Hockey Alberta has named the 120 players who earned themselves a spot at the Alberta Challenge, including local Kayla Kidaw from Chestermere. 

Six teams (three from each of the North and South regions) will compete in a modified round-robin tournament May 1-5 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer. Each team consists of two goalies, six defences, and 12 forwards.

Local players named to the South Green Roster include: 

  • #15 Kayla Kildaw (forward) - Chestermere

Other local area players for the South Green Roster include:

  • #10 Violet Crawford (forward) - Okotoks

  • #16 Abigail Lee (forward) - Airdrie

  • #19 Ella Simard (forward) - Okotoks

Local area players for the South Black Roster include:

  • #1 Maive Gosselin-Berg (goalie) - Cochrane

  • #3 London Clingman (defence) - Okoktoks

  • #5 Ava McDermid (defence) - Airdrie

  • #6 Claira McNichol (defence) - Okotoks

  • #8 Sophie Carter (forward) - Airdrie

  • #15 Reese McKay (forward) - Cochrane

  • #17 Kyla Pappas (forward) - Airdrie

  • #19 Ava Smith (forward) - Crossfield

  • #31 Brooke Suitor (goalie) - Foothills 

Local area players for the South White Roster include:

  • #2 Emersyn Allan (defence)

  • #3 Gracie Dengler (defence) - Foothills

  • #4 Kamryn Kutzner (defence) - Okotoks

  • #5 Alena McEvoy (defence) - Carstairs

  • #6 Beth Milke (defence) - Canmore 

  • #8 Edan Crowe (forward) - Okotoks

  • #10 Alexis De Haas (forward) - Okotoks

  • #11 Trista Ferguson (forward) - Airdrie

  • #16 Lyla Montoya (forward) - Airdrie

  • #20 Halle White (forward) - Airdrie 

Regional Camps took place from April 5 to 7 in Cochrane and Beaumont.

Female athletes born in 2009 and 2010 enrolled in a Hockey Alberta or Hockey Canada-sanctioned program this season were eligible to participate in the tryouts.

"This year's group of players is very talented, and that was on display at the Regional Camps; the competition at Alberta Challenge will truly showcase best-on-best competition and allow for athletes and staff to take the next step in their hockey journey," said Danielle Wheeler, Hockey Alberta's Manager of Female Development. 

The Alberta Challenge is the exclusive female-only component within Hockey Alberta's Spring Showcase lineup.

As the initial platform for athletes, coaches, therapists, equipment managers, and administrators, it offers a taste of brief yet intense competition and introduces Team Alberta programming.

The Spring Showcase commences with the Alberta Cup from April 24 to 28 and concludes with the Prospects Cup from May 8 to 12.

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@strathmorenow.com.