Feature Interview with:
NAZEM KADRI
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
• Calgary Girls Hockey
• Incredible Season for Calgary Wranglers U13 AA Team
• New Flames Play-by-Play Announcer JON ABBOTT
Ready to Play? Register Now!
Chase the sun with our elite winter hockey tournaments in Florida, Las Vegas and Nashville. Then, hit the ice in Ontario this April to finish the season strong.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY RENEGADES PHOTOGRAPHY
10177 - 105 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 1E2 | Ph: 780.423.5834
President and Publisher: Rob Suggitt
Graphic Designer: Kate Suggitt
Contributing Writer: Jeremy Freeborn
Copy Editing: Michele Suggitt
Sales Associate: Jeremy Freeborn
Accounting Manager: Amber-Lea Grmek
Cover Photo Provided By:
Calgary Flames Hockey Club
Photography Credits:
•Athena Hughes
•Calgary Flames Hockey Club
•Clarkson Creative Photography
University of Denver Athletics
•COACHTAK Photography
•Dave Holland Photography
•Renegades Photography
•Ryan Dittrick - Calgary Flames
All Rights Reserved® - The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, ie. electronic, mechanical, photocopied or otherwise recorded without the prior written permission of the publisher - www.suggitt.com
Printed By DCM Calgary
PUBLISHER
Welcome to the Winter Edition of the Calgary Hockey Magazine!
In this edition, we have a feature interview with Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames. Kadri is in his 3rd year of his 7-year contract with the Calgary Flames, and his primary goal is to help get the Flames in the playoffs this season.
Calling the action this season is Jon Abbott, who replaced Rick Ball as the play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames this season. Abbott’s previous experience includes stints in Toronto, Vancouver, and most recently Ottawa. In calling games with the Flames, Abbott joins game analysts Kelly Hrudey and Greg Millen in the Sportsnet broadcast booth.
We are also pleased to include a feature on local players who play for the University of Denver, a favourite college destination for local talent. There are five players currently on the University of Denver roster, including forwards Rieger Lorenz and Carter King, defenseman Kent Anderson, and goaltenders Matt Davis and Freddie Halyk.
We also have a feature on the incredible season the U13 AA Calgary Wranglers are having in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U13 AA level. At press time, the team has a record of 16 wins, one loss, and one tie, and outscoring their opposition by 101-39.
Last but definitely not least, we have a feature on girls hockey in Calgary. Numbers are up nationwide for females playing hockey, at around 20% of all registered players, which is the highest percentage in Canadian hockey history. We met up with Girls Hockey Calgary Association President Amber Carney, who shared the excitement surrounding girls hockey, not only in Calgary, but across Canada.
ROB SUGGITT I Publisher Calgary Hockey Magazine
The Calgary Hockey Magazine is published by Suggitt Publishers
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CALGARY FLAMES HOCKEY CLUB
Interview with NAZEM KADRI
BY JEREMY FREEBORN
There is one word that best describes Calgary Flames centre and alternate captain Nazem Kadri of London, Ontario over the years. Agitator. He is a player who teammates love to have on their side, but cannot stand playing against. Kadri’s intentions are simply genuine. His attempt is to do whatever is necessary to help his team win. At this point in his hockey career, it is the Flames organization Kadri is representing and Flames fans are getting a front row seat of just how much Kadri can get under his opponent’s skin.
What makes Kadri so special? He simply has a mixture of physical aggression, offensive skill, and determination. The battles are not only physical, where he has delivered 1149 career hits in 942 games, but verbal too. Kadri has never been afraid to speak out when necessary. Sometimes the altercations have become most peculiar indeed. During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs while with the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington threw a water bottle at Kadri while he was conducting an interview for TNT. Binnington was reportedly upset that Kadri collided with him during the game.
There is no question that Kadri has played with an edge. He was praised for his style of game by his coaches and management while with the Toronto Maple Leafs, even though he was fined for diving infractions on multiple occasions, and suspended for his bodychecks and cross-checks. Opponents are sometimes of the opinion that Kadri’s misdemeanours are warranted, but when you have the opportunity to watch him play on a regular basis, and meet him in person, you are aware that Kadri has no intention of changing his style of game. What matters most to him are the opinions of his teammates and coaches.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska is very complimentary of Kadri’s leadership abilities and consistent performances. “It’s really great to see him working to bring people along because that’s what leadership is all about,” he said after a Flames’s 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins this past February.
One of those players happens to be Flames’s second year player Connor Zary. Last season, you could make the argument that once Zary and Kadri played together, Kadri not only made Zary better, but Zary made Kadri better. In the month of October of 2023, Kadri only had one goal and one assist for two points in nine games and was a -11. After the Flames made some lineup changes, and Kadri and Zary were playing together, Kadri had 28 goals and 45 assists for 73 points in 73 games, and was a +11. Also last season, Kadri had a career-high 277 shots on goal.
Kadri has now moved to the number one line in Calgary with the Flames trading Elias Lindholm to Vancouver last January. Even though Kadri has had multiple linemates on the right side (Andrei Kuzmenko, Martin Pospisil and Yegor Sharangovich), Huska has generally kept Kadri and Zary together, and now the two are seeing first line minutes.
In November, I had the opportunity to speak with Kadri after practice. As it is our Minor Hockey Week issue, I had the opportunity to ask Kadri about his first time playing hockey.
“I guess when I was about four or five years old on outdoor rinks,” Kadri recalls. “Playing with friends and family (in southern Ontario). There were some good memories for sure.”
Kadri has a lot of positive memories playing minor hockey.
“This is where it started, and where I met a lot of good friends of mine,” he stated. “It was fun travelling, staying at hotels, and playing in tournaments.”
The fact that Nazem had the opportunity to play hockey was very special for Nazem’s father Samir. When Samir moved to Canada from Lebanon at the age of four, he was a part of a family adjusting to Canadian life. He played football and basketball at school, but could not play the sport he loved the most due to financial constraints—hockey.
While growing up in London, Nazem not only played hockey, but would go see the London Knights with his father on a regular basis. In his recent biography “Dreamer,” Kadri stated “I worked endlessly on the street, in the backyard, and at the rink. And I tried to emulate everything I saw at London Knights games, on Hockey Night in Canada, and in the endless highlights I consumed. I studied the game.”
One of Kadri’s most memorable minor hockey moments was winning the gold medal at age 16 for Team Ontario at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon. Kadri remembers the weather outside was -50 °C.
“It was cold,” remembers Kadri. “We were mostly inside. We had a unique team, and it was fun to win the gold there.” In the gold medal game, Ontario beat Manitoba 6-4. Among the future NHL players who were Kadri’s Team Ontario teammates were Adam Henrique, Steven Stamkos, Cody Hodgson, Michael Del Zotto, and Alex Pietrangelo.
Kadri played minor hockey with the London Junior Knights prior to his junior career where he played with the Kitchener Rangers and London Knights. In 242 Ontario Hockey League games from 2006 to 2010, he had 92 goals and 166 assists for 258 points.
In 2009, Kadri was drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs. You would think growing up in southern Ontario, it would have been Kadri’s childhood dream to play for the Maple Leafs.
“No, it actually wasn’t,” remembers Kadri. “A lot of my friends and family were Leafs fans. I was actually a big Habs fan. I was one of very few in my hometown to be a Habs fan. We always bet against the Leafs. But come draft day, things all changed. I hopped on the Leafs’ bandwagon for sure, and still root for them to this day.”
In 2009-10, Kadri had a great final season in the OHL. He was fourth in league scoring with 93 points (35 goals and 58 assists). Kadri also won a silver medal for Team Canada at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon, and played his first NHL game against the San Jose Sharks.
Kadri would be a mainstay in the Maple Leafs lineup for the next decade. From 2010 to 2019, he had 357 points (161 goals and 196 assists) in 561 games.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CALGARY FLAMES HOCKEY CLUB
I am with a team I have watched a lot in the past. Being Canadian, coming back to Canada, and playing for a team in the country I was raised in means a lot.
There are a lot of friends and family close by which is great. It means a lot to also represent the city of Calgary.
“
On July 1, 2019, Kadri was involved in a blockbuster trade as he moved from the Maple Leafs to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, the Maple Leafs received current Flames defenseman Tyson Barrie.
While in Colorado, Kadri played three seasons from 2019 to 2022, and had 155 points (58 goals and 97 assists) in 178 games. In his final season in Colorado, Kadri had the most memorable season of his NHL career. He had career-highs in assists (59), points (87), power-play points (29), and power-play assists (21). Kadri was an NHL All-Star for the first time, and won a Stanley Cup.
“Winning the Cup is what you dream of, and it is not easy to do,” states Kadri. “The more experience you have, the more you realize how difficult it is.”
Kadri made hockey history when he won the Stanley Cup. He became the first Muslim player to win hockey’s biggest prize, and is the fourth Lebanese player to be in the NHL, following former defensemen John Hanna and Alain Nasreddine, and former right winger Edward Hatoum.
Representing his heritage is very important to Kadri.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be one of the first ones to do it,” explains Kadri. “To be successful at it opens the doors for kids to be able to dream, and achieve what they want to achieve. It is definitely special to me.”
On August 18, 2022, Kadri signed a long-term contract with the Calgary Flames. He agreed to a seven-year deal worth $49 million. Joining the Flames is very special to Kadri.
“I am with a team I have watched a lot in the past,” says Kadri. “Being Canadian, coming back to Canada, and playing for a team in the country I was raised in means a lot. There are a lot of friends and family close by which is great. It means a lot to also represent the city of Calgary.”
In Kadri’s first season with the Flames in 2022-23, he was an All-Star for the second time. He had 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 82 games.
So far as a member of the Flames, Kadri has really enjoyed playing the Battle of Alberta. In a game in October in Edmonton, the Flames had one of their most complete performances of the season, in a 4-1 Flames win.
For Calgary minor hockey league players, Kadri has the following message:
“Continue to work,” states Kadri. “You have to have work ethic and discipline. Those are two of the most important things to push yourself as far as you can go. Working on your craft daily is very important. You have to have a dedication and passion for it.”
Finally, Kadri would like to help guide the Flames into the playoffs. He feels this hockey team has the potential to be a great “Cinderella story.” Time will tell, but so far this season it appears with Kadri as an instrumental part of this team, the Flames will be in the mix.
BY JEREMY FREEBORN
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RYAN DITTRICK - CALGARY FLAMES
For the first time in a decade, Calgary Flames fans on Rogers Sportsnet are hearing a new voice doing play-by-play. A job opening popped up in Calgary over the summer when Rick Ball accepted a position to be the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Blackhawks. The new broadcaster for the Flames is Jon Abbott of Aylmer, Ontario.
Abbott comes to Calgary with an impressive resume. It includes covering the World Junior Hockey Championship, the World Hockey Championship, the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and covering the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.
Like many broadcasters, Abbott had to work his way up to working in the National Hockey League. His duties included working for the London Knights on Rogers Cable, being the radio voice of the Ottawa 67’s in the Ontario Hockey League from 2007 to 2011, and being the voice of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League from 2012 to 2013. In the summer of 2013, Abbott was contacted by the Maple Leafs to broadcast half their games on radio for the 2013-14 season.
Ironically, this is not the first time Abbott has replaced Ball in the broadcast booth. Prior to coming to Calgary, Ball was the radio voice for the Vancouver Canucks on TSN 1040. Ball’s replacement for three seasons happened to be Abbott, who had the position from 2014 to 2017, before Sportsnet 650 won the Canucks’s radio rights. After leaving Vancouver, Abbott returned to Ontario, and from 2021 to 2024, filled in for Gord Miller when needed on TSN’s Ottawa Senators television broadcasts.
In November, I had the opportunity to interview Jon before a Calgary Flames’s practice. My first question was how excited he was in coming to Calgary and being the new television voice of the Flames organization.
“I’m extremely excited,” claims Abbott. “This has been a surreal opportunity because it is everything you dream of as a broadcaster to have an opportunity like this. Calgary is a really good city with a passionate fanbase, and good hockey team. There are a lot of great people off the ice. Having the opportunity to take care of my family was extremely important to me, and to have it all come together in one stop was something I have worked my entire career for, and feel very grateful that Rogers Sportsnet and the Flames gave me the opportunity. We hope we are here forever. This is home now. We have three kids and are officially Albertans.”
Earlier this season, Abbott made his Hockey Night in Canada debut as the Flames played the Seattle Kraken. It was very special for Abbott that night to be personally recognized by host Ron MacLean.
“That was incredible,” recalled Abbott. “You probably think I am crazy, but I have always wanted to do the job I am in. As much as I watched Hockey Night in Canada growing up because I was a hockey fan, I watched because I was a broadcast fan too. To see the evolution of Hockey Night in Canada to where it is now, to have the opportunity to
“
This has been a surreal opportunity because it is everything you dream of as a broadcaster to have an opportunity like this. Calgary is a really good city with a passionate fanbase, and good hockey team.
”
call a Hockey Night in Canada game was a dream come true. It is still a dream come true, and something I do not take for granted. That is something very, very special, to have the opportunity to do that. It was an amazing chance that I did not know I was going to get right away.”
Abbott is also excited to have the chance to work alongside two outstanding former NHL goalies in Kelly Hrudey and Greg Millen.
“Kelly is a legendary goalie, legendary broadcaster, and Hall of Fame person. For someone in my position, as a newcomer to Calgary, I could not find a better person to call games with than Kelly. He has played in the best league in the world, called games in the best league in the world, and has been in Calgary for a long time. Along with Greg Millen, those two guys are very special to me already, have taken me under their wing, and have made me feel very comfortable. That is hugely important for a broadcast. They have made it really easy.”
Hrudey and Millen are not the only two goaltenders Abbott has worked with in the broadcasting industry. While in Ottawa, Abbott worked alongside former Flames goaltender Jamie McLennan during Senators broadcasts.
“I have to give a shout out to my former broadcasting partner,” explains Abbott. “He was excellent as well. I have been really lucky everywhere I have gone.”
So, what goes into a typical hockey broadcast? According to Abbott, the preparation is well before game day. On the day of the game, Abbott tries to arrive at the rink an hour before practice. He tries to do as much reading as possible, watch both teams skate, interview both coaches, speak to a few of the key players, go home and print off important information, return to the rink and get mentally focused.
Abbott loves working at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“It is one of the best booths in the National Hockey League,” explains Abbott. “I know it is an old building and we are all excited about the new building to come. As far as broadcast locations go, it is one of the best in the league.”
I then asked Jon why the broadcast booth in Calgary is so special.
“The proximity to the ice,” Abbott states. “The fact that it kind of hangs right over, but you are not extremely high or far away. In the newer rinks, it feels like you are at the back and are far away. At the Saddledome, it feels like you are on top of the action. The fact that the fans are around you and the building still shakes, adds to the energy.”
Growing up in southern Ontario in the town of Aylmer, Jon lived close to where former Flames owner Harley Hotchkiss grew up in Tillsonburg. Hotchkiss sponsored the minor hockey community in the region, and the players wore Flames jerseys.
“My early days in hockey, I was putting on the Flames colours,” remembers Abbott.
Abbott was a goaltender growing up. That is also not a surprise when you consider the fact he has high admiration for Hrudey, Millen and McLennan.
Abbott followed his father along to work at the lumber mill. While at his father’s work, he had a tape recorder and practiced doing sports reports on a regular basis. In high school, he volunteered in smaller communities, and then in London for Rogers Cable. Then, Abbott attended the broadcasting program at Seneca College in Toronto and graduated in 2004.
From a broadcasting perspective, Abbott idolized Bob Cole and Chris Cuthbert. He has also become very good friends with former Edmonton Oilers play-by-play man Dennis Beyak. Abbott admires how Beyak returned to work during the 2004-05 NHL lockout year and broadcasted Ontario Hockey League games. Abbott remembers learning a lot from him and getting a lot of sports broadcasting tips.
On the international level, Abbott covered the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang on radio. He clearly remembers the gamewinning goal in overtime by current Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov in the gold medal game against Germany in a 4-3 Olympic Athletes from Russia win.
Abbott encourages everyone to take a trip to see the World Hockey Championship in Europe. He has had the chance to do six broadcasts overseas and is amazed at the passion of hockey fans from Latvia, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
“You appreciate how hockey is a global game, and how much it means to other people,” explains Abbott. “The parades for the winning team are like a Stanley Cup Parade times 10. That is how much the World Hockey Championship trophy means to European countries.”
For those interested in broadcasting, Abbott talks about the importance of work ethic, practice, and to watch as much hockey as you can. In his opinion, you cannot read enough or prepare enough. He also discusses the importance of developing a broadcasting style. Many times from working in television, Abbott realizes not saying anything can be the right choice and to let the pictures tell the story. He also emphasizes the importance of keeping the fans interested and engaged when the game itself may not be all that interesting to the viewer (for example, during a time of a blowout).
From a Flames perspective, Abbott has high admiration for current general manager Craig Conroy and head coach Ryan Huska. He praises their style (a focus on work ethic and being relentless), and high degree of professionalism. In analyzing the Flames, Abbott is aware that there were a few Flames over the last few years who did not want to be Flames. Conroy addressed this issue and kept the players who wanted to be here. Abbott believes the core group led by Mikael Backlund, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar set the tone. There is also a feeling that the veterans want to prove critics, who have low expectations for the team, that they are wrong.
In conclusion, Abbott realizes the challenges of constantly being at the top of his game.
“It is a really, really, really difficult league to stay in,” explains Abbott. “There are so many good people. It is so competitive. My goal is to do a great job each game. Every season my goal is to be back and do another, and to bring the life and excitement on the ice to fans who cannot make it to the game. If you ask me, I hope to be in Calgary forever. This is where I want to be. This is where I want my kids to grow up. This is home.”
And the Calgary Flames fan base are lucky to have a broadcaster who is already extremely passionate about being a Calgarian!
RIEGER
LORENZ
LEADS 5 CALGARIANS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
BY JEREMY FREEBORN
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CLARKSON CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY UNIVERSITY OF DENVER ATHLETICS
The University of Denver Pioneers are one of the top hockey schools at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level. This past spring they won their 10th national championship, and so far in 2024-25 are at 15 wins and five losses. The Pioneers have a strong local flavour, as five University of Denver players who won the Frozen Four title last season and who are back with the Pioneers this season, just so happen to hail from the Calgary region. They are forwards Rieger Lorenz and Carter King, defenseman Kent Anderson, and goaltenders Matt Davis and Freddie Halyk.
King and Davis are seniors this year. Lorenz and Anderson are juniors, while Halyk is a sophomore. All five players have Alberta Junior Hockey League experience. Halyk backstopped the Lloydminster Bobcats and Camrose Kodiaks for two seasons from 2021 to 2023. King played briefly with the Calgary Mustangs in 2018-19 (one assist in one game before playing one season with the Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League). Anderson was with the Calgary Canucks in 2018-19, before two seasons with the Drumheller Dragons from 2019 to 2021. Davis was the goalie for the Spruce Grove Saints from 2018 to 2020, and Lorenz was with the Okotoks Oilers for three seasons from 2019 to 2022. While playing in the AJHL, Lorenz had a spectacular 2021-22 season. He had 38 goals and 47 assists for 85 points in only 60 games and had 11 points (two goals and nine assists) in 14 postseason contests. Lorenz’s offensive skill caught the eyes of National Hockey League scouts. He was the Minnesota Wild’s second round pick, 56th overall, in the 2022 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
Lorenz’s greatest skill set is his foot speed. His ability to quickly separate himself from his opponent is one of his most notable assets.
This past season, Lorenz took his game to the top level of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association. In 44 games, he had 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points. What was also impressive was the fact Lorenz was a +21, and could be a very effective defensive forward too. In the NCAA Frozen Four Championship, Lorenz made the All-Tournament team.
Through the season, Lorenz had two two-goal games. He achieved the feat in an 8-4 Denver win over the University of Nebraska Omaha on November 17, 2023, and in a 5-2 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth on March 16, 2024. Then on April 13, Lorenz was the Pioneers top forward in the Frozen Four Final from St. Paul, Minnesota. He set up Jared Wright at 9:42 of the second period for the game-winning goal, and then scored from Zeev Buium and Sean Behrens for a key insurance marker with four minutes and 44 seconds left in the second period. Ironically, Buium was the Wild’s first round pick, 12th overall, in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The other key Pioneers player in the final was Davis. He made 35 saves for the shutout. For Davis, it was his second shutout for Denver University last season as he also made 17 saves in a 4-0 Pioneers win over University of Minnesota Duluth on March 15, 2024. So far in 202425, Davis has had one shutout. It came on November 1, in a dominant 6-0 Pioneers win over Yale where he made 22 saves.
Like Davis, Freddie Halyk has three shutouts for the Pioneers over the last two years. Halyk’s first NCAA shutout was a 4-0 win over Air Force on October 28, 2023. Then he blanked Yale twice last season by scores of 5-0 on November 24, 2023, and 9-0 on November 25, 2023.
You will not see Anderson’s name much on the scoreboard. That is because as a shutdown defenseman, his role is to prevent the other team from scoring. In 83 games over three years, Anderson has three goals and 10 assists for 13 points.
Last season King feasted on Arizona State. In back-to-back nights in November, he had a combined total of six points (three goals and three assists). So far this season, King, the Pioneers captain, is averaging more than a point per game at the NCAA level. He has 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points in 20 games.
As the 2024-25 NCAA season progresses, Lorenz’s development will continue to be a significant storyline. According to Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News, Pioneers head coach David Carle really likes Lorenz’s defensive game. Lorenz may not put up a point every single night, but is doing a lot of the right things in his own end of the ice consistently that is making him a genuine NHL prospect. It also helps the fact that Lorenz is part of the Wild organization, which historically has a defense first mentality. In early December, I caught up with Lorenz for a phone interview following Pioneers practice.
Lorenz first describes how meaningful it was for him to win the Frozen Four, the 10th NCAA men’s ice hockey title for the Pioneers.
“It was a dream come true,” beams Lorenz. “There were a lot of ups and downs throughout that year, and it was nice to see our team come together near the end for the playoffs. My teammates will be my brothers for life. It was obviously the greatest hockey moment in my life so far, and it was something I will cherish forever.”
While growing up in Calgary minor hockey, Rieger played for Symons Valley, the Calgary Northstar Sabres in bantam, and Edge School for two years, before three seasons with the Okotoks Oilers. During Esso Minor Hockey Week, Rieger remembers winning the tournament during his second year of atom. The championship game was played at Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park. While playing for Edge as an adolescent, Rieger had 51 goals and 63 assists for 114 points in 71 games.
As a member of the Okotoks Oilers, Rieger made a lot of friends. As mentioned, Lorenz had a stupendous 2021-22 season, but is still a bit disappointed he only played seven AJHL games in 2020-21, as the season was abbreviated due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At age 18 two years ago, Lorenz was elated to be drafted by the Wild. “It was a dream come true. Every kid dreams of something like that. I had my family down here in Denver when I got drafted, so it was super special to have them around me. After everything they have given me over the years, it was super special to celebrate that with them.”
Lorenz explains why he chose the AJHL/NCAA route instead of the Western Hockey League.
“My dad played for the University of Notre Dame (Terry Lorenz was the Fighting Irish captain in 1996-97), so I kind of wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Lorenz explains. “He educated me about the athletics and academics side, and let me make my own decision. Denver reached out when I was 14 and made an offer. It was a no brainer for me when I came down here. This is a super special place, and I am so glad I came here.”
Lorenz explains why someone should choose the College route.
“It comes down to development,” explains Lorenz. “There is an emphasis on quality over quantity. We played 44 games last year. They are quality games and high paced. The practices and the coaching you get here is unmatched. Everyday we are coming to practice, and we all work our butts off and get better.”
Lorenz also took the time to talk about his Calgary-based teammates.
“We are all very close obviously,” he states. “There is a little bit of an age gap between the five of us, but we grew up super close over three years together. I really enjoy having those guys on the team and I can call them friends.”
Lorenz is always trying to improve. This season he is working in an effort to be bigger, faster and stronger. As for the 2024-25 season, Lorenz worked very hard in the off-season to prepare for the year ahead. So far, the Pioneers’s hard work has paid off. The Pioneers are ranked sixth in the country and have won 15 of their first 20 games. Denver is definitely in the mix to defend their college hockey championship. For the future, Lorenz’s ultimate goal is to make the NHL, and believes the University of Denver is a great place to help him achieve that goal.
ANDERSON
HALYK
DAVIS
KING
GIRLS HOCKEY CALGARY ASSOCIATION
AND VISION 2030
BY JEREMY FREEBORN
This past year there were 108,313 Canadian females playing hockey. That is 19.9% of all Canadian hockey players. According to the Canadian Press, it is the highest percentage in Canadian hockey history.
However, Hockey Canada has their sites on a bigger long-term goal. In a recent paper titled Vision 2030, Hockey Canada wants to increase the number of girls playing hockey in Canada by over 62,000 within the next six years. This would mean 170,000 Canadian females would be playing hockey.
The goals are lofty and it is too early to tell if they are realistic. At this time, 45% of Canadian females playing hockey are based in Ontario, with only 12% in Alberta. However, it should be noted that Alberta has the second most number of girls playing hockey among all Canadian provinces. There are more females in Alberta playing hockey than in British Columbia and Quebec.
A major part of the paper is to discuss certain challenges facing women’s hockey, and the systemic barriers that exist which have prevented women’s hockey from growing.
There are 15 members on the committee. They include former Canadian Olympic gold medalists Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Gillian Apps, Jayna Hefford, Therese Brisson and Kim St. Pierre. Other members are Own the Podium CEO Anne Merklinger, and Hockey Canada President and CEO Katherine Henderson.
One must realize that the committee is basically just getting started. The purpose of the paper is to address what the issues are. From there, there will be a strategic plan in place how to increase participation numbers.
It is clear that there needs to be a focus at the grass roots level. In Canadian society today, hockey competes against many other sports, and there is a significant challenge not only to encourage players to try hockey, but to encourage them to continue to play hockey once they start. The Hockey Canada study has concluded that boys/men play hockey for 2.4 years longer on average than girls/women.
In November, Calgary Hockey Magazine spoke with Girls Hockey Calgary Association President Amber Carney to get a local perspective on Vision 2030.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY COACHTAK PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO PROVIDED BY RENEGADES PHOTOGRAPHY
Carney first addressed her own immediate feelings of this new initiative.
“My first initial reaction was excitement,” explains Carney. “I think that women’s hockey is growing exponentially and we have seen tremendous growth over the last five years. Our association has essentially doubled. As volunteers, we do not have the time and effort to invest as they (Hockey Canada) will likely invest in putting this plan into place. It is really helpful for us as we are planning to have (Hockey Canada) support us in our decisions and grow the game even further.”
There is also an attempt by Hockey Canada to change general stereotypes and traditional opinions about female hockey. In Vision 2030, they state “there remains stereotypes that women’s and girls’ hockey is not as competitive as the game is for men and boys.”
Carney is aware that the competitive stereotype “have been engrained in a lot of people’s minds for so many years.” She does not know how that is going to change, and is very curious what Hockey Canada’s plan will be. Carney’s daughter started playing hockey at a young age, and has surrounded herself with friends and teammates who also play hockey. However, in Carney’s opinion, it is harder for girls to start hockey at a later age because of the “stigma that there is. It is a little nerve wracking if they do not know about women’s hockey.” There can also be a definite element of reluctancy here to give something different a try. There is a feeling that girls may feel intimidated to try something new when they lack experience compared to their teammates.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY COACHTAK PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO PROVIDED DAVE HOLLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
A lot of times people don’t realize female players are going to learn differently
on the ice and off the ice,” states Carney, “and
they are going to be motivated differently... We really need to be
aware of
that
when
we are trying to
support
these girls, and bring them through our programs. That’s something we really try to be cognisant of and really bring to the table...
”
This is also the second season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. There have been women’s hockey leagues in Canada before. I was in fact the public address announcer for Calgary’s Oval Xtreme for two years in the National Women’s Hockey League and the Western Women’s Hockey League. However, this is the first women’s hockey league where the games can be seen regularly on television, and news about the league can be found on all mainstream sports websites across Canada. Having PWHL players in the media spotlight can only help grow the game at the grassroots level even further.
At the local level, the Girls Hockey Calgary Association are experiencing some significant challenges. The primary issue is scheduling ice time, and the cost of ice time. There is no home arena for the organization. Ice time is scheduled for players at local arenas throughout the city.
The Girls Hockey Calgary Association shares time with teams from Hockey Calgary. Even though they get support from Hockey Calgary, there is an issue because there is no ice equity access policy in Canada. Older groups (both boys and girls) can be on the ice until 11 pm at night. While other boys and girls’ teams will be on the ice at 4pm. This is right after school, and difficult for parents to get their kids to the rink on time.
There is also an issue with national alignment. According to Carney, all the provinces run their hockey programs differently. “To be able to have something from our governing bodies is going to be beneficial to us to be able to move forward on the same path.”
In recent years, improvements have been made to have hockey equipment made specifically for female hockey players. Unfortunately, hockey equipment remains expensive. Finances continue to be a barrier. According to the report, “women’s and girls’ hockey-specific programs often rely on grants and additional streams of funding to operate, which leads to instability for initiatives and a lack of certainty towards what the future of the sport might hold.”
In Calgary, it can be expensive now for families just to get to the rink within the city. Weather delays, high cost of gas, and heavy traffic are just some of the factors that families face.
The Girls Hockey Calgary Association gives girls an opportunity to play with each other. Girls have an opportunity to be taught by female coaches,
and have an opportunity to relate to someone of their own gender. Carney stresses the importance of having female coaches in order for the program to grow.
“A lot of times people don’t realize female players are going to learn differently on the ice and off the ice,” states Carney, “and they are going to be motivated differently. There are all these developmental factors that play into their success. We really need to be aware of that when we are trying to support these girls, and bring them through our programs. That’s something we really try to be cognisant of and really bring to the table, that a lot of community associations are not going to recognize as much because they are not female focused.”
Carney hopes Hockey Canada can help the Girls’ Hockey Calgary Association in providing “data-driven information” and research that will assist in her organization in making decisions. “In general, there’s not enough information about females specifically in hockey to educate the coaches and families enough to support them.” More information will assist in the development of female hockey players, and allow them to achieve their dreams of obtaining a scholarship, or playing hockey as a living in the PWHL.
If there is one stereotype that makes Carney cringe a little, it is the one that girls can only be better if they play with boys. She discusses the high number of female players who start in their association, leave to play with boys, and then return to play with girls. Carney does not believe the problem is coaching, and gives high praise to the GHCA coaches, who she describes as “phenomenal.”
“There’s a big stigma we are trying to fight,” states Carney, “we are getting there. (The challenge) is changing the thought process.”
It is the Girls’ Hockey Calgary Association’s belief that having girl only teams and having girl teams only play girl teams is best for their players’ development.
“I think the challenge is that not everyone thinks that same way,” states Carney. “You are pushing against the norm. We have to really advocate for our program, and advocate for the benefits of why that is, so that people don’t just say, ‘oh well, that’s not competitive, I’m going to go play community hockey.’ Physiologically and mentally there are a lot of benefits for females playing on all-female teams against all-female teams.”
For those interested in joining the Girls Hockey Calgary Association, please go to www.girlshockeycalgary.com
For more information about Vision 2030, search: cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Female/ Downloads/womens-and-girls-paper-e.pdf
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DAVE HOLLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO PROVIDED BY RENEGADES PHOTOGRAPHY
•
•
•
•
U13 AA CALGARY WRANGLERS
BY
One of the most notable stories in Calgary minor hockey this season has been the remarkable play of the U13 AA Calgary Wranglers of the Calgary Buffalo Hockey Association. After 18 games, the Wranglers have an outstanding record of 16 wins, one regulation loss, and one tie for 33 points. They are averaging over six goals per game, and have outscored their opponents 101-39.
Heading into the Christmas break, the Wranglers find themselves on a 13-game winning streak. The only team to have beaten the Wranglers to date were the Calgary Northstars Hockey Association Gold squad. On October 6, the Wranglers lost a tight 2-1 game, where the star was Northstars goaltender Dylan Lavallée, who made 45 saves.
What is also remarkable about the Wranglers squad is that you will not find a single player on the team in the top 75 scorers in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U13 AA level. The Wranglers are literally winning as a unit. There have been 14 Wranglers goal scorers this year, and 17 Wranglers with at least a single point. In fact, 11 players have reached double digits in points. Benjamin Morisset leads the Wranglers with 15 goals, while Willem Thiessen leads the Wranglers with 14 assists and 28 points.
It is clear the one area that Wranglers head coach Karl Schwonik is the most proud of is goals against. The Wranglers have given up only 39 goals in 16 games. That is tied for the least number of goals against among all 46 U13 AA level teams in Alberta. The Wranglers are tied with the St. Albert Stars. Schwonik states “the commitment to defense-first and team play is on display in every game.”
The Wranglers coach has also been ecstatic with his team’s penalty killing over the first 18 games of the season. The Wranglers have only given up nine power play goals. In fact, the team has an excellent penalty killing percentage of 90%, and have scored four shorthanded goals.
The two Wranglers who show up statistically among the top in the province are goaltenders Robert Kulcsar and Kyle Tameling, as they have simply been brilliant. Kulcsar has a record of eight wins and zero losses with one shutout, a stingy goals against average of 1.63 and save percentage of .923. He has only given up 13 goals in eight games, and his 1.63 GAA is the very best in Alberta. Tameling has a record of eight wins, one loss, and one tie, with a goals against average of 2.62 and save percentage of .903. Kulcsar was also recognized as the player of the month for November.
Schwonik has also been thrilled with the quality of leadership he is seeing, and gives praise to team captain Cole Leonard, and assistants Finley Robertson, Nickolas Acierno, and Parker Bradbury. “The leadership group has played a large role in the success of the team this season, setting the tone both on and off the ice,” he states. “A commitment to culture, practice habits, and competing in all situations has been the focus for the leadership group.”
The U13AA Calgary Buffalo Wranglers are a team all Calgary hockey fans should be watching throughout the season. Their commitment to team play deserves high praise!
JEREMY FREEBORN I PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ATHENA HUGHES
BOARDING
