CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has announced the 13 minor hockey teams that have been chosen as the beneficiaries of this year’s ‘Future Team Canada’ program. In December, Hockey Canada partnered with the Wayne Gretzky Foundation and the Hockey Canada Foundation to launch the fifth year of the ‘Future Team Canada’ program that rewards and recognizes minor hockey teams across the nation for the amount of heart they show rather than the amount of games they win. Entries consisted of a team roster and a short essay outlining their team’s values, special characteristics, community involvement and dedication that could make them a ‘Future Team Canada’.

BC Hockey – Powell River Kings Bantam (Powell River, BC)

BC Hockey – Vancouver Thunderbird Atoms (Vancouver, BC)

Hockey Alberta – Leduc Roughnecks Novice (Leduc, ALTA)

Hockey Manitoba – Greendell Falcon PeeWees (Winnipeg, MB)

Hockey New Brunswick – Eel River Bar Hawks Midget (Eel River Bar, NB)

Hockey New Brunswick – Moncton Redhawks Atom (Moncton, NB)

Hockey NFLD/Labrador – Bay Arena Rovers Atom (Bay Roberts, NL)

Hockey Northwest Ontario – Elks Slovak Legion Novice (Thunder Bay, ONT)

Hockey Nova Scotia – Metro Boston Pizza Midget (Halifax, NS)

Hockey PEI – North River Girls Bantam (Charlottetown, PEI)

OHF – Humble Valley Sharks PeeWee (Toronto, ONT)

ODHA – Kanata Cyclones PeeWee (Kanata, ONT)

SHA – Gravelbourg Stars PeeWee (Gravelbourg, SASK)

Every player on each of the 13 teams will receive a Team Canada jersey, stick and a hockey bag bearing the Wayne Gretzky Foundation and Hockey Canada logos. Along with this comprehensive equipment package, each team will also receive a $1,999 cash award to be used for team development activities, and a coaching package consisting of development materials, a Hockey Canada Coaches’ Club membership and equipment.

“Although all 13 teams are to be commended for being selected, each and every team entry merits recognition and they should all be considered champions,” said Wayne Gretzky. “The success of this program was evident by the excellent quality of the essays received and the difficulty in selecting the 13 teams that will benefit from this unique initiative. When all was said and done, the thirteen teams that were chosen are deserving of the title ‘Future Team Canada’ for their dedication and commitment to the true spirit of our game.”

The Wayne Gretzky Foundation believes that hockey instills many positive life skills and contributes to the physical, emotional and social growth of young people. Canada’s national teams share and promote these positive life skills in the work they do with young Canadians. “Once again we are very pleased to have been part of this exceptional program which recognizes another 13 very worthy youth hockey teams from across the country. During the last five years, over 1,000 deserving young Canadians have participated in this remarkable program,” said Noel Fader, director of fund development for Hockey Canada.

“Those selected as the program beneficiaries are truly representative of the Hockey Canada Foundation’s shared values and our mission to support the Hockey Canada dream by promoting passion, participation, and excellence in our game. The outcomes of the ‘Future Team Canada’ recognition program and the principles championed by the Wayne Gretzky Foundation, the Hockey Canada Foundation, and Hockey Canada demonstrate a shared vision for the future of our game.

For more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, visit www.hockeycanada.ca