Team Alberta Beats Team Atlantic 1-0 In Overtime, Will Play For Seventh Saturday

HUNTSVILLE, ON - Team Alberta notched its first victory of the National Women’s U18 Championship with a 1-0 overtime win over Team Atlantic Friday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to advance to the semi-finals.

Snakebitten all tournment with just one goal for in two games, Alberta needed to win by at least two goals, and hope for a Team BC loss against Ontario Blue for a shot at advancing.

Both teams had plenty of chances, with Atlantic out-shooting Alberta 26-21, but the game’s first goal didn’t come until the extra frame, with Tianno Ko batting the puck out of mid-air for the game winning goal. Ko was named Team Alberta’s Player of the Game for her efforts. 

Goaltending continued to be Alberta’s strong suit, as Zoe De Beauville stopped all 26 shots that came her way to earn the shutout, after allowing just two goals against Team BC on Wednesday. De Beauville’s counterpart, Atlantic goalie Shelby Ryan, did her best to keep her team in the game, allowing one goal on 21 shots. 

Alberta will now face off for seventh place on Saturday against Team Saskatchewan, who finished last in Pool A with a 0-2-1 record. That game goes at 8:30 a.m. MT, follow Team Alberta on Twitter for live scoring updates.

Click here for full tournament details, schedules and stats.

November 5, 2015

HUNSTVILLE, ON - Team Alberta dropped to 0-2 at the National Women’s U18 Championship after a 1-0 loss to Ontario Blue Thursday night. 

It was a tight defensive battle between the two teams, with the lone goal of the game coming off the stick of Ontario’s CelineFrappier midway through the second frame with Alberta’s Jessica Squires in the penaly box. Ontario went one-for-five on the powerplay, while Alberta failed to convert on six chances.

Alberta managed to outshoot Ontario Blue 21-18, but Carmen Lasis stood tall for her team, making 21 saves for the win. Alberta goalie Kirsten Chamberlin took the loss, stopping 17 of 18 shots. Forward McKenzie Hewett was named Team Alberta’s Player of the Game.

With the loss, Alberta sits last in Pool B, but still has a chance at reaching the semi-finals with a win against Team Atlantic on Friday, coupled with a BC loss to Ontario Blue. Alberta and Atlantic hit the ice at 11:30 a.m. MT.

The top two teams from Pools A and B will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday, with the gold and bronze medal games set for Sunday. 

November 4, 2015

HUNTSVILLE, ON - Team Alberta kicked off the National Women’s U18 Championship with a 2-1 loss to Team BC on Wednesday morning.

BC’s Leona Sim scored with 7:15 left in the game to break the 1-1 deadlock. Tyra Meropoulis scored Alberta’s lone goal, midway through the second period to tie the game, after Cassidy Bell opened the scoring for BC late in the first period.

Team Alberta goalie Zoe De Beauville made 15 saves, and was named Team Alberta’s player of the game. Alex Gulstene stopped 19 of the 20 shots in recording the victory in the BC net.

"I thought overall we played a solid 200-foot game," said Head Coach Scott Rivett. "We were able to keep four lines going and six (defenders), and (our) goaltender played well in our first game—(we have) a good opportunity to build on that."

Team Alberta (0-1) hits the ice again Thursday at 5:30 p.m. MT against Ontario Blue, and will conclude round-robin play in Pool A Friday at 11:30 a.m. MT against Team Atlantic. For live scoring updates, follow Team Alberta on Twitter.

The top two teams from Pools A and B will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday, with the gold and bronze medal games set for Sunday.

Referee Lacey Senuk of St. Albert is among the 20 Canadian officials assigned to IIHF events for the 2015-16 season. She was the lone Albertan on the list.

Senuk will head to Asiago, Italy in April to officiate the Division I, Group B portion of the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship.

Another Albertan, linesman Chris Carlson of Edmonton, was named to the long-list to officiate at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Russia in May. The final list of officials for that event will be announced in early 2016.

For more information on the Hockey Canada Officiating Program and all of Hockey Canada’s development programs, visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hockeycanada..

Alberta Sledge is proud to announce the 15 player roster for the Provincial Sledge Hockey Team that will represent Alberta for the 2015-16 season.

The roster was finalized following a two-day selection camp in Wetaskiwin. The camp included a skills evaluation and two intrasquad games. A total of 24 players were in contention for the 15 roster spots. 

Click here to view the full 2015-16 Alberta Sledge roster.

Alberta’s roster includes two goaltenders, four defense and nine forwards. Head coach Steve Arsenault (Spruce Grove) assembled the roster with support from associate coach Kieran Block (Edmonton), and team manager Dean Krawec (St. Albert). 

Arsenault is a current Canadian Men’s Sledge team member, 2013 World Champion, and 2014 Paralympic bronze medalist. He believes the foundation for success for the 2015-16 Alberta squad is based on outworking, outsmarting and outplaying the opposition.

“My coaching philosophy involves an outstanding work ethic at its core foundation along with an exceptionally strong team structure and an emphasis on discipline," said Arsenault.

Krawec has been involved in sledge hockey in Alberta since 1998 as a player, coach, and manager with the Edmonton Sled Hockey Club. 

"Having a rostered Team Alberta squad is something that I have wanted since 1998. This is truly a dream come true for me as a sledge hockey historian in Alberta," said Krawec. "It shows that we have the depth in numbers, and also the quality of players to make a high performance team to take to the National Championships."

The 2016 National Championships are being hosted in Leduc, May 13-15, 2016.

For more information on the Provincial Sledge Hockey Team and Sledge Hockey Alberta, please contact Dean Krawec, Team Manager, at [email protected] or follow through social media at facebook.com/albertasledge and twitter.com/AlbertaSledge.

While Team Alberta didn’t get the result it was hoping for at the National Women’s U18 Championship over the weekend, a number of Team Alberta alumni landed medals internationally.

2015 World U17 Hockey Challenge

Less than a year after winning a silver medal with Team Alberta at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Ian Scott (G), Jarrod Gourley (D), Ian Mitchell (D), Jaret Anderson-Dolan (F) and James Hamblin (F) helped lead Team Canada White to a gold medal at the World U17 Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek, BC on Saturday.

Team Canada White beat Russia 6-2 in the gold medal game, with Anderson-Dolan notching a goal and an assist, while Mitchell added a pair of helpers. Scott made 21 saves for the win, finishing the tournament with a 3-1 record. 

The gold medal was the first for Team Canada at the World U17 Hockey Challenge since 2011.

Another Team Alberta alumnus Josh Paterson was on the Canada Black team that lost 4-2 to the Czech Republic Friday night in the 7th/8th place game.

2015 Four Nations Cup

Former Team Alberta goaltender EmeranceMaschmeyer came oh-so-close to a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the Four Nations Cup, as Canada was edged 3-2 in overtime by Team USA Sunday afternoon in Sweden.

Maschmeyer did her best to keep Canada in the game, stopping 30 of 33 shots fired her way, and finished the tournament with a 1-2 record. 

Maschmeyer won gold with Team Alberta at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, and has two other medals to her name in international competition, a gold at the 2012 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships, and a silver at the 2015 IIHF World Women’s Championships. 

2015 National Women’s U18 Championship

After finishing round-robin play at the U18 Nationals in Hunstville, ON with a 1-2 record, Team Alberta lost 4-0 to Team Saskatchewan Saturday, finishing the tournament in eighth place. 

Kirsten Chamberlin played the first two periods in net, while Zoe De Beauville came on in relief in the third period. For Saskatchewan, Emma Johnson made 23 saves for the shutout win. Forward Sarah Lecavalier was named Team Alberta’s Player of the Game in the loss. 

Ontario Red finished as the tournament champion following a 2-1 overtime win over Team Manitoba, while Ontario Blue edged Team BC to win bronze. 

CALGARY - After shutting out Team Manitoba 3-0 for the second straight game, Team Alberta successfully defended its gold medal at the 2015 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup on Sunday afternoon.

It didn’t take long for Team Alberta to strike, with goals from Sean Comrie and Ryley Appelt just over a minute apart to take a 2-0 lead partway through the first.

Both teams were held off the score sheet through the second period, and most of the third, until Eric Florchuk scored with Manitoba’s net empty in favour of an extra skater.

Florchuk finished the tournament with three goals, tied for the team lead with Chase Wouters.

In his second start of the tournament, goalie Carl Stankowski stood tall for team Alberta, stopping all 27 shots he faced, and earning Player of the Game honours for his troubles.

Dawson Barteaux earned the nod as the Player of the Game for silver medal-winning Team Manitoba.

"As a staff, we are extremely proud of this particular group," said Head Coach Bobby Fox. "They played the game the right way. There was a ton of heart-power in that locker room, and we expect these players to make a significant impact with their respective club teams this year and moving forward in the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence."

Alberta and Manitoba previously clashed Friday night, also a 3-0 win for Team Alberta that saw Team Manitoba register just eight shots on goal.

Undefeated in round-robin play, Alberta advanced directly to Sunday’s gold medal game, while Manitoba earned its spot after beating second place BC on Saturday.

It’s the fourth gold medal for Alberta in the tournament’s five-year history, and its second in a row, the previous coming in 2013.

Earlier on Sunday, Team BC defeated Team Saskatchewan 7-2 in the tournament’s bronze medal game.

2015 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup All-Star Team

G – Matthew Thiessen (Team Manitoba) – Altona, MB – Tri-City Americans
D – Ty Smith (Team Alberta) – Lloydminster, AB – Spokane Chiefs
D – Jett Woo (Team Manitoba) – Winnipeg, MB – Moose Jaw Warriors
F – Carson Focht (Team Saskatchewan) – Regina, SK – Tri-City Americans
F – Eric Florchuk (Team Alberta) – Ft. Saskatchewan, AB – Victoria Royals
F – Eli Zummack (Team BC) – Kelowna, BC – Red Deer Rebels

October 30, 2015

CALGARY - Team Alberta heavily out-shot Team Manitoba on the way to a 3-0 win Friday night, securing a spot in Sunday’s gold medal game at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup.

Eric Florchuk opened the scoring with his second of the tournment, as Alberta outshot Manitoba 16-2 in the first.

Chase Wouters netted his third goal in as many games late in the second, as Alberta yet again had the advantage on the shot clock, 11-3.

Tristan Nielsen put the game away midway through the third with his second goal of the Challenge Cup, with Alberta outshooting Manitoba 9-3 in the frame.

In his second straight start, Jacob Bennett needed just eight saves to earn the shutout, while a busy Matthew Thiessen stopped 33 of 36 in a losing cause for Manitoba.

Eric Florchuk earned the Player of the Game honours for Team Alberta, and Benjamin Coppinger for Team Manitoba.

Team Alberta finishes the round-robin portion of the tournament a perfect 3-0, and will advance directly to the gold medal final, which goes Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.

Alberta’s opponent will be determined Saturday afternoon, as Manitoba (1-2) and Team BC (2-1) battle at 1 p.m. at the Markin MacPhail.

The loser of that match-up goes on to the bronze medal game against Team Saskatchewan (0-3) at 9:30 a.m.

October 29, 2015

CALGARY - After jumping out to a three goal lead, Team Alberta held on for the 3-2 win over Team Saskatchewan Thursday afternoon at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup in Calgary.

Alberta went up 1-0 early in the game thanks to Erik Florchuk’s first goal of the tournament, and took a 2-0 lead just minutes into the second frame after Chase Wouters scored short-handed, his second goal in as many games.

Tristan Nielson scored again for Alberta just over two minutes later, which would be the eventual game winner.

Saskatchewan’s Carson Focht scored a pair in the middle of the period to make it a one-goal game, but Alberta was able to halt the comeback and hold on for the victory.

Jacob Bennett got the call in goal for Alberta, stopping 18 of 20 shots for the win, while his counterpart Jake Davidson made 22 saves on 25 shots for Saskatchewan.

Forward Josh Tarzwell earned Player of the Game honours for Team Alberta, while Focht got the nod for Saskatchewan.

"Sask (Saskatchewan) is a very well coached team and the players have obviously bought into a hard working, lunch-bucket identity," Head Coach Bobby Fox said after the game. "It makes them a tough team to play against and a good test for us. We faced some adversity today and it will make us better moving forward. We held on and found a way to win."

Team Alberta now sits 2-0 in the tournament, and plays its final round-robin game against Team Manitoba (1-1) Friday at 7 p.m., and can advance straight to Sunday’s gold medal final with a win.

Manitoba is coming off a 4-2 loss to BC Thursday night, after opening its tournament with a win over Saskatchewan.

Meanwhile, Saskatchewan (0-2) looks for its first win of the tourament as they take on Team BC (1-1) Friday at 3 p.m.

October 28, 2015

CALGARY - Despite trailing in the early goings of the game, Team Alberta kicked off the 2015 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup with a 6-3 win over BC Wednesday night.

In a rematch of the 2013 Gold Medal game, which Team Alberta won, BC jumped out to an early lead on goals by Liam Kindree and Luka Burzan, before Josh Tarzwell put Alberta on the board late in the first period.

BC would regain a two-goal lead in the second period thanks to Tyler Popowich, but goals from Josh Prokop and Nicholas Bowman just 24 seconds apart would tie the game at 3-3 after two.

Team Alberta carried the momentum into the third, taking its first lead of the game on Chase Wouters’ marker, and added a pair of insurance goals as Bowman and Prokop each landed their second goals of the game.

Goalie Carl Stankowski was able to brush off a shaky start and earn the win for Alberta, stopping 19 of the 22 shots he faced.

Jordan Naylor took the loss for BC, allowing five goals on 33 shots before being pulled and replaced by Donovan Buskey, who allowed one goal on three shots in relief.

With two assists, Spencer Moe was named the Player of the Game for Team Alberta, while Captain Ethan Cap took the honour for BC.

"It’s something we discussed as a team in pre-planning, with the ins and outs of a short-term competition," Coach Bobby Fox said of his team’s come-from-behind win. "You could be down two in the first 5 minutes, but there’s 55 minutes left in the game. The guys showed character, remained poised, and didn’t stop working."

Team Alberta now shifts its focus to Team Saskatchewan, who are coming off a narrow 4-3 loss to Team Manitoba Wednesday afternoon.

The two teams hit the ice at 3 p.m. at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary, followed by BC and Manitoba at 7 p.m.