Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 1984 |
No. of teams | 17 |
Country | Canada |
Most recent champion(s) | Calgary (NW) Flames (2022-2023) |
Most titles | Red Deer Rebels/Chiefs |
Level on pyramid | U18 AAA |
Related competitions | Telus Cup |
Official website | www |
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.
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 |
Year | Champion | Air Canada/Telus |
2023 | Calgary (NW) Flames | Unknown |
2022 | Calgary Buffaloes | Lost Pacific Championship |
2021 | - | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
2020 | - | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
2019 | Calgary Buffaloes | 3rd |
2018 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | - |
2017 | Shwab GM Oil Kings (Leduc) | - |
2016 | Lloydminister Bobcats | 4th |
2015 | UFA Bisons | 4th |
2014 | Red Deer Optimist Chiefs | Lost Pacific Championship |
2013 | Red Deer Optimist Chiefs | Gold |
2012 | Red Deer Optimist Rebels | Gold |
2011 | Red Deer Optimist Rebels | Lost Pacific Championship |
2010 | Red Deer Optimist Rebels | 5th |
2009 | Calgary Buffaloes | Silver |
2008 | Calgary Buffaloes | 4th |
2007 | Red Deer Rebels | Silver |
2006 | Calgary Buffaloes | Silver |
2005 | Edmonton Southside Athletics | 6th |
2004 | Red Deer Chiefs | Bronze |
2003 | Calgary Northstars | Gold |
2002 | Red Deer Chiefs | 4th |
2001 | Calgary Royals | Silver |
2000 | Fort Saskatchewan | 4th |
1999 | Calgary Flames | Silver |
1998 | Calgary Buffaloes | Bronze |
1997 | Calgary Royals | Bronze |
1996 | Red Deer Chiefs | 4th |
1995 | Red Deer Chiefs | Silver |
1994 | Red Deer Chiefs | Silver |
1993 | Calgary Northstars | 4th |
1992 | Sherwood Park Kings | - |
1991 | Calgary Northstars | Gold |
Sherwood Park Kings | Silver | |
1990 | St. Albert Raiders | 4th |
1989 | Calgary Buffaloes | Gold |
1988 | Calgary Northstars | Silver |
1987 | Calgary Buffaloes | Bronze |
1986 | Sherwood Park | - |
1985 | Calgary Buffaloes | Bronze |
Team | Championships |
Red Deer Rebels/Chiefs | 10 |
Calgary Buffaloes | 9 |
Calgary Northstars | 3 |
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.
Year | AMHL Winner | Host 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 |
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 and Bryan McCabe.
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada, alongside the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 19 times. Many players have been drafted from WHL teams, and have found success at various levels of professional hockey, including the National Hockey League (NHL).
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, Brian, Duane, Darryl and Brent, have gone on to become coaches and general managers as well, with Brian, Darryl, and Brent 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.
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Todd Michael Harkins is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 48 National Hockey League games for the Calgary Flames and Hartford Whalers. Harkins was drafted by the Flames in the 2nd round, 42nd overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in and consulted on hockey-related movies, and is now an amateur coach and professional scout.
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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.
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The 2004 National Midget Championship was Canada's 26th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, played April 18–25, 2004 at Kenora, Ontario. The Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Riverains du Collège Charles-Lemoyne 2-1 in overtime to win their first and only national title. It also marked the first time that a Manitoba team was the national midget champion.
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 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.
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