cups, and once at the Royal Bank Cup.

John’s list of contributions to officiating in Alberta is a lengthy one, starting in 1982 when he began instructing at the Hockey Alberta Officiating Development Camp, and was the Development Camp Coordinator for over 10 years, with 25 years of involvement with the camp. He was the Chair of the North Central Zone Referees Committee for four seasons, followed by six seasons as Hockey Alberta’s Referee Council Chair. He also served as a member of Hockey Alberta’s Board of Directors, as the officials’ representative.

John’s decades of work with officials in Alberta was recognized with a number of awards, including Hockey Alberta’s Hockey Development Award (2004), the Ernie Boruk Award (2008), and the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation Award (2008).

John is survived by his wife of 43 years, Donna; his daughters Terine (Derek) Forrester and Penny (Scotte) Titus; sister Val (Merv) Zwicker; mother-in-law Betty Hansen; sisters-in-law Carol (John) Zerkee and Lorraine Hansen; brothers-in-law Ted Hansen and Tim (Sandra) Hansen, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

For his contributions to hockey in Alberta, John was inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013. And he was honoured as an Officials’ Life Member in 2011. Officials are encouraged to wear their uniforms, and golfers and encouraged to wear their golf shirts.

Donations in John’s memory can be made to Stettler Minor Hockey, the Stettler Food Bank, or another charity of your own choice.

A celebration of John’s life will be held on Friday, June 7 at 1:00 p.m. in his hometown of Stettler, at the arena where John spent so many of his weekends.