CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that its board of directors has approved a Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project for the 2024-25 season, following an extensive proposal submitted in collaboration from its four Western Members, their respective Junior A hockey leagues and the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The WCDM pilot project focuses on strengthening the delivery of sanctioned junior hockey to participants across Western Canada and will create unprecedented choice and flexibility for players and their families in a system that prioritizes their unique needs on and off the ice, while evolving the opportunities offered to athletes to develop at a level that is reflective of their ability.

“The unity between Hockey Canada and the 10 organizations that led the development of the pilot project has never been stronger, and we are grateful for the tremendous work by the Members and leagues that led to today’s announcement,” said Pat McLaughlin, chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy for Hockey Canada. “We all must continue to evolve to meet the needs of Canadians looking to participate in our National Winter Sport in a system that operates with an athlete-centred approach and ensures their development and safety on and off the ice is at the forefront of everything we do.

“By increasing flexibility for junior hockey players and families in Western Canada, we anticipate that we will see higher quality competition on the ice, all the way up to the National Team level when Canada is competing internationally in the years to come.”

The WCDM working group consists of representatives from BC Hockey, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the Pacific Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta, the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Hockey Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Hockey Manitoba, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the WHL.

1. Standard of play and rules

By streamlining the application of Playing Rules for the same age group, athletes, coaches and officials participating in sanctioned Western Junior A leagues will gain experience and develop in a similar environment to the WHL.

• All participating Western Junior A leagues will adopt the WHL Rule Book, except for Section 1 – Playing Area, Section 3 – Equipment, Rule 34.6 – Television, Rule 38 – Video Goal Judge and Rule 46.14 – Major Penalty.
• Fighting in the Western Junior A leagues will continue to follow the existing Hockey Canada Rule 7.10.
• As part of the pilot, players 18 years of age or older as of December 31 of the current season may choose to wear half-face protection, while those under the age of 18 must continue to wear full-face protection, in line with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rule 202.

2. Roster composition

To increase flexibility in the development pathway for 15- and 16-year-old players in Western Canada, a number of changes will be implemented, including:

• All 15-year-old affiliate players will be eligible to play up to 10 games with their WHL Club, the same as 16-year-old affiliate players.
• Instead of rostering a maximum of five 15-year-old affiliate players in a season, WHL Clubs will be allowed to name up to nine by January 10.
• If a WHL Club cannot dress a full roster of 20 players for a game, the team will now be eligible to dress two 15-year-old affiliate players.
• WHL Clubs will be able to designate one 16-year-old player, who upon being returned to a Junior A, Canadian Sport School Hockey League or U18 team, will be allowed to play up to 15 games in the WHL.
• If one of the four Members participating in the pilot has granted a 12-, 13- or 14-year-old player special status to play in an advanced age category, any such player must be evaluated to ensure they currently meet and are deemed to continue with special player status in their 15-year-old year to qualify and continue to be eligible to play up to 34 games in the WHL.

“This unprecedented collaboration between the WHL, Junior A leagues and the Western Branches is an unmistakably player-first approach and is one that responds in a substantive way to the evolving demands of players and their families,” commented WHL commissioner Dan Near. “Each of these organizations share a common priority – developing players on and off the ice. The Western Hockey League sits atop the development pyramid for elite players in the West and we will always look for ways to enhance our delivery to players and their families.”

“Establishing this pilot project is a very important part of the exciting steps being taken to evolve our junior hockey pathways in Western Canada, and the initiative will provide our players with even more opportunity and flexibility in their development,” said Cameron Hope, chief executive officer of BC Hockey. “We look forward to the coming season and working together with our Junior A leagues, the WHL and Hockey Canada to ensure the sanctioned junior hockey system continues to strengthen and flourish in our Branch and beyond.”

“This collaboration resets the foundation for developmental opportunities for athletes across Western Canada,” stated AJHL commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk. “As a unified group, we can proactively approach the dynamic nature of our game while adapting and evolving over the duration of this initiative and beyond. We are appreciative of the trust placed in our collective hands and thank the Hockey Canada Board and staff for their support.”

The pilot project will be reviewed on an ongoing basis during the 2024-25 season, and it is anticipated that its scope will expand in future seasons.

RED DEER – Twenty-eight athletes have been selected to attend the Team Alberta Female Fall Camp.

Three goaltenders, nine defence and 16 forwards are competing for a roster position on Team Alberta’s U18 entry at the 2024 National Women’s Under-18 Championship in Quispamsis, New Brunswick Nov. 3-9.

TEAM ALBERTA U18 FEMALE FALL CAMP INVITES >

“There are a lot of talented players in these age groups, making the decision to get down to 28 players a tough one,” said Chris Leeming, Head Coach of Team Alberta’s U18 Female team. “Our staff is confident in these players that we’ve selected for the next process as they have demonstrated the ability to consistently execute our style of play, concepts and habits. We are excited to continue working with this group.”

Fall Camp takes place Sept. 27-29 in Red Deer, where the U18 hopefuls are participating in on and off-ice sessions including games against women’s teams from USports.

Team Alberta’s U18 Female, fueled by Gatorade, finished fourth at the 2023 National Women’s U18 Championship in Dawson Creek, B.C., losing a tight battle to Team B.C. in the bronze medal game.

The Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Alberta) is seeking qualified candidates for three (3) Director at Large positions on its Board of Directors. Deadline to submit a nomination package is AUGUST 31, 2024.

Hockey Alberta is the governing body for organized amateur hockey in the Province of Alberta. The Board of Directors builds and monitors the strategy of the organization through its vision, mission, values and strategic direction. The Board operates under a Policy Governance Model and delegates operations to the Chief Executive Officer. The Board is elected by and accountable to the members of Hockey Alberta. The Board holds regular meetings, either in-person in Red Deer or via phone/ online platform.

The Board of Directors is focused on being a diverse group comprised of individuals with a variety of skill sets and experiences. For 2024, criteria to be considered by the Nominations Committee for each candidate include:

Diversity

The Board of Directors believes in the benefits diversity brings and recognizes that diversity of thought makes prudent business sense. Having a Board composed of individuals with diverse skills, experience, backgrounds and perspectives, as well as individuals of diverse gender identity, will provide:

• competitive advantage;
• robust understanding of opportunities, issues and risks;
• inclusion of different concepts, ideas, and relationships;
• enhanced decision-making and dialogue; and
• heightened capacity for oversight of the organization and its governance.

For purposes of Board composition, diversity includes business and industry skills and experience, gender, and ethnicity. The Board will make good use of these differences and distinctions among individuals in recruiting for the optimum composition of the Board.

Recruitment for Board members must collectively reflect the diverse nature of the business environment in which the organization operates and be made on merit, in the context of the skills, experience, independence and knowledge which the Board requires to be effective.

The Board is committed to ensuring gender diversity and to diligently act to effect change, it aspires to maintain a Board in which no gender represents more than 2/3 of the board.

• The current composition of the six directors not up for election in 2024 includes five males and one female.

Target Skills, Experience and Background

Industry Knowledge

• Experience with aspects of the game at various levels
• Knowledge/ experience with Membership Relations (in medium and small sized communities)

Technical Skills

• Legal expertise; or
• Fund Development and Revenue Generation for Non-Profit expertise; or
• Communications/ Marketing/ Social Media expertise.
• Human Resources Management

Governance

• Experience in Advocacy – Government Relations/ Lobbying; or
• Diversity / Inclusion Strategy and Education expertise; or
• Environmental and Social Responsibility expertise.

In addition:

• Previous experience on a not-for-profit board and knowledge of the workings of a board from a good governance perspective are preferred.
• Experience and understanding of the workings of a Provincial Sport Organization is an asset.
• Passion for the sport of hockey and previous experience within amateur hockey.
• Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check is required.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE JOB DESCRIPTION >

APPLICATION / NOMINATION FORM >

Process Overview

The Governance Committee of Hockey Alberta has created an external three-person Nominations Committee that includes a former Chair of the Board of Directors.

All submitted applications are reviewed by the Nominations Committee. Through the application and interview process, the Nominations Committee will prepare a list of qualified candidates to be presented to the membership for election.

Board of Director positions are elected by the Members of Hockey Alberta at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Elected individuals will serve a term of three years.

Article 5 of the Bylaws of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association outlines the requirements that must be met for an individual to be considered eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors.

The links below to the Hockey Alberta website provide more information on Hockey Alberta Bylaws, and the Board’s Governance Model, Code of Conduct, and Conflict of Interest policy. Candidates are required to complete a conflict of interest declaration with their application.

I. BYLAWS AND REGULATIONS >

II. BOARD GOVERNANCE, STRUCTURE AND POLICIES >

For more information, please contact:

Rob Virgil

Nominations Committee Chair, Hockey Alberta

[email protected]

780-915-2873

Rob Litwinski

President & CEO, Hockey Alberta

[email protected]

403-967-0048

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is now accepting applications for key volunteer positions on the Operational Committees for the 2024-25 hockey season.

Currently, applications are being sought from interested individuals to fill volunteer roles on committees including: Minor Discipline, Minor Administration, MHA Liaison, Officiating, Senior Hockey, Player Safety, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, U11 AA and Maltreatment Investigator.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM >

Volunteers are the faces of Hockey Alberta within their communities and are positively representing themselves and the organization while communicating with and assisting participants on a daily basis.

Each year, hundreds of volunteers play integral roles in ensuring that Hockey Alberta delivers high quality and efficient programming as well as services to the more than 100,000 participants across the province.

All Hockey Alberta volunteers must act in accordance with the Vision, Mission and Core Values of Hockey Alberta. Hockey Alberta’s Core Values are:

• Integrity – do the right thing for the right reasons.
• Community – make a difference for all Albertans.
• Collaboration – work together to win together.
• Innovation – be curious, courageous, and creative.
• Passion – fuels our why, drives our what.

RED DEER – Six individuals and a Memorial Cup championship team were inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF) on Saturday evening.

The class of 2024 features four former National Hockey League players, a trailblazer for female hockey players, a world-renowned coach, and the 2001 Memorial Cup champions.

Billy Dea, Jarome Iginla, Dave King, Kelly Kisio, Craig MacTavish, Shannon Szabados and the 2000-01 Red Deer Rebels were inducted into the hall during the AHHF Gala at the Gary W. Harris Centre in Red Deer.

BILLY DEA

Billy Dea played 19 years of professional hockey, while also coaching several years in the NHL. He spent most of his playing career with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, where he set a longevity record by playing in 596 consecutive games which includes both regular season and playoffs. He also spent time with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I really didn’t think about it much,” Dea said of his ironman streak. “It was my job. You love the game, and you want to play, so you play.”

JAROME IGINLA

Most recognized for the 16 seasons he spent with the Calgary Flames, Jarome Iginla was one of the best NHL players of his generation. Iginla is the Flames all-time leader in games played (1,219), goals (525), and points (1,095). Iginla is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has won multiple gold medals at various levels with Team Canada, and won two Memorial Cups with the Kamloops Blazers. He spent his remaining four seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s a very nice honour,” Iginla said of being inducted. “It makes me think back of all the time I played hockey in Alberta from minor hockey to with the Flames in the NHL. It was a fun career; it went fast but it’s brought a lot of memories back. Times with my grandpa, my teammates and the games … I never thought I’d be in the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.”

DAVE KING

Dave King has had a distinguished career as a coach and mentor for over 40 years, developing a reputation as one of hockey’s finest tacticians and teachers of the game. He’s coached at every level of hockey around the world including major junior, Canadian university, Canada’s National Team, the National Hockey League and European and Russian pro leagues. For nine years, he was the head coach and general manager of Canada’s full-time national team. He is a two-time medalist at the Winter Olympics, helping Canada win silver in 1991-92 and bronze in 2017-18.

“Hockey Alberta has always been a leader,” King said. “It’s always been progressive and that’s why hockey in this province is one of the top programs in the nation.”

KELLY KISIO

Kelly Kisio made his impact both on the ice as a player and off the ice in the front office. After spending over 700 games in the National Hockey League and three seasons as the captain of the New York Rangers where he tallied 229 goals and 658 points, Kisio turned his attention to turning the Calgary Hitmen into one of the most successful franchises in the Western Hockey League. Under his guidance as the team’s head coach and then general manager, the Hitmen won six Central Division titles, four Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy’s as the league’s best regular season team, three conference championships and two Ed Chynoweth Cup’s as league champions. He is currently a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights.

“Just to wear a ‘C’ on your sweater (in the National Hockey League) was something special,” Kisio said of his time as captain of the Rangers. “But to do it in New York, in front of those fans was pretty neat.”

CRAIG MACTAVISH

Craig MacTavish is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion during his 17-year playing career in the NHL, three of them coming with the Edmonton Oilers and another with the New York Rangers. He played in 1,093 games and registered 480 points, including 213 goals. He also served as an executive, coach and assistant coach in the NHL, where he helped the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006-07, coached Team Canada internationally as well as coached in both Russia and Switzerland.

“My career with the Oilers was 25 plus years and you don’t have longevity in this game without the friendship and loyalty of your organization,” MacTavish said of his career. “I came into the organization in 1985 and I was very lucky to come in under the leadership of Glen Sather. I was very fortunate.”

SHANNON SZABADOS

Shannon Szabados is a trailblazer for female hockey players. She was the first female to play at the Calgary Macs AAA hockey tournament, first female to play in the Western Hockey League, playing in four exhibition games with the Tri-City Americans, first female recipient of the AJHL’s top goaltender award and first female to sign and play in the Southern Professional Hockey League. She is also the first female to win an SPHL game and first and only female to record a shutout in men’s professional hockey. She is the only goaltender in women’s hockey history to backstop her nation to two gold medals at the Winter Olympics, helping Canada win gold in both 2010 and 2014. Szabados also had a successful college and university career with the MacEwan University Griffins and NAIT Ooks men’s hockey teams, winning the ACAC silver medal in 2008 and setting a regular season record for shutouts (five) on route to an ACAC Championship.

“Incredible group of inductees,” Szabados said. “A little humbled myself to be included in this group, so a huge honour for me to be part of this.”

2000-01 RED DEER REBELS

The 2000-01 Red Deer Rebels went 54-12-3-3 over the course of the regular season, leading the Canadian Hockey League. They advanced through the Western Hockey League playoffs by dispatching the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Calgary Hitmen and Swift Current Broncos before defeating the Portland Winterhawks in the league final. Red Deer qualified for the 2001 Memorial Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan where they went 2-1 in the round robin after wins over Val d’Or and Ottawa and a loss to Regina. Their record was good enough to earn an automatic berth into the Memorial Cup final where they once again defeated Val d’Or in a come-from-behind 6-5 overtime victory.

“We could play any way you wanted,” said Colby Armstrong. “We had size and skill. We could win 1-0, we could win 6-5, we could go play in the back alley and get into the nitty gritty of the game too. It was a really special group.”

For more information on the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame and the Class of 2024, please visit www.ahhf.ca.

In addition to the Class of 2024, Robert ‘Bob’ Rawlusyk was honoured as the second recipient of the Robert Clark Legacy Award.

Rawlusyk spent over 40 years coaching multiple sports, both male and female athletes in Drumheller, Stettler, throughout Canada and in Japan. In 1991, he was tasked with organizing national games between Canada and Russia, advised the World Junior Hockey Committee in Red Deer and was the director of the World Under-17 Hockey Championship. For more than 20 years, he instructed coaching clinics and worked as an amateur hockey official.

Rawlusyk was a pillar in his community and in the game of hockey.

In 2022, the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced the Robert Clark Legacy Award for leadership in hockey. The award is presented to someone who has demonstrated similar passion, leadership, collaboration, and integrity in growing and improving the game.

The Robert Clark Legacy Award is named after Honoured Member of the AHHF and Hockey Alberta Life Member, Robert “Bob” Clark, who was a monumental figure in the hockey community. For over half a century, Clark was involved in hockey in Alberta, displaying a passion for growing and improving the game for athletes and administrators.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta recognized several groups and individuals on July 20 through the Hockey Alberta Membership Awards Program presented by ATB for the work they did during the 2023-24 season.

Awards handed out on Saturday included Volunteer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Minor Hockey Association of the Year, Official of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Provincial Championship Exceptional Host Site Award and Order of Merit.

All award winners made outstanding contributions to amateur hockey throughout the year and went over and above the minimum guidelines and standards set out by Hockey Alberta.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Debbie Northcott (Caroline). Northcott exemplifies the core values of Hockey Alberta through her interactions with players, parents, teams, associations, volunteers and staff. She has contributed to growing and developing amateur hockey in the province through her various volunteer roles with Hockey Alberta, which dates back two decades. Her involvement in the sport came well before she formally joined Hockey Alberta as the Zone 4 Minor Council Representative in 2005, holding the position for eight years while playing a key role in changing the player movement regulations and enhancing the Provincial Championship structure. She shifted her focus to registration and served on Hockey Alberta’s Minor Administration Committee for five years, four of which were as the Chair of the committee. Northcutt lobbied for changes that would not only benefit the players, but also ensure hockey would continue to grow and thrive in rural communities. She is currently part of Hockey Alberta’s Appeals Committee.

Volunteer of the Year

Geoff Stewart (Okotoks) is this year’s recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Stewart has served on the board of directors in Okotoks for the past 10 years, most recently as the president, a role he’s held for the past seven and a half seasons. As the president of one of Hockey Alberta’s largest members, he has prioritized the player experience within Okotoks Minor Hockey and has led with integrity when faced with challenging situations. His passion to give back to hockey is evident in that he is not only the president of Okotoks Minor Hockey, but he also coaches the U16 AA team. Stewart is actively engaged with Hockey Alberta, ensuring Okotoks is not only aligned with provincial and national standards, but are often one of the MHA’s leading the way.

Coach of the Year

Darren Gnam (Fairview) of the Fairview U15 Falcons has been named Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Year. Gnam had a significant positive impact on his players, taking the time to teach them the skills necessary to become comfortable, capable and confident with their transition into body contact. Gnam structures practices to ensure everyone has fun while learning the skills of the game, which created an environment that kept athletes involved in the sport.

Minor Hockey Association of the Year

Canmore Minor Hockey Association is being recognized as the Minor Hockey Association of the Year. Canmore’s desire to provide a fun and positive environment for children is directly aligned with the vision and mission of Hockey Alberta. They have established strong policies, procedures and is known for providing clear direction, training and support to their volunteers, allowing a fun, safe and positive environment to evolve. Canmore has also been active in seeking out grants to support player and coach development and have been proactive in offering flexible program options for families and working with neighbouring communities to provide opportunities for players outside of Canmore’s boundaries to access minor hockey.

Official of the Year

Hayley Butz (Duffield) is Hockey Alberta’s Official of the Year. Overcoming a broken leg, an injury suffered while playing rugby, Butz had a banner season on both the provincial and national level. She attended Hockey Alberta’s officiating summer development camp as well as Hockey Canada’s officiating program of excellence camp. Butz was selected to officiate the 2023 Canada Winter Games and the 2023 Women’s U18 National Championships, where she was picked to officiate the gold medal game at both events. In February, Butz was selected by Hockey Canada to be certified as a National High Performance Official – the highest ranking possible for an official within Hockey Canada’s program. On top of her two national events earlier in the year, she also officiated the Women’s USports Nationals in Saskatoon. When available, she also spends time giving back to officiating through coaching and supervision of other officials.

Provincial Championship Exceptional Host Site Award

Stettler Minor Hockey Association and the U18 Tier 1 Provincial Championship are this year’s winners of the Provincial Championship Exceptional Host Site Award. Stettler’s minor hockey program, the Town of Stettler and the community all played key roles in the event, including pre-event promotion and the opening ceremonies. Each team had a designated dressing room and equipment storage for the tournament and there was a banquet for the players and families. To leave a legacy for minor hockey, the host committee distributed a portion of the profits from the tournament to support local coach and officiating development programs.

Order of Merit - Officiating (Ernie Boruk Award)

Dominic St. Amand (Vermilion) has won the Ernie Boruk Award for the 2023-24 season. St. Amand’s passion for Hockey Alberta officiating has laid a strong foundation that will benefit the program for many years to come. As the Chair of the Northeast Official’s Sub-Committee, he facilitated a thriving officiating program that includes a robust grassroots program, annual summer camps for elite officials, as well as a officiating coaching initiative. He has spent countless hours on the road, away from his family to showcase and learn about development standards being implemented in his region and ensure that officials have the support they need.

Order of Merit - Officiating (Dave Ganley Award)

Brad Campbell (Calgary) has won the Dave Ganley Award. He has been a member of the Central Region Official’s Sub-Committee for over 10 years, focusing his efforts on grassroots development. Still an active official himself, Campbell has a keen eye for development and has impacted countless officials while being instrumental in developing the next generation of officiating talent in the Calgary area.

Order of Merit - Administration

Connie Anderson (Sundre) has been volunteering with Hockey Alberta since 2011 as the Zone 6 Minor Discipline Coordinator, a role that Anderson held for seven years. Anderson transitioned to the role of Chair, Minor Discipline in 2018 where he helped align Hockey Alberta’s investigation and suspension process while also contributing to national and provincial regulation changes that establish more consistency in discipline procedures.

Order of Merit - Administration

Neil Robertson (Calgary) has volunteered for more than three decades in minor hockey, including 17 years with Hockey Alberta. Robertson was part of the U18 executive for more than 20 years where he played a key role in creating Hockey Alberta’s ‘Alberta Development Model’ (ADM) for AAA hockey. He represented AAA hockey by serving on the ADM committee for 13 years. While on the committee, he helped establish Hockey Alberta’s Elite Male Hockey Model. In 2020 he accepted the position of Chair for Elite Male Hockey and has continued to help enhance the model, including the creation of the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL).

Order of Merit - Development

Doug Crashley (Calgary) has been invested in the development of hockey players in the province for decades. He has owned and operated ‘Crash Conditioning’ since 2004, providing strength and conditioning, mindset, nutrition, recovery and injury rehabilitation services to athletes. His involvement with Hockey Alberta started more than 15 years ago through the Team Pacific U17 program. He has been active with the U16 Male Team Alberta program since the introduction of the WHL Cup in 2009 and still attends the U16 camp each summer. He also has presented to players and coaches at various Hockey Alberta events and seminars. To help keep players motivated and active during the pandemic, Crashley partnered with Hockey Alberta’s ‘Hockey at Home’ initiative, developing training videos to engage and inform athletes.

To view previous recipients of the Hockey Alberta Membership Awards presented by ATB, click here.