Coach Of The Month - November

Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month for November 2015 is Darcy Warawa of Lacombe.

Darcy is an Assistant Coach for both the Lacombe Initiation Red Rockets, and the Lacombe Tim Horton’s Bears. His coaching background goes back nearly 20 years. He’s served as a baseball coach at the community, Team Alberta, Junior National Team and International level. This is his first season coaching Minor Hockey, as both his sons decided to give the sport a try this year.

"I believe that coaching at the youth level is about teaching sport and life skills through fun games and activities," said Darcy. "Creating smiles, laughter and providing sincere encouragement are definitely part of building a positive sport environment for them."

"He (Darcy) focuses on making the game enjoyable for our players," said the Head Coach of the Lacombe Red Rockets, who nominated Darcy for Coach of the Month. "On the ice he is constantly giving the kids encouragement and tips to keep playing and enjoy the game."

For more details on Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month, click here.

RED DEER - Seventeen of the top 2001-02 born male athletes living north of the 55th have been selected to represent Team Alberta North for the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.

Hockey Alberta’s Bantam Male squad, along with a Junior Female team, will compete in the Arctic Winter Games March 6-11, 2016 in Nuuk, Greenland (hockey will be played in Iqaluit, Nunavut).

Click here to view the Male Team Alberta North Roster.

Selection camps ran December 11-13 in High Prairie, and saw athletes (71 forwards, 30 defensemen, 19 goalies) turn out to compete for a spot with Team Alberta North.

"We saw some very talented individuals at this year’s selection camp," said Blake Cosgrove, Regional Centre Northwest Consultant for Hockey Alberta. "Selecting just 17 athletes was quite difficult, but we’re excited with the group that we’ll be sending to the Arctic Winter Games in March."

Female selection camp is set to run January 8-10 in Slave Lake.

The Arctic Winter Games are the world’s largest northern multi-sport and cultural event. The Arctic Winter Games are a celebration of athletic completion, culture, friendship and cooperation between northern contingents. Athletic competition features sports that enjoy worldwide popularity alongside traditional Arctic Sports and dene Games. A significant cultural component featuring visual arts, dance, ceremonies and galas with participants from across the circumpolar region is a pillar of the Games.

Each hockey team is comprised of 17 players and two coaches. Teams participate in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding for medal-round pairings. One gold ulu is awarded in each age/sex class. Teams that regularly participate in ice hockey include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Click here for more information on the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.

RED DEER – Ten volunteers and two staff members have been recognized by Hockey Alberta for five or 10 consecutive years of leadership in providing excellent service to the hockey community in Alberta.

Service award recipients were announced as part of Hockey Alberta’s semi-annual meeting on November 28 in Red Deer.

Terry Engen, chair of the Board of Directors for Hockey Alberta, and Executive Director Rob Litwinski made presentations to seven of the recipients. The other five will be presented with their awards at a later date.

Ten-Year Award recipients were:

Debbie Northcott: Current Chair, Minor Administration Committee. Previously, Minor Council rep.

Debbie Northcott receives her 10-year award from Terry Engen.

Justin Fesyk: Senior Manager, Hockey Development at Hockey Alberta.

Justin Fesyk receives his 10-year award from Rob Litwinski.

Rob Litwinski: Executive Director at Hockey Alberta.

Rob Litwinski receives his 10-year award from Terry Engen.

Five-Year Award recipients were:

Francois Gagnon: Current Zone 2 Operations Advisory Committee (OAC) rep. Previously, Minor Council rep.

Francois Gagnon receives his 5-year award from Terry Engen.

Craig Reid: Current Zone 1 member on the OAC. Previously, Zone 1 Director.

Len Samletzki: Current Director of Finance on the Board of Directors.

Len Samletzki receives his 5-year ward from Terry Engen.

Dave Shaw: Current Chair of the Officials Committee. Previously, South Zone Referee Chair.

Dave Shaw receives his 5-year award from Terry Engen.

Craig DeCoursey: Current Central Zone Referee Chair.

Greg Nesom: Current Female rep, longt-time Female Chair. Previously, Minor North Female Rep and Minor South Female Rep.

Dave Sevalrud: Current Director at Large on the Board of Directors. Previously, Zone 9 Director and member of the OAC.

Jared Greenburg: North Central Referee Chair through the 2014-15 season.

George Kallay: Zone 6 member on the OAC through the 2014-15 season. Previously, Zone 6 Director.

RED DEER – The eight female hockey teams that will battle it out at the 2016 Alberta Winter Games are now set.

The player rosters for the eight zone teams in the female competition, along with the staff for each team, were announced on December 8. The teams will compete against each other at the 2016 Alberta Winter Games in Medicine Hat, February 13-16.

Teams were selected to represent each of the province’s zones: Sunny South, Big Country, Calgary, Parkland, Yellowhead/Blackgold, Edmonton, Northeast and Peace Country. Each team includes two goalies, six defense, and 12 forwards. Team staff includes a head coach, two assistant coaches, a coach mentor, and a director of hockey operations.

Click here to view all female rosters for the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

Roughly 600 2001-2004 born players attended zone selection camps held at locations across the province, December 4-6.

“We were very impressed with the turn-out we saw this past weekend at every zone camp,” said Mike Kraichy, manager of Team Alberta. “We’d also like to thank all the volunteers who came out for these camps, as well as the male camps the previous weekend. We couldn’t do it without them.”

The Alberta Winter Games is a multi-sport event for developing athletes, aged 11-17 years old. The Winter Games were first hosted in 1976 in Banff, and occur each even-numbered year. The athletes are selected to represent the eight zones in Alberta in 20 sports such as hockey, badminton, gymnastics, skiing and skating.

Hockey Alberta coordinates the ice hockey portion of the Winter Games, as a core segment of its Development Program. The Winter Games provide players, coaches, trainers and referees an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey starting with the zone camp and selection process, through to competing in the Games.

Click here for more information on the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

RED DEER – For 160 male hockey athletes, preparation begins now for the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

The player rosters for the eight zone teams in the male competition, along with the staff for each team, were announced on December 2. The teams will compete against each other at the 2016 Alberta Winter Games in Medicine Hat, February 13-16.

Teams were selected to represent each of the province’s zones: Sunny South, Big Country, Calgary, Parkland, Yellowhead/ Blackgold, Edmonton, Northeast and Peace Country. Each team includes two goalies, six defense, and 12 forwards. Team staff includes a head coach, two assistant coaches, a coach mentor, and a director of hockey operations.

Click here to view all male rosters for the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.

Just under 800 2003-born players attended zone selection camps held at locations across the province, November 27-29.

"We’re very impressed with the level of talent displayed at this year’s selection camps," said Dustin Moore, coordinator for Team Alberta. "Choosing just 20 players for each team is never easy, but we’re excited for these athletes to take a big step forward in their development and take part in a provincial event like the Alberta Winter Games."

Zone selection camps for female players are set for this weekend, December 4-6. Female team rosters will be announced later next week.

The Alberta Winter Games is a multi-sport event for developing athletes, aged 11-17 years old. The Winter Games were first hosted in 1976 in Banff, and occur each even-numbered year. The athletes are selected to represent the eight zones in Alberta in 20 sports such as hockey, badminton, gymnastics, skiing and skating.

Hockey Alberta coordinates the ice hockey portion of the Winter Games, as a core segment of its Development Program. The Winter Games provide players, coaches, trainers and referees an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey starting with the zone camp and selection process, through to competing in the Games.

Click here for more information on the 2016 Alberta Winter Games.