Hockey Alberta continues to invest in the future of the game through its Future Leaders Development Program, an initiative designed to ignite a new generation of coaches who will inspire, lead, and grow hockey across the province.
As part of Hockey Alberta’s commitment to Hockey for Life, the program supports post-secondary students who are beginning their coaching journey by providing hands-on training, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities.
The Future Leaders Development weekend brings together 24 selected participants from across Alberta. Throughout the weekend, participants took part in sessions focused on building confidence, leadership skills, and coaching knowledge.
More importantly, the program provides a meaningful pathway forward. Participants who demonstrate leadership and commitment may be selected to support Team Alberta summer programs or participate in the High-Performance Player Development Program opportunities.
As Scholarship recipient Bree Kennedy explained, “Being selected to coach at the Female Team Alberta U18 Summer Camp was both fulfilling and eye-opening. As a former Team Alberta player, I understand how mentally demanding and rewarding the experience can be from a player’s perspective. Stepping into that same environment as a coach felt different, but I fully embraced the new challenge.” She highlighted that “Receiving the Future Leader Scholarship further validated that experience and gave me a meaningful confidence boost. It reinforced that I have something valuable to offer as a coach and mentor and confirmed that I am on the right path. This recognition has motivated me to continue giving back to the game that has given me so much and to pursue coaching once my playing career comes to an end”.
A total of $17,000 in Future Leaders Scholarships was awarded to participants who took the next step in their leadership journey. These scholarships are funded by the Hockey Alberta Foundation.
2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients
Ethan Barron – Portage College
Cameron Doucette – Red Deer Polytechnic *Distinguished Leader
Matthew Tuttle – University of Alberta
Ryese Richards – University of Alberta
Sydney Dutertre – University of Alberta
Adia Durie – Red Deer Polytechnic
Bree Kennedy – University of Calgary *Distinguished Leader
Aiden Knutson – Trinity West
Evan Lemke – Red Deer Polytechnic *Team Alex Memorial Award
Tyson Tisdale – Red Deer Polytechnic
Max Kingsley – Mount Royal
2025 Distinguished Leader
Bree Kennedy – Mike Klaus Distinguished Leader
Cameron Doucette – Larry Reid Distinguished Leader
Evan Lemke – Team Alex Memorial Award
By investing in young leaders today, Hockey Alberta and the Hockey Alberta Foundation are helping ensure the future of the game remains strong and supportive.
Programs like Future Leaders are more than development opportunities, they are a commitment to building the next generation of coaches who will shape the experience of hockey for years to come.
