Alberta Land Acknowledgement:
We acknowledge that what we call Alberta is the traditional and ancestral territory of many peoples, presently subject to Treaties 6, 7, and 8. Namely: the Blackfoot Confederacy – Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika – the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stoney Nakoda, and the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Métis People of Alberta. This includes the Metis Settlements and the 22 Districts of the Metis Nation of Alberta within the historical Northwest Metis Homeland. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Metis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
Contact Us
120 College Circle, Suite 201, Red Deer (Gary W. Harris Centre, Red Deer Polytechnic)
403-342-6777
https://www.afhl.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/ElitePathway_Updated07_03_24.pdf
Female Hockey Day
Female Hockey Day is a Hockey Alberta initiative aimed at bringing female players, parents, coaches, and supporters together for the development, growth, and celebration of the game. Beginning in 2018, Female Hockey Day has made stops in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Medicine Hat.
2025 Female Hockey Day was held in Medicine Hat and had sessions for newcomers to the game (Try Hockey), Para-Hockey, Defensive Sills, Goal Scoring, U9 & U11 3v3 games with their role models, as well as a Showcase Game featuring U18 AAA Calgary Fire Red (AFHL) versus Southern Alberta Hockey Academy (CSSHL).
Each year, the Hockey Alberta Foundation gives up to ten $1,000 community grants for associations to hold their own Female Hockey Day event in conjunction with the main event. Grant applications open in November.
For further information, please contact Morgen Kidney at mkidney@hockeyalberta.ca.
Hockey Alberta recently hosted its annual Female Hockey Day, celebrating the growth and development of female hockey across the province, with the host city being Medicine Hat. This year’s celebration was presented by ATB and brought together players, coaches, officials, family members, and volunteers to participate in events that highlighted the continued growth of female hockey in Alberta.
Female Hockey Day is an exciting occasion that celebrates the achievements of female athletes and provides an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow the sport.
One of the key takeaways from this year’s event in Medicine Hat was the strong community support from across the city. “There were a few things that stood out most about this event and about Medicine Hat, specifically, as a hockey community,” said Morgen Kidney, Hockey Alberta’s Minor Leagues Coordinator. “The first being the fact that every hockey-lover and supporter was super excited to take part in the day in some fashion. Even though our sessions were focused on girls’ hockey development, we saw brothers, dads, and other men supporting the event around the rink all day. This was most evident during the Showcase Game, in which there were a ton of young men in the crowd cheering for the top level of girls’ hockey in Alberta!”
Additionally, the energy in the arena was undeniable, with attendees showing a strong desire to stay and support the event from start to finish. “The other aspect that stood out about the event in Medicine Hat was that no one wanted to leave the arena. We see events where people come and go, but it was fantastic to see that the Medicine Hat girls in each of the sessions wanted to hang around, cheer for the other groups, and be involved in as much as possible.”
Kidney also reflected on the growth of the event over the past few years. “It’s really exciting to see how much Alberta Female Hockey Day has grown in the last few years. It was only 3 years ago that we were only seeing 2-3 associations apply to host satellite events in conjunction with our main one; the past two years, we’ve had 15+ apply.” Kidney continued, “I think this speaks to the incredible recent growth of girls’ hockey, and it’s only going to continue. Having events like this spread out across the entire province gives girls a chance to celebrate, enjoy the game, work on their skills, and spark conversation about their hockey goals and dreams.”
While Medicine Hat was the main host city for the 2025 event, celebrations took place in over 10 communities across Alberta, thanks to grant funding from the Hockey Alberta Foundation. These celebrations were held in Fort McMurray, High Prairie, Slave Lake, Bonnyville, Grovedale, Vermilion, Morinville, Edmonton, Lacombe, Red Deer, and Jasper, making Female Hockey Day a truly province-wide celebration.
The success of Female Hockey Day this year highlights the incredible growth and energy surrounding female hockey in Alberta, with communities coming together to support and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Elite Female Hockey Model (AAA and AA)
The Elite Female Hockey Model provides structure for top levels of Female hockey: U18 AAA, U18 AA, U15 AA and U13 AA hockey. The AA level provides players with an opportunity to play at a level that enables skill development and focuses on helping them get to the next level, bridging the gap between grassroots programs and AAA.
Teams in the Elite Female Hockey Model are part of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL).
PRINCIPLES
- A standardized province wide system of hockey that provides the opportunity for female players to develop and progress from grassroots hockey through to elite hockey and up into Team Alberta’s high performance programs.
- Defined criteria determining the appropriate number of teams within each category as well as the terms and conditions under which the teams operate. Establishes an environment that provides players with the opportunity to access the level of hockey they are capable of playing at; from grassroots programs progressing up to elite level opportunities for elite players.
- Foster development by providing an opportunity for players to access grassroots teams within close proximity to their home town, to access the elite developmental program regionally within a reasonable distance of travel and to access the AAA program within the province with no defined boundaries.
