Alberta Elite Hockey League

Last updated
Alberta Elite Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Founded1984
No. of teams17
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Calgary (NW) Flames
(2022-2023)
Most titlesRed Deer Rebels/Chiefs
Level on pyramidU18 AAA
Related
competitions
Telus Cup
Official website www.aehl.ca

The Alberta Elite Hockey League or AEHL (formerly the Alberta Midget Hockey League) is the provincial U18 "AAA" ice hockey league for Alberta, Canada. The league consists of 17 teams split into the North and South Divisions. League champions go on to compete with the BC Elite Hockey League champions to represent the Pacific at the annual Telus Cup, Canada's national U18 championship. The Calgary Buffaloes are the current league champions. Red Deer is the last AEHL team to win a national title, having won in 2012 & 2013.

Contents

Current teams

North Division

South Division


League awards

Trophy
Harry Allen Memorial Trophy Top Scorer
Trevor Linden Trophy Top Forward
Brian Benning Trophy Top Defenceman
Brian Sutter Trophy Top Defensive Forward
Bill Ranford Trophy Top Goaltender
Bob Johnson Memorial Trophy Top Sportsman
Glen Sather Trophy Coach of the Year
Richard Warwick Memorial Trophy
Esquire Watch MVP Playoff MVP

League champions

YearChampionAir Canada/Telus
2023Calgary (NW) FlamesUnknown
2022Calgary BuffaloesLost Pacific Championship
2021-Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020-Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019Calgary Buffaloes3rd
2018Lethbridge Hurricanes-
2017Shwab GM Oil Kings (Leduc)-
2016Lloydminister Bobcats4th
2015UFA Bisons4th
2014Red Deer Optimist ChiefsLost Pacific Championship
2013Red Deer Optimist ChiefsGold
2012Red Deer Optimist RebelsGold
2011Red Deer Optimist RebelsLost Pacific Championship
2010Red Deer Optimist Rebels5th
2009Calgary BuffaloesSilver
2008Calgary Buffaloes4th
2007Red Deer RebelsSilver
2006Calgary BuffaloesSilver
2005Edmonton Southside Athletics6th
2004Red Deer ChiefsBronze
2003Calgary NorthstarsGold
2002Red Deer Chiefs4th
2001Calgary RoyalsSilver
2000Fort Saskatchewan4th
1999Calgary FlamesSilver
1998Calgary BuffaloesBronze
1997Calgary RoyalsBronze
1996Red Deer Chiefs4th
1995Red Deer ChiefsSilver
1994Red Deer ChiefsSilver
1993Calgary Northstars4th
1992Sherwood Park Kings-
1991Calgary NorthstarsGold
Sherwood Park KingsSilver
1990St. Albert Raiders4th
1989Calgary BuffaloesGold
1988Calgary NorthstarsSilver
1987Calgary BuffaloesBronze
1986Sherwood Park-
1985Calgary BuffaloesBronze

Most championships

TeamChampionships
Red Deer Rebels/Chiefs10
Calgary Buffaloes9
Calgary Northstars3

Telus Cup

The Calgary Northstars (1991 and 2003), Calgary Buffaloes (1989), and Red Deer Optimist Rebels/Chiefs (2012 & 2013), represent the only AMHL teams to have won the national midget title. The AMHL has represented the Pacific at the tournament every year since 1985, with the exceptions of 1986, 1992, 2007, and 2012, when British Columbian teams won representation. [1] Alberta has hosted the national championship three times: 1991 in Calgary, 2007 in Red Deer, and 2012 in Leduc.

YearAMHL WinnerHost City
2013 Red Deer Optimist Chiefs Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
2012 Red Deer Optimist Rebels Leduc
2003 Calgary Northstars Sault Ste. Marie
1991 Calgary Northstars Calgary
1989 Calgary Buffaloes St. John's

Alumni

Many players move on from the AEHL to play Junior A or Major Junior in Western Canada. The league's National Hockey League (NHL) alumni include Jarome Iginla, Dany Heatley, Jason Smith, Trent Hunter, Joffery Lupul, Trevor Linden, Geoff Sanderson, Scottie Upshall, Brian Sutherby, Mike Comrie, Nick Tarnasky, Jonathan Filewich, Bryan McCabe, and Ozzy Wiesblatt.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telus</span> Subsidiary of Telus Corp, a Canadian telecommunications company

Telus Communications Inc. (TCI) is the wholly owned principal subsidiary of Telus Corporation, a Canadian national telecommunications company that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, healthcare, video, smart home automation and IPTV television. The company is based in the Vancouver, British Columbia, area; it was originally based in Edmonton, Alberta, before its merger with BC Tel in 1999. Telus' wireless division, Telus Mobility, offers UMTS, and LTE-based mobile phone networks. Telus is the incumbent local exchange carrier in British Columbia and Alberta. Its primary competitors are Rogers Communications and Bell Canada. Telus is a member of the British Columbia Technology Industry Association.

The Battle of Alberta is a term applied to the intense rivalry between the Canadian cities of Calgary, the province's most populous city, and Edmonton, the capital of the province of Alberta. Most often it is used to describe sporting events between the two cities, although this is not exclusive as the rivalry predates organized sports in Alberta.

The Sutter family, originally from Viking, Alberta, Canada, are one of the most famous families in the National Hockey League (NHL). Six brothers: Brent, Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich and Ron, reached the NHL in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Four brothers, Brent, Brian, Darryl and Duane, have gone on to become coaches and general managers as well, with Brian, Brent and Darryl, each having a stint as head coach of the Calgary Flames. All brothers played for either the Chicago Blackhawks or the St. Louis Blues at one point or another. A seventh brother named Gary is said by his brothers to have been the best hockey player of all seven boys. Rather than making his living as a hockey player, Gary stayed home to work on the family farm, as Rich remarked on an episode of the Canadian sports show Off the Record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hockey Alberta</span> Ice hockey governing body in Alberta

Hockey Alberta is the governing body of all ice hockey in Alberta, Canada and is affiliated with Hockey Canada. It was founded in 1907 as the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) to be the governing body for Alberta intra-city ice hockey play. As of the 2018–19 hockey season, the Chair of the Board of Directors was Terry Engen, and the Chief Executive Officer for operations management was Rob Litwinski.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circle K Classic</span>

The Circle K Classic is an international ice hockey tournament held annually for U18 players in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. First held in 1978, the tournament features 25 male teams from across Canada, the United States and Europe.

The Prince Albert Mintos are a Canadian ice hockey team that plays in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL). Their home rink is the Art Hauser Centre . The Prince Albert Mintos won the Telus Cup and Western Canadian Regionals back to back years starting in the 2005–2006 season and 2006–2007 year. They won the Telus Cup and Western Canadian Regionals for the third time in 2013–2014 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telus Cup</span> Canadian under-18 ice hockey club championships

The Telus Cup is Canada's national under-18 ice hockey club championship. It is an annual event, held by Hockey Canada each April. From 1979 to 2003, the national championship was sponsored by Air Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Albert Saints</span> Ice hockey team in St. Albert, Alberta

The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove Saints. In all its incarnations, the team has been a part of the junior 'A' Alberta Junior Hockey League.

The history of ice hockey in Calgary extends back well over a century to the first recorded ice hockey game in Alberta in 1893. Imported from eastern Canada, the game's popularity rapidly grew in the city, with teams at every level playing for and capturing Canada's national championships. Calgary is known today as one of Canada's best ice hockey cities with the Calgary Flames and Calgary Hitmen receiving immense support from the city. The Calgary Oval X-Treme is one of the most dominant women's ice hockey teams in the country, while Junior A ice hockey is also well supported with two teams in the city. Calgary is home to the Mac's AAA midget hockey tournament, one of the most prestigious midget hockey tournaments in the world which has seen dozens of future National Hockey League players play in this city before their professional careers began.

The British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) is the highest level of provincial youth ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. The league is governed by BC Hockey and was inaugurated in 2004 as the British Columbia Hockey Major Midget League (BCMML).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Junior Hockey League</span> Ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. The 2023–24 season began with 16 teams, however 5 teams did not finish the season after it was announced that they planned to join the BCHL in the 2024–25 season. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Inter Pipeline Cup. The winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Centennial Cup tournament, which determines Canadian Junior A champion.

The 2012 Telus Cup was Canada's 34th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship played April 23–29, 2012 at Leduc, Alberta. The Red Deer Optimist Rebels completed an improbable comeback in the gold medal game, scoring four unanswered goals in the third period en route to 6-5 double overtime win over the Phénix du Collège Esther-Blondin. It was Red Deer's first gold medal after three previous silver medal finishes.

The 2013 Telus Cup was Canada's 35th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, held April 22 – 28, 2013 at the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Red Deer Chiefs defeated the Ottawa Junior 67's in the gold medal game to win their second straight national title. The Rousseau Royal de Laval-Montréal won the bronze medal. This was Sault Ste. Marie's second time hosting the national championship – the 2003 Air Canada Cup was played at the old Sault Memorial Gardens.

The 1991 Air Canada Cup was Canada's 13th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, which was played April 23 – 28, 1991 at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary, Alberta.

The Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) is a defunct senior amateur hockey league that operated in Alberta, Canada from 1956 to 1966.

The 2017 Telus Cup was Canada's 39th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, contested April 24 – 30, 2017 at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia. The Cape Breton West Islanders defeated the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François 5-4 in overtime to win the gold medal, becoming the first team from Atlantic Canada to win a national midget championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Hagel</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1998)

Brandon Hagel is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). After making his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks on March 11, 2020, the NHL season was postponed due to COVID-19.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Neighbours</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 2002)

Jake Neighbours is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Blues in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 26th overall pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Strand</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Austin Strand is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). He previously played for the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. "League Champions". Alberta Midget Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2009-03-27.