RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is now accepting applications and nominations for five Member Liaison positions.
The Member Liaison positions will play a significant role in the pursuit of the vision and mission of Hockey Alberta as it focuses on providing quality service to the member Minor Hockey Associations of Hockey Alberta.
Acting as a liaison based on association size, these positions are key in helping establish and enhance Hockey Alberta’s strategic alliance with members.
Not only will the Member Liaison role provide guidance and mentorship on items related to governance and day to day operations, but also support in the connection to member service structure on behalf of Minor Hockey Associations in Alberta.
RED DEER – Every kid in every community will have a better opportunity to hit the ice this year with the $92,500 raised at the 2021 Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic presented by the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Golf Classic, held on July 19-20, in Canmore, included two days of golf at top-tier courses and the Every Kid Every Community reception.
“On behalf of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, we are grateful for the continued support we receive at this event,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. “Thanks to our sponsors and the generous support we’ve received, we are able to provide kids in every community an opportunity to play hockey each year.”
Nine teams teed off on July 19 at Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club for Monday’s VIP Golf event. Long-time supporters from Red Deer Lock and Safe and ATB Financial, Kevin Engel, Melanee Bobyck, Paula Bodnar and their celebrity guest, Rob Brown, took home championship belts, while Kris Noble walked away with the lowest net score.
The Every Kid Every Community reception held Monday night at Cornerstone Theatre included a live and silent auction with items donated by generous supporters from across the province and all proceeds raised going directly to Every Kid Every Community program.
On July 20, 37 teams brought their A-game to Silvertip Golf Course for the annual Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic. The challenging course was once again no match for celebrity guest Rob Brown and his winning team from ATB Financial; John Windwick, Jason Collins and Brad Beebe. Theo Fleury notched the lowest celebrity net score.
Hockey Alberta Foundation Board of Directors Chair, Dennis Zukiwsky and Executive Director, Tim Leer, greeted golfers on Hole 1, where golfers could participate in the Charity Putting Challenge. Funds raised from the Putting Challenge were matched by the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, up to $10,000. For a donation, golfers could try their hand at a 54’ putt, for their chance to win $1,000. The first to sink the putt, Richard Doerkson, offered to donate the money back to split the winnings with anyone else who sunk the putt. He ended the day splitting the winnings three ways as Darcy Watwood and Mike Rogers found their way to the hole, with all three donating their winnings back.
The 2022 Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic is scheduled for July 18-19, with the return of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame Awards Gala, to be held Sunday, July 17, making for an exciting few days in Canmore!
For more information on the Hockey Alberta Foundation or the Golf Classic, visit hockeyalbertafoundation.ca.
Monday VIP Golf:
Lowest Team Net Score
Rob Brown, Kevin Engel, Melanee Bobyck, Paula Bodnar
Lowest Net Score
Kris Noble
Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic:
Lowest Team Net Score
Rob Brown, John Windwick, Jason Collins, Brad Beebe
Saturday’s portion of the draft saw a pair of Albertans drafted to the teams their older brothers currently play for, as Colton Dach will join older brother Kirby with the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Colorado Avalanche selected Taylor Makar, the younger brother of defenceman Cale.
The 17 Albertans drafted hail from nine different Minor Hockey Associations, 16 are alumni of the Alberta Elite Hockey League, and nine played for Team Alberta.
A full list of Albertans drafted can be found below:
RED DEER - Three Albertans heard their names called and had their dreams realized during the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday evening.
The first round of the draft, which was done virtually for the second straight year, saw three athletes from Alberta drafted, including Dylan Guenther, who was the first Albertan selected when the Arizona Coyotes selected him ninth overall.
Guenther’s Edmonton Oil Kings teammate Sebastian Cossa was the next Albertan to go, and was the first goaltender off the board as the Detroit Red Wings traded up to select him 15th overall.
Brooks Bandits defenceman Corson Ceulemans was the third and final Albertan selected in the first round, going to the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 25th pick.
All three players are Alberta Elite Hockey League alumni, and also all suited up for Team Alberta (Cossa at the 2017 WHL Cup, Ceulemans and Guenther at the 2019 Canada Winter Games).
Rounds two through seven of the 2021 NHL Draft will conclude on Saturday.
RED DEER - Hockey Alberta will conduct a U11 AA Pilot Project in the 2021-22 season that implements an amended regional hosting structure, player movement rules, league schedule and coach and player development standards. This pilot project is based largely off of the final report and recommendations of the Non-Sanctioned Hockey Workgroup of last season.
We will be working in collaboration with the Northern Alberta Interlock League (Host League), the North East Alberta Hockey League, the All Peace Hockey League and, of course, their member MHA’s. We are looking to create a series of actionable recommendations that will be identified in time for implementation of a new, province wide, U11 model in the 2022-2023 season.
The outcome of this pilot is to identify the best overall structure for the top level of U11 and to ensure alignment and progression within the entire hockey system. The principles of Long-Term Athlete Development and Hockey Canada’s U11 Pathway will be adhered to within all recommendations. The best philosophy for developing players is to create an environment where similarly skilled players can compete together and against each other.
To make it fair and equitable for all teams within the pilot, regions have been established. These regions ensure there is an opportunity for all players that reside within the pilot areas that want to play and have the skill to play at the top level of U11, can. These regions largely follow the U13AA recruitment areas. The established regions allow for the progression of players from Tiered Minor Hockey programs, through to the host programs within this pilot.
Hockey Alberta has established a Workgroup for this U11AA Pilot Project, members include:
Brett Kelly – Hockey Alberta Staff, Innisfail, AB
Mike Applegate – Hockey Alberta Staff, Lloydminster, AB
Hudson Kelly – Hockey Alberta Staff, Red Deer, AB
Randy Mak – NAI Liaison, Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Rick Nordstrom – Grande Prairie, AB
Jason Grinevitch – Bonnyville, AB
If you have any questions, please contact Brett Kelly, Manager, Officiating at [email protected]
Grant MacEwan University has developed the “Grow the Game” initiative for online anti-racism resources for hockey. The goal of the project is to fill the gap around racism information, education, awareness and its impact on those in the hockey community, both on and off the ice.
Federally funded by the Canada Heritage Anti-Racism Program, Grow the Game was created by Alim Tharani and Irfan Chaudhry as a virtual summit in December 2020. The summit featured a diverse line-up of experts to speak on a variety of different racial experiences in hockey including: the impact, anti-racism, unconscious bias and barriers in addressing racial discrimination.
“The biggest thing that we heard from people is just having a baseline of what racism is and how it manifests in the sport of hockey; and what can be done about it,” said Chaudhry. “People don’t know where to turn or what to do and then it (racism) often times does not get addressed in a meaningful way.”
Grow the Game resources are available online. To begin the education process, there is a “Starter Kit” available with definitions, articles and videos to highlight the impact of racial discrimination in hockey. As well, the website includes recordings of the discussions at the virtual summit in December.
With Hockey Alberta ready for Stage 3 of the Government of Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan, the Hockey Alberta Foundation and Every Kid Every Community has teamed up with Sports Central, Calgary Flames Sports Bank and KidSport to help eliminate the financial barriers of playing hockey.
Sports Central provides sports equipment at no cost to kids in need. Based out of Edmonton, the volunteers also accept gently-used equipment by donation.
Calgary Flames Sports Bank helps kids and families across southern Alberta access equipment at no cost. The organization works with KidSport Calgary to breakdown the cost of fees and equipment to ensure every child has an opportunity to play sports. The Calgary Flames Sports Bank operates with the help of volunteers and donations.
KidSport offers grants to help cover the registration costs for sport, allowing all kids to play. Grants can be applied for online and the organization welcomes donations.
Every kid in every community should have the opportunity to play hockey. Contact the partner organization in your area or Hockey Alberta.
RED DEER – The Hockey Alberta Foundation is excited to announce the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship as the official presenting sponsor of the 2021 Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic.
The annual event will be held July 19-21 at the prestigious Silvertip Golf Resort in Canmore and all funds raised go directly to the Every Kid Every Community program. A portion of the World Juniors commitment to the 2021 Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic will be used to match funds raised on the charity donation hole – up to $10,000.
“We are thrilled to welcome the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship as a presenting sponsor of the golf classic this year,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. “Hosting the World Juniors two years in a row inspires kids across the province to play hockey and the foundation has the capacity to help make those dreams a reality for every kid in every community across Alberta.”
The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship is set to return to Edmonton and Red Deer from Dec. 26 – Jan. 5, 2022.
“The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship is proud to support the 2021 Hockey Alberta Foundation Golf Classic,” said Riley Wiwchar, Executive Director of the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship. “As part of the World Junior legacy, we want to build the game into a more welcoming and inclusive environment and engage new players into the sport, an opportunity that the foundation provides.”
The Hockey Alberta Foundation raises funds through events, such as the golf classic, to support initiatives that provide programming, enhance development and enable kids across the province to participate in hockey. Hockey Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation provide quarterly grants through the Every Kid Every Community program for player assistance or community programming.
About the Hockey Alberta Foundation
The Hockey Alberta Foundation’s goal is to raise funds to provide EVERY KID in EVERY COMMUNITY the opportunity to play hockey in Alberta. The organization works in collaboration with partners to fund those in need, invest in those who will lead and those who came before. For more information on the Hockey Alberta Foundation visit hockeyalberta.ca or to make a donation please click here.
