The rosters for the ATB Team Alberta Female (Under-18) and Team Alberta Male (Under-16) squads were announced on December 3red at the Scotiabank Calgary Saddledome.
Several of the selected players were able to attend the announcements in person, and they were joined by Team Alberta Honourary Captains Joe Colborne, Megan Mikkelson and Carla MacLeod. Each Honourary Captain represented Alberta at the Canada Winter Games: Colborne in 2007, Mikkelson in 2003, and MacLeod in 1995 and 1999.
“The coaches and scouts for both squads were faced with some extremely difficult decisions in selecting the Team Alberta squads for the 2015 Canada Winter Games,” said Tim Leer, Hockey Alberta’s senior manager for Team Alberta. “Alberta is fortunate to have so many leagues, teams, and dedicated coaches who have worked with these players to help prepare them to represent the province against the best in their age groups from across Canada. We anticipate strong performances from both squads in Prince George.”
In 2011, Team Alberta won Gold in the Female division, and Bronze in the Male Division. Alberta female teams have earned three medals since Female hockey was added to the Games in 1991, while Alberta male teams have earned nine medals since 1967.
Named to the Under-18 Female team roster are (hometown in brackets):
Goaltenders: Jolene Debruyn (Grande Prairie), Dayna Owen (Calgary).
Defence: Channia Alexander (Calgary), Abigail Benning (St. Albert), Codie Cross (Airdrie), Cayle Dillon (Edmonton), Emma Keenan (Calgary), Abbigail Niewchas (Cochrane), Daria O’Neill (Cochrane).
Forwards: Lauren Bowman (Calgary), Erinn Baddock (Vermilion), Kennedy Ganser (Provost), Shae Labbe (Calgary), Sarah Lecavalier (Strathmore), Amanda McLeod (Okotoks), Alexandra Poznikoff (Edmonton), Elizabeth Salyn (Edmonton), Taylor Sawka (Cochrane), Malia Schneider (Millarville), Regan Wright (Calgary).
“I would like to extend my congratulations to the 20 athletes who have accepted the challenge to represent Alberta at the Canada Winter Games. We had some very tough decisions to make, but we are confident that we have assembled the best possible group of athletes,” said head coach Howie Draper. “Over the next couple of months, our goal is to work hard to come together as a team, so that we can produce our best possible performance in Prince George.”
Named to the Under-16 Male team roster are (hometown in brackets):
Goaltenders: Dane Dow (Rivercourse), Ian Scott (Calgary).
Defence: Jarrod Gourley (Calgary), Jantzen Leslie (Lloydminster), Ian Mitchell (Calahoo), Dylan Plouffe (Sherwood Park), Dominic Schmiemann (James River Bridge), Ty Smith (Lloydminster).
Forwards: Ryan Anderson (Edmonton), Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Calgary), Zane Franklin (Marwayne), James Hamblin (Edmonton), Jeremy Klessens (Red Deer County), Brett Leason (Calgary), Logan Mazerolle (Grande Prairie), Ethan McIndoe (Camrose), Kobe Mohr (Lloydminster), Kyle Olson (Calgary), Josh Paterson (Edmonton), Ryan Peckford (Stony Plain).
“An individual assumes a large responsibility when he agrees to wear the Team Alberta logo, especially at a national event such as the Canada Winter Games,” said Mike Dyck, the head coach of the Team Alberta Male squad. “I firmly believe that the 20 young men we have selected are up to the challenge, and will work hard, not only during the Games, but in their preparation during the weeks leading up to the Games.”
The 2015 Canada Winter Games are being held in Prince George, BC in February. Female Hockey will be held from February 14 - 20, 2015. Male Hockey will be held February 22 - March 1, 2015. All games will be played at the CN Centre and Kin II Centre arenas.