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Two-time Olympic gold medalist Catriona Le May Doan served as the keynote speaker at Hockey Alberta’s 2017 Hockey Conference and AGM

The power of sport is its ability to change lives – Le May Doan

RED DEER - The power of sport was at the forefront as Catriona Le May Doan delivered the keynote address to kick off Hockey Alberta’s 2017 Hockey Conference and Annual General Meeting on Friday night at the Sheraton Hotel.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Olympic bronze medalist, shared stories of her journey, and the path that took her to the highest level of success an athlete can achieve.

"Those medals represent about two-and-a-half minutes of a 23-year journey. To me, success is about that entire journey," Le May Doan said of her three Olympic medals, which she brought with her to pass around the crowd. "The reason I was successful was because I didn’t burn out mentally.

Le May Doan also stressed the importance of being a multi-sport athlete, and focused on several examples of successful multi-sport athletes.

"It’s our duty to say, in hockey, and in all sports, ’what else do you do?’" she said.

She also told the 150 people in attendance it’s their job to ensure kids don’t get burnt out mentally, and to make sure they’re still having fun.

"We’re seeing kids over-scheduled these days, and we’re seeing kids over-stressed," Le May Doan said. "We’re not allowing kids to just play."

Le May Doan closed her keynote address by reinforcing her believe of the power of sport, saying "not everyone likes change, but when you put the athletes first, and you embrace sport for life, change is the right thing. Sport has the ability the change lives, and to change lives for good."

2017 Hockey Alberta Awards

Following the keynote address, seven individuals and four minor hockey associations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to hockey in Alberta, as the 2017 Hockey Alberta Awards, sponsored by BFL Canada, were presented.

The 2017 Hockey Alberta Award winners are:

Minor Hockey Association Executive of the Year: Pamela Brown (Grande Cache Minor Hockey Association)
Minor Hockey Association of the Year: Marwayne, Dewberry and Kitscoty Minor Hockey Associations
Meritorious Award: Greg Nesom
Provincial Championships Exceptional Host Site Award: Wainwright Rustlers (Senior Male AA)
Hockey Development Awards: Jeremy Congo, Keith Hurd, Ron Oscroft, Roger Wolfe

Hockey Alberta News

Recipients of the 2017 Referee Committee Awards were also recognized during the reception:

Ernie Boruk Award: Dave Butler (Edmonton)
Dave Ganley Award: Doug Brown (Okotoks)

Zone award winners:

  • South Zone: Joyce Graham (Picture Butte)
  • Central Zone: Mykle Davidson (Calgary), Brandon Renner (Cochrane), Ian Calverley (Calgary)
  • North Central Zone: Darren Pickering (Sylvan Lake)
  • North Zone: Darcy Carter (Stony Plain), Scott Hennig (Fort Saskatchewan), George Hart (Edmonton)
  • North East Zone: Rob Larson (Cold Lake)
  • Peace Zone: Bryan Turner (Grande Prairie)

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Doug Kinsella (left), accepts the Chairman of the Board award from Terry Engen during Hockey Alberta’s Annual General Meeting

Harrington, Mowbray elected to Hockey Alberta Board

RED DEER - Brock Harrington, of Drumheller, and Allan Mowbray, of Calgary, were elected as new Directors at Large of the Hockey Alberta Board of Directors on Saturday.

The election was part of the 110th Annual General Meeting held at Red Deer College. A total of six individuals let their names stand for election.

Harrington and Mowbray will join current members Terry Engen (Chair), Fran Zinger (Vice Chair), Rob Virgil (Past Chair), Len Samletzki (Finance Director), and Jerrold Lemko (Director at Large).

Fred Horbay and David Sevalrud are the outgoing members of the Board. Engen presented each with a farewell gift from Hockey Alberta, and thanked them for their years of service to the organization, and the perspectives and challenging questions that each brought to discussions around the Board table.

Hockey Alberta News
From left: Rob Litwinski, Fred Horbay, and Terry Engen

Hockey Alberta News
From left: Rob Litwinski, Dave Sevelrud, and Terry Engen

In other business at the AGM, Notices of Motion were approved to expand the Board of Directors to nine members, and to shift the Finance Director position from an elected position to one that is appointed annually. As a result, the 2018 AGM will have three Directors-at-Large positions up for election.

Doug Kinsella was recognized with 2017 Chair of the Board award, presented by Terry Engen. Kinsella led the process that resulted in the creation of CR Knights through the merger of the Calahoo and Riviere Qui Barre minor associations. Kinsella is currently the Past President of the CR Minor Hockey Association.

Also recognized for volunteer service were:

  • Five Years: Aaron Rawlake, Trevor Hittel, Dave Butler
  • Ten Years: Betty Chmilar, Fran Zinger
  • Retiring Long-Term Volunteers: Greg Nesom, Bonnie Ogilvie

Hockey Alberta Foundation

From left: Curtis Glencross, Hockey Alberta Foundation Executive Director Tim Leer, and Curtis Glencross and Friends Foundation Director Kelsey Angeltvedt

Glencross Charity Invitational Roughstock Event raises $190,000

RED DEER - For the sixth straight year, the Glencross Invitational Charity Roughstock Event was a success, with $190,000 going to the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Central Alberta.

Curtis Glencross, and representatives from the event, were in attendance at the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer on September 27 to present cheques to the two beneficiaries of the event.

The event, a sponsor-only poker event, and the charity rodeo, ran August 24-25, with all proceeds – a total of $190,000 – donated to the two organizations. With this year’s contribution, the event has now surpassed the $1.4 million mark in its six-year history.

"We’re really excited, we found a few ways this year to raise a little more money, and cut a few costs, so it was nice that would could come out and raise $190,000 this year, we’re about $40,000 up from last year, so it was a huge success for us again this year," said Curtis Glencross. "As long as we can keep building it, and keep making it grow and raise the money we can, it’s two great causes that we support, so no matter how much work it is, at the end of the day, it’s pretty rewarding that we can come and give out a cheque like this to these two great charities."

The Hockey Alberta Foundation has been a benificiary of the event since its inception, with the money coming in earmarked for the Every Kid Every Community Program.

"We’re very appreciative of Curtis, his family, and his committee and sponsors," said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. "The work we do as a charity, doesn’t happen without what we call "Teammates". Whether the Teammate is a sponsor, donor, or partner event, we can’t do what we do without great Teammates, and certainly Curtis and his crew are great Teammates."

Since the creation of the Every Kid Every Community program in 2011, more than $300,000 has been distributed to groups focused on creating access to hockey across Alberta. More importantly, the funds have increased access to hockey in 36 communities and for more than 3,500 kids.

Hockey Alberta Foundation

2017 Future Leaders Scholarship recipients announced

RED DEER - The Hockey Alberta Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Future Leaders Scholarship.

Eight outstanding post-secondary students were chosen from the 2017 Future Leaders Development Program to receive a $1,000 scholarship, with the opportunity to receive an additional scholarship for acheiving "distinguished leader" status.

The 2017 Future Leaders are:

Channia Alexander (Mount Royal University)
Lukas Biensch (University of Alberta Augustana)
Joel Hamilton (SAIT)
Tyler Leicht (University of Alberta)
Anna Purschke (Mount Royal University)
Lindsey Roth (NAIT)
Shanya Shwetz (MacEwan University)
Daniel Todosychuk (MacEwan University)

The Future Leader Development Program is designed to develop and train post-secondary students in the area of coaching. Areas of focus include proper instruction, administration, leadership, technical and tactical skills in hockey, so that the future leaders can carry those skills into our communities.

Since the Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1998, Hockey Alberta Foundation has invested annually in the development of great leaders for the future of the game and our communities in Alberta. The scholarship program operates in alignment with the Future Leaders Development Program, which focuses on educating and training our post-secondary student coaches to be strong and effective on-ice leaders.

Home Ice Feature

Photo credit: LA Media

Three Alberta officials to attend Level Six Seminar

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta and the Officials Committee are pleased to announce three officials have been selected to attend the Hockey Canada Level Six officiating seminar in Moncton, New Brunswick on Novemer 22-26.

Kyle Kowalski (Edmonton), Colin Stefanyk (Red Deer), and Jordan Lightbown (Medicine Hat) will be attending this event, which is the highest level in the officiating program in Canada.

There are only about 80 level 6 officials registered in Canada each season, making this a very select group of top officials from across Canada.

Hockey Alberta and the Officials Committee would like to congratulate each official on their selection.