News & Events (updated August 11, 2022)
Foothills Bisons registration link is open!!
Click above to register for U13AA, U15AA, or U18AA!!
Click above to register for U13AA, U15AA, or U18AA!!
***All condtioning skates (U13AA, U15AA, and U18AA will take place at Snodgrass Arena in High River.***
Changes for male AAA and AA hockey
AEHL transitioning U16 AAA to U17 AAA
The Alberta Elite Hockey League and the Elite Male Committee will replace the U16 AAA category with a U17 AAA category of play for the 2022-23 hockey season. All U16 AAA teams from 2021-22 will transition to offer U17 AAA teams in 2022-23. U18 AAA will continue to be a three-year age category of play unimpacted by this change.
The Elite Male Committee determined that the previous structure with U16 AAA was not conducive to deliver continuous development opportunities for AAA-calibre players across the province from U15 AAA through U18 AAA. Based on historical data, it was determined that approximately 40 per cent of the total AEHL player population consists of 15-year-old players (U16 AAA age) – the highest percentage for any of the five birth years in the AAA stream. Of the 380 15-year-old players playing U16 AAA, over two-thirds do not go on to play U18 AAA the next season; approximately 50 per cent of U16 AAA players end up playing U18 AA in their 16-year-old season.
The data suggests that 16-year-old players are still interested in competitive, regional systems of hockey following their U16 AAA season, but the former AAA structure resulted in an oversaturation of 15-year-old players in the AAA structure and a bottleneck leading into U18 AAA that creates a lack of opportunities for 16-year-old players in AAA hockey.
By eliminating U16 AAA (a single birth year age category) and replacing it with U17 AAA (a dual birth year age category), there will be more opportunities at AAA for 16-year-old players and fewer opportunities for 15-year-old players, creating the potential for most AAA players to remain in the model from U15 AAA through U18 AAA. This continuity affords AAA associations improved opportunities to develop players over a greater time and helps ensure that AAA-calibre players select the AEHL as their Elite league of choice for the continuity it affords to play elite hockey over a prolonged period of time, at a reasonable price and within a reasonable distance of their resident minor hockey association.
Affiliation: For the purposes of affiliation, U17 AAA teams will be eligible to affiliate any 15-or-16-year-old players not playing U18 AAA. Players on U17 AAA teams will be eligible to affiliate to U18 AAA, but not U18 AA or U16 AA.
U16 AA expanding to provincial pilot project
To align with the change to U17 AAA, the AA Hockey Committee will continue to operate U16 AA for the 2022-2023 season as a pilot project, expanding from a pilot with Hockey Calgary and the South Central Alberta Hockey League (SCAHL) to a province-wide pilot project.
U16 AA was created to ensure 15-year-old players can access a level of hockey suitable for their skill level. With AAA restructuring to reduce the number of 15-year-olds in the AAA model, the AA Committee determined that the 2022-23 season would be crucial to determine the viability of U16 AA while continuing to ensure there is an equitable opportunity for all AA calibre players in the AA model.
U13 AA structure changes
Following a review by a Member Ad-Hoc Committee of the U13 AA model, the AA Hockey Committee has introduced U13 AA structure changes for the 2022-23 hockey season. The changes include new criteria on the minimum number of U13 players in a recruitment area required to host one U13 AA team, as well as amending the numbers at which more than one team is required. INFORMATION BULLETIN 21-07 April 8, 2022.
Starting in the 2022-23 season, a recruitment area will be required to have a minimum of 125 total U13 registered players to host a U13 AA team and be permitted to host an additional U13 AA team for every additional 125 total U13 players registered in that recruitment area (ie: 2 teams at 250+ players, 3 teams at 375+ players, etc.).
In the past, the percentage of U13 players selected from each AA Recruitment Area varied between 8% and 23% of U13 registration in a Recruitment Area. This means that AA teams in some Recruitment Areas represent nearly three times more of their total U13 registrants than teams from other Recruitment Areas.
The Committee determined this gap was too wide and criteria needed to be implemented to ensure recruitment areas operate with and select a more similar percentage of their top players for the highest category of U13 hockey. The updated structure will ensure U13 AA teams are comprised of between 7.6- 15% of total U13 registration, a significant improvement. The updated U13 AA model is as follows:
AEHL transitioning U16 AAA to U17 AAA
The Alberta Elite Hockey League and the Elite Male Committee will replace the U16 AAA category with a U17 AAA category of play for the 2022-23 hockey season. All U16 AAA teams from 2021-22 will transition to offer U17 AAA teams in 2022-23. U18 AAA will continue to be a three-year age category of play unimpacted by this change.
The Elite Male Committee determined that the previous structure with U16 AAA was not conducive to deliver continuous development opportunities for AAA-calibre players across the province from U15 AAA through U18 AAA. Based on historical data, it was determined that approximately 40 per cent of the total AEHL player population consists of 15-year-old players (U16 AAA age) – the highest percentage for any of the five birth years in the AAA stream. Of the 380 15-year-old players playing U16 AAA, over two-thirds do not go on to play U18 AAA the next season; approximately 50 per cent of U16 AAA players end up playing U18 AA in their 16-year-old season.
The data suggests that 16-year-old players are still interested in competitive, regional systems of hockey following their U16 AAA season, but the former AAA structure resulted in an oversaturation of 15-year-old players in the AAA structure and a bottleneck leading into U18 AAA that creates a lack of opportunities for 16-year-old players in AAA hockey.
By eliminating U16 AAA (a single birth year age category) and replacing it with U17 AAA (a dual birth year age category), there will be more opportunities at AAA for 16-year-old players and fewer opportunities for 15-year-old players, creating the potential for most AAA players to remain in the model from U15 AAA through U18 AAA. This continuity affords AAA associations improved opportunities to develop players over a greater time and helps ensure that AAA-calibre players select the AEHL as their Elite league of choice for the continuity it affords to play elite hockey over a prolonged period of time, at a reasonable price and within a reasonable distance of their resident minor hockey association.
Affiliation: For the purposes of affiliation, U17 AAA teams will be eligible to affiliate any 15-or-16-year-old players not playing U18 AAA. Players on U17 AAA teams will be eligible to affiliate to U18 AAA, but not U18 AA or U16 AA.
U16 AA expanding to provincial pilot project
To align with the change to U17 AAA, the AA Hockey Committee will continue to operate U16 AA for the 2022-2023 season as a pilot project, expanding from a pilot with Hockey Calgary and the South Central Alberta Hockey League (SCAHL) to a province-wide pilot project.
U16 AA was created to ensure 15-year-old players can access a level of hockey suitable for their skill level. With AAA restructuring to reduce the number of 15-year-olds in the AAA model, the AA Committee determined that the 2022-23 season would be crucial to determine the viability of U16 AA while continuing to ensure there is an equitable opportunity for all AA calibre players in the AA model.
U13 AA structure changes
Following a review by a Member Ad-Hoc Committee of the U13 AA model, the AA Hockey Committee has introduced U13 AA structure changes for the 2022-23 hockey season. The changes include new criteria on the minimum number of U13 players in a recruitment area required to host one U13 AA team, as well as amending the numbers at which more than one team is required. INFORMATION BULLETIN 21-07 April 8, 2022.
Starting in the 2022-23 season, a recruitment area will be required to have a minimum of 125 total U13 registered players to host a U13 AA team and be permitted to host an additional U13 AA team for every additional 125 total U13 players registered in that recruitment area (ie: 2 teams at 250+ players, 3 teams at 375+ players, etc.).
In the past, the percentage of U13 players selected from each AA Recruitment Area varied between 8% and 23% of U13 registration in a Recruitment Area. This means that AA teams in some Recruitment Areas represent nearly three times more of their total U13 registrants than teams from other Recruitment Areas.
The Committee determined this gap was too wide and criteria needed to be implemented to ensure recruitment areas operate with and select a more similar percentage of their top players for the highest category of U13 hockey. The updated structure will ensure U13 AA teams are comprised of between 7.6- 15% of total U13 registration, a significant improvement. The updated U13 AA model is as follows:
June 07, 2022 - *Please note, at this time Foothills Bisons AA Hockey will not be having a U11 AA team this season.
U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot- Expanding in 2022-23 Season
For the 2022-23 hockey season, Hockey Alberta is expanding the U11 AA Pilot Project province wide and renaming it the U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot (U11 HADP). The focus of the U11 HADP is to implement amended hosting structures, player movement rules, league scheduling and Coach and Player Development Standards.
During the 2021-22 hockey season, Hockey Alberta established the U11 AA Pilot Project in conjunction with the Northern Alberta Interlock (NAI). The initial pilot offered scheduling options conducive to league geography, a formal tryout process (similar to that used within the AA Hockey Model) and allowed players to be certain of the level of competition at which they would participate. Feedback was positive and the interest in a predetermined top level of U11 HADP hockey continues to increase, which has resulted in expanding the pilot province wide.
Under the U11 HADP, Hockey Alberta will be working in collaboration with our Minor Hockey Leagues and their member MHAs. The Central Alberta Hockey League, Hockey Calgary, Edmonton Federation Hockey League will host the U11 HADP for their member associations, while the All Peace Hockey League, NAI and North Eastern Alberta Hockey League will work together to host the U11 HADP for their member associations.
The goal of the U11 HADP is to identify the best overall structure for the top level of U11 and to ensure alignment and progression within the entire hockey system. The Principles of Long-Term Athlete Development and Hockey Canada’s U11 Pathway will be followed, as the best philosophy for developing players is to create an environment where similarly skilled players can compete.
If you have any questions regarding the expansion and renaming of the U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot, please contact Hockey Alberta. For more information click on the link below.
U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot- Expanding in 2022-23 Season
For the 2022-23 hockey season, Hockey Alberta is expanding the U11 AA Pilot Project province wide and renaming it the U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot (U11 HADP). The focus of the U11 HADP is to implement amended hosting structures, player movement rules, league scheduling and Coach and Player Development Standards.
During the 2021-22 hockey season, Hockey Alberta established the U11 AA Pilot Project in conjunction with the Northern Alberta Interlock (NAI). The initial pilot offered scheduling options conducive to league geography, a formal tryout process (similar to that used within the AA Hockey Model) and allowed players to be certain of the level of competition at which they would participate. Feedback was positive and the interest in a predetermined top level of U11 HADP hockey continues to increase, which has resulted in expanding the pilot province wide.
Under the U11 HADP, Hockey Alberta will be working in collaboration with our Minor Hockey Leagues and their member MHAs. The Central Alberta Hockey League, Hockey Calgary, Edmonton Federation Hockey League will host the U11 HADP for their member associations, while the All Peace Hockey League, NAI and North Eastern Alberta Hockey League will work together to host the U11 HADP for their member associations.
The goal of the U11 HADP is to identify the best overall structure for the top level of U11 and to ensure alignment and progression within the entire hockey system. The Principles of Long-Term Athlete Development and Hockey Canada’s U11 Pathway will be followed, as the best philosophy for developing players is to create an environment where similarly skilled players can compete.
If you have any questions regarding the expansion and renaming of the U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot, please contact Hockey Alberta. For more information click on the link below.
Congratulations to former Bison Wyatt Olson receiving Top Defenceman, and Blair Berger for Most Valuable Player for the 2021/22 season with U16AA Okotoks Oilers.
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Thank you to everyone that came out and made this 1st Annual Bisons Alumni game a huge success! We had players from 1991through to this years veterans! Special thank you to Noah Fontana, Walker Wilderman, and River Rommens, for officiating our game! A great time was had by all!
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS
TO THE SILENT AUCTION AND TO BGC!! An UPDATED LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY,
(along with total amount raised for BGC)!
A very special Thank-you to the Town of Black Diamond town council! This is the first time the ice has been donated! What an incredible community!
TO THE SILENT AUCTION AND TO BGC!! An UPDATED LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY,
(along with total amount raised for BGC)!
A very special Thank-you to the Town of Black Diamond town council! This is the first time the ice has been donated! What an incredible community!
CONGRATULATIONS to the Okotoks Oilers U16AA - Tournament Champions in Canal Flats, BC. this past weekend! And did we mention its made up of a huge number of Bisons!! Great job Blair Berger, Carter Clemens, Jayden Flitton, Nathan Johnstone, Alex McIsaac, Wyatt Olson, and Eric Vassell, Markus Vassell!
In the News...
What a journey it has been for these two amazing young men! Ty Hipkin and Alex Izyk have grown up playing hockey together in High River, enjoying many years as much respected team mates with our Foothills Bisons, before moving on to AAA Bowmark Oilers. Now they share the ice together again in Fort McMurray playing for the Junior A Fort McMurray Oil Barons! And what is Ty Hipkin doing holding those two pucks you ask!? He is proudly displaying the game pucks from his first TWO goals with the team (unassisted), breaking a record that has stood since 1972 for the shortest time between goals; 6 seconds, now the third fastest time in AJHL history)! Its amazing to see their dedication and incredible work ethic pay off!
Congratulations Ty and Alex!! We could not be happier for you!
Congratulations Ty and Alex!! We could not be happier for you!
Congratulations to Ethan MacIntyre!
Even after Ethan moved on from Bisons to the AAA Oilers, he still came out to cheer on his team mates every chance he got these past few years. This even included hopping on the bus with us numerous times, to far away places like Medicine Hat and Taber. Your Foothills Bisons family could not be happier for you Ethan (don't worry, we'll look after Wyatt)!
Very best of luck in Ontario!
"Ethan is a strong forward that creates opportunities for himself and his line-mates," said Head Coach Jeremy Blumes. "His teammates feel a couple of inches taller and 10 pounds heavier when he's on the ice with them."
click on image for the full story!
Even after Ethan moved on from Bisons to the AAA Oilers, he still came out to cheer on his team mates every chance he got these past few years. This even included hopping on the bus with us numerous times, to far away places like Medicine Hat and Taber. Your Foothills Bisons family could not be happier for you Ethan (don't worry, we'll look after Wyatt)!
Very best of luck in Ontario!
"Ethan is a strong forward that creates opportunities for himself and his line-mates," said Head Coach Jeremy Blumes. "His teammates feel a couple of inches taller and 10 pounds heavier when he's on the ice with them."
click on image for the full story!
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Congratulations to Sam Callahan!
Your future just keeps getting brighter! Sam had this to say "When I was talking with the coach he really liked the way I play, I'm a bigger guy obviously, using my size and the way I win battles in the corners and in front of the net are the main things." "One of the most easy going and likeable guys you will ever meet, and a great team mate" is what we say. Best of luck Sam! Click on the image for the full story! 
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Congratulations to Colin McLeod!
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(many more exciting announcements to come...)
Show your thanks; support our Sponsors!
Last season was cut short but there was still much to celebrate...
Foothills Bisons would like to celebrate the following Bisons achievements for the 2020-2021 Season
We would also like to congratulate two of our outstanding Bison alumni Daxton Budd playing with the AAA Okotoks Oilers, and Owen Lugowski with the Airdrie CFR Bisons, as they begin their Junior A careers!
This past season Owen Lugowski also earned the Mark Norman Award for the Hardest Working Bison!
This past season Owen Lugowski also earned the Mark Norman Award for the Hardest Working Bison!
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Our 2020/2021 Teams:
And lastly, our 2020/2021 Retiring Players.
Your futures are bright boys!
Your futures are bright boys!
Click on the image below for our tribute video for our retiring players.
2019/2020...
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Bisons Day 2019 Photo Gallery
Courtesy of Stu Stuthorne of Visual Images - https://visualimagesbyldstuart.pixieset.com/bisonsday2019-pin6982/
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HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
For sponsorship opportunities please contact Dave Mitchell @ (403) 333-5837
