Alexander Ennis was born in 1992 in Calgary, and lived with severe hemophilia from birth.
Despite the risks this condition posed, Alex fell in love with hockey at the age of five. With the support of protective equipment and his family, he played in Stettler and Red Deer Minor Hockey alongside his older brother, Curtis.
When body checking was introduced at the Peewee level and Alex could no longer safely participate, his father Brian helped create Red Deer Pond Hockey — a league designed so that youth facing barriers of any kind could continue playing the game they loved. Alex remained deeply involved in playing, coaching, and refereeing.
Alex was a gentle, thoughtful soul with a calm presence that made others feel accepted and valued. He loved his family deeply and was cherished by all who knew him. Although he appeared content and quietly confident, Alex struggled internally, and he passed away on May 22, 2019.
Our family is profoundly grateful to the Hockey Alberta Foundation for honouring Alex through the Alex Ennis Memorial Award. It is our hope that this award encourages recipients to keep pursuing their dreams and reminds them that they matter.
