By Mike Dennis, Hockey Alberta /
It may be the end of the hockey season for the majority of club team players in the province, but for the elite, a new season ?is beginning.
Hockey Alberta hosted eight Alberta Cup zone camps in the month of March attracting close to 1000 1994-born male athletes vying for a roster spot on their respective ?zone teams.
The rosters have now been finalized with 20 players, three coaches, one trainer and a director of operations representing each of the eight zones.
Each of the 160 athletes playing in the Alberta Cup is competing for one of 80 invites to the U16 Male Provincial Camp in July.
The U16 Male Provincial Camp is the final stage of the first-year Team Alberta Program.
The Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top male players in Alberta.
It is well attended by scouts as they prepare for the Western Hockey League’s ?Bantam draft.
In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers and referees to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta U17 Program.
Former Alberta Cup graduates include such players as Kyle Brodziak, Dany Heatley, Jay Bouwmeester, Scottie Upshall Dion Phaneuf, Scott Hartnell, Jordin Tootoo, Todd Fedoruk, Andrew Ferrence and Chris Phillips.
The Alberta Cup kicks off April 22 in Calgary and runs until April 26.
All games will be played at the Don Hartman Northeast Sportsplex.
The Team Alberta Challenge is the female version of the Alberta Cup.
It features the top 1994- and 1995-born female players in the province. Approximately 350 girls tried out for one of the 20 roster spots available in each of the six zones.
The Team Alberta Challenge is the first stage of the of U16 Team Alberta female program.
The Team Alberta Challenge takes place from May 14 to 17 in Wetaskiwin.
For more information, please visit www.hockeyalberta.ca
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