Sunday, September 27, 2009

WHL and Hockey Alberta enhance partnership

Press Release

Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League (WHL) and Hockey Alberta announced today that they have enhanced their longstanding partnership which will include joint programming initiatives and additional financial support for minor hockey and high performance programs in Alberta.

The WHL/Hockey Alberta partnership will include new province-wide programming initiatives which will serve to enhance development opportunities for players, coaches, officials and trainers in the Alberta system. The partnership will also feature both the WHL and Hockey Alberta extensively promoting their respective programs through special events, member venues, and media platforms.

The WHL will also expand its support for Hockey Alberta’s Program of Excellence at the Under 16 and Under 17 age levels. The WHL will also continue to support the Hockey Alberta Foundation by serving as an official sponsor of the annual Hockey Alberta Awards Gala and Hall of Fame Dinner, and the Team Alberta Golf Classic.

The new partnership will also include the WHL continuing to serve as a major sponsor of both the Alberta Bantam AAA League and the Alberta Midget AAA League. Both the Alberta Bantam AAA and Midget AAA Leagues serve as major suppliers of talent each year to the WHL.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with the WHL in the areas of programming, development, and promotion. This partnership will assist Hockey Alberta in promoting all our programs and services in the province to our membership and participants. It will also allow our organizations to jointly operate new initiatives to continue to enhance our game,” said Hockey Alberta General Manager, Rob Litwinski.

“The WHL is very pleased to further expand our support for Hockey Alberta development programs through this new partnership,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “Alberta is a major source of talent for the WHL and we are fully committed to working with Hockey Alberta to enhance their development system in the seasons ahead.”

The WHL/Hockey Alberta Agreement is an initial 3 year term encompassing the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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