www.HOCKEYALBERTA.ca /hockeyalberta 2013-14 MAGAZINE RECOVERING FROM ALBERTA’S THE GREAT THE 2013 HAUL OF 2013 ALBERTA HOCKEY SUMMIT Historic Flooding ALBERTA TEAMS MEDAL NATIONALLY PAGES 6-10 PAGES 12-13 PAGES 22-23 TABLE OF CONTENTS 14 MORGAN KLIMCHUK’S PATH TO THE NHL 18 PLAYING OTHER SPORTS HELPS HOCKEY PLAYERS 16 IMPROVE HIGH HOPES FOR ‘HEFFS’ 4 HOCKEY ALBERTA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS 20 DR. STEVEN NORRIS: STUDENT OF THE GAME 6 SUMMIT CREATES OPENS DIALOGUE ON HOCKEY IN 22 GOLDEN MOMENTS: THREE NATIONAL ALBERTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 8 7 THEMES EMERGE FROM 2013 ALBERTA HOCKEY 24 CHANGES TO THE ALBERTA WINTER GAMES PROGRAM SUMMIT 28 MAKING IT HAPPEN: THE ROAD TO THE PROVINCIALS 10 ALBERTA HOCKEY SUMMIT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE 29 RAISING FUNDS FOR THE EVERY KID EVERY COMMUNITY PROGRAM 12 HOCKEY COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER IN TIME OF NEED 30 BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: FINALLY, HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA COMES TO LLOYDMINSTER 19 POINT BLANK: QUICK SHOTS FROM THE BODY CHECKING RULE CHANGE IN ALBERTA 34 WHO IS HOCKEY ALBERTA? 2 2013-2014 HOCKEY ALBERTA MAGAZINE 2013-2014 HOCKEY ALBERTA MAGAZINE 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hockey Alberta’s Board of Directors LEN SAMLETZKI ROB VIRGIL ROB LITWINSKI very June at the Hockey Alberta became Vice-President of Operations and 1. Consultant 1. Standards Specialist with TELUS 1. Executive Director of Hockey Alberta Annual General Meeting (AGM), Hockey Vice-President of Development. In 2005, 2. Saskatoon Blades and Edmonton Communications (8 yrs) EAlberta’s membership vote to elect he was elected President of Hockey Alberta Oilers 2. Any Team Canada or Team Alberta 2. Amateur: whatever teams my kids vacant positions with the Board of Directors. for the first time. He was recently named 3. #1 team, The Edmonton Oilers and are on + NJ Devils At the 2013 AGM, there was only one Volunteer of the Year by Hockey Canada and 4. CEO or CFO of a sport organization Edmonton Oil Kings (since 1982) position to fill; Chairman of the Board. has also travelled to China with a coaching 5. None. They have all been learning 3. 16 f (one o my favorite player’s number) 3. I am jersey #27 for Pylons Adult Rec delegation, hoping to share his knowledge. experiences. 4. Jet pilot or golf pro team Rob Virgil had served as Chair for the past 6. Cricket – looks like fun. 5. Digging electrical trenches in the 4. I bet it would be safe to say this one, year and as President for a year prior to “I felt that I still had the passion for the 7. I would probably try most – except winter by hand. correct? that (when the Board was re-structured at organization and the game with the some of the extreme sports 6. Bull Riding 5. Removing Paint /repainting School the 2012 AGM, President changed to Chair). multitude of change that are occurring 8. I thought there was only one – Slap 7. Bull Riding Doors (summer job) With Virgil’s term expiring, he moved on and presently,” said Engen. “Recognizing that Shot 8. The Hockey Sweater by Roch 6. Cricket became Past-Chair. not only is the organization in the midst of a Carriere. Not really a movie but 7. UFC definitely a classic short film. 8. Is it okay to say Slap Shot? Running unopposed, Terry Engen of Eckville, huge structural change but also the game is DAVE SEVALRUD: Alberta was named Hockey Alberta’s new under tremendous pressure to accommodate 1. Lawyer with Carscallen LLP Chairman of the Board. new ideas and society’s expectations. I 2. Right now; the University of Alaska- FRAN ZINGER LAURY SCHMIDT believe I can still provide guidance and input Anchorage Seawolves & Calgary 1. Lawyer; practicing personal injury law 1. General Sales Manager of New West Engen already has a long history with through these changes.” McKnight Midget Mustangs where my exclusively Truck Centers of Calgary, Lethbridge Hockey Alberta and its Board of Directors. sons play. 2. Oilers are my favorite pro team and Medicine Hat Engen became part of the Hockey Alberta Engen is the first person in Hockey Alberta’s 3. 5 3. #6 2. Okotoks Oilers Terry Engen team when he joined the Board. In 1999, history to serve as President/Chairman of 4. I have it. 4. A golf pro on a tour or being a (AJHL) Hockey Alberta’s Chairman of the Board he served as the Zone 4 Director and then the Board twice. 5. I have never had a job I did not like. personal shopper 3. #9 6. Heli-Skiing 5. First full time job (for the summer 4. Lottery Administrator 7. Ultimate fighting after graduating from high school) as 5. Cutting an 11 year old from a Peewee 8. The Rocket a waitress Team 6. Hang gliding or parachuting 6. Surfing Back Row (L-R): Rob Litwinski, Dave Sevelrud, Laury 7. High diving 7. UFC Fighting Schmidt, Len Samletzki. Front Row (L-R): Fred Horbay, 8. No particular favorite 8. Slap Shot (Original) Fran Zinger, Terry Engen, Rob Virgil 1. What is your Full-Time Job? 5. Least favourite job you’ve had? 2. What’s your favourite hockey team, pro or amateur? 6. What sport have you never tried that you’d like to try? 3. What would your jersey number be? 7. What sport would you never try? 4. What is your dream job? 8. Favourite hockey movie of all time? TERRY ENGEN FRED HORBAY 1. Commissioner, Alberta Energy 1. Retired Regulator 2. Montreal Canadiens 2. Montreal 3. 11 3. 7 4. Golf Pro 4. Politician 5. Digging ditches 5. Pipeline labourer 6. Kayaking 6. Fencing 7. Extreme mountain 7. Bull riding climbing 8. Slap Shot 8. ????? 4 2013-2014 HOCKEY ALBERTA MAGAZINE 2013-2014 HOCKEY ALBERTA MAGAZINE 5 HOCKEY SUMMIT OVERVIEW HOCKEY SUMMIT OVERVIEW Summit Creates Open Dialogue on Hockey in Alberta BY | Nicole Starker 013 was a landmark season for hockey said there were two areas in particular that in the province when Hockey Alberta, he hoped would be discussed – officiating 2along with invested stakeholders and player safety. Hockey Canada, the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers and the Western Hockey “I think that we have done an excellent League created the Alberta Hockey Summit job in player development and in coaching held on August 22-24 at the Banff Centre in development,” said Robison. “But I believe Banff, Alta. we need to invest more of our time and attention in the area of officiating to ensure that the quality of officiating keeps pace with the quality of play.” Robison also hoped to focus in on providing the best possible environment to encourage participation and fun, and at the same time a branch host either one large summit or “Those really high-end players that percolate to leadership and the development of the competitive environment. series of smaller regional summits. to the top, they would never be able to do game and the development of the athlete,” that without a system that supports entry “We do a lot of research in the area of player Peplinski said. “I think it’s important to go The Alberta Hockey Summit was developed and participation in sport, so (the Flames safety and making sure that the environment and listen and to discuss what actions can and Oilers) are more about that broader base is a positive one for the players, so sharing to include all members of the hockey come out of observations that intelligent, and making sure that kids have a place to go, the information we have with the other community whether a player, coach, parent, well-intentioned people make.” “With the game consistently evolving and kids have a place to play,” Carson said. “It’s a constituents in Alberta.” official, or simply a fan, and over 200 tickets changing, we felt it necessary, and that the to the event were snapped-up by members community approach and I really believe that Both of Alberta’s NHL teams lent their timing was right to host a hockey summit Hockey Alberta is the first western province of the public. the Oilers and the Flames – that’s what their support to the event and Peplinski said the in Alberta,” said Hockey Alberta executive to host a hockey summit and Robison said development departments do is to give back Flames organization wants to support these director Rob Litwinski. “It gave not only the Western Hockey League was looking Increasing the number of hockey fans and to communities and programs to make sure types of conversations about hockey. Hockey Alberta, but all involved in the game, forward to discussing issue and ideas in membership in the hockey community is that they’re continuing to build that base of the opportunity to meet collectively and “It’s important to always have an open the open forum that Hockey Alberta has something Paul Carson, Hockey Canada’s families and communities that contribute to open the dialogue on current topics and the mind and get people together to talk about fostered. vice president of hockey development, said is the sport.” future direction of hockey in Alberta and yesterday’s game and today’s game and crucial to the game. also on the greater scale.” “We in the hockey system in Alberta In an interview prior to the summit, Jim what tomorrow’s game is going to be.” share a responsibility to always challenge “While there’s a topic of leadership and Peplinksi, a former NHLer and current The summit was developed with a roster Hockey is a team sport at every level and ourselves in how we can improve the game there’s a topic of player development, those vice president of business development of some of the greatest hockey minds in for the Calgary Flames said that he was that sentiment was reflected in what the at every level,” Robison said.