With the completion of our 30th Anniversary season, let's take a look back.
At our AGM last May. the Stony Plain Eagles were accepted into the league when they agreed to drop their AAA status. At the same meeting, the Innisfail Eagles were refused admission as they were not prepared to drop their AAA status.
Ten days later, Innisfail came back and agreed to drop their AAA status and were readily voted into the league
The league was set for 10 teams for the 2024-25 season. All went well at the scheduling meeting in July.
Two weeks prior to the start of the regular season, the Red Deer Rustlers unexpectedly announced they were dropping out of the league due to losses of many of their core players as well as sponsors. They did say that they would like to apply for reinstatement next season.
On October 14th, the league presented longtime Bonnyville Director Dennis Germain with a 10 year recognition award.
On October 19th, the league held a 30 Year Anniversary Ceremony in Westlock to recognize many of the league's founding members. There were also some of the league's career record holders in attendance. The league made presentations to former Presidents George Vanberg and Sam Maupin recognizing their leadership and dedication to the league.
In November, Hockey Alberta announced that the Senior AA Provincial Championships would return this season. It would appear that all leagues were in favour of this announcement.
In January, the Lacombe Generals won their 3rd President's Cup in four seasons.
In early February, Hockey Alberta announced that the Senior AA Provincial Championship had been awarded to Lethbridge.
Late in February, the league announced their award winners
Early in March, the league announced their All Star Teams.
On March 22nd, the Innisfail Eagles defeated the 2-time defending Vanberg Cup champion Lacombe Generals to capture their first Vanberg Cup. They were only the 6th team all time to win the Vanberg Cup in their innaugural season in the NCHL. Eagle's netminder Chance Griffith would be awarded with the Vanberg Cup MVP. The Eagles' Chase Thudium would lead the playoffs in scoring.
And finally, Hockey Alberta announced on March 27th that the Alberta Senior AA Provincial Championship had been cancelled due to teams from the North Peace and the Sask Alta leagues deciding not to participate.
The league did not present any player/off ice personnel recognition awards this past season, but plan on resuming next year.
There were also a number of team and individual accomplishments over the past season.
Wetaskiwin's goaltending duo of Nick Schneider and Devin Buffalo backstopped the Longhorns to the lowest goals against average in the league (33). Buffalo was voted as the league's top goaltender for 2025. As a team, the Longhorns 33 goals allowed tied the league record for goals allowed in a 16 game season with the 2018-2019 Red Deer Rustlers. The Bonnyville Pontiacs (2015-16) are 2nd with 35 goals against in a 16 game season. The all time lowest goals against is 32 by the Eckville Eagles (2017-2018) in a 12 game season.
Jamie Johnson won his second league MVP award as well as taking the league's scoring championship for the second year in a row. Johnson's 43 points were the highest season total since Bonnyville's Dakota Mason put up 47 points in 2016-17. Johnson (9th place) also joined Bonnyville's Denis Cadrin (8th place) as the only active players on the league's career all time top 10 assist leaderboard.
Innisfail's Tyler Berkholtz (11th) joined Westlock's Mike Ivey (8th) and Denis Cadrin (7th) as the only active players on the league's all time top points list.
Berkholtz and Ivey (tied for 10th), Lucas Isley (11th) joined Wetaskiwin's Ryley Bennefield (7th) as the only active players on the league's all time goals scored list.
Ivey (2nd) is only 17 games behind the former teammate Rod Kaliel as the league's career leader in games played. Devon's Cody Issler (5th), Westlock's Nathan Brown (7th). Devon's Brandon Powlick (9th) and Denis Cadrin of Bonnyville (13th) round out the active players on the list.
Like many who thought Wayne Gretzky's goal scoring record of 894 would never be equalled, there are a few records in the NCHL that will be hard to replicate.
NCHL Career Scoring Leader - Jason Green (Slave Lake) scored 225 g, 208 a. 433 points in 146 games. . Denis Cadrin, the league's hightest active scoring leader has 68 g, 115 a, 183 points in 122 games (7th).
NCHL Career All time goals - Jason Green with 225. Tyler Bennefield with 93 is the highest active goal scorer in the league.
NCHL Career All TIme Penalty Minutes - Chris Nelson (Slave Lake) accumulated 895 minutes in 118 games Devon's Aaron Fedyk has picked up 447 minutes (7th) in 101 games.
NCHL All Time Points Per Season - Jason Green 97 points (26 games played) in 1998-99, 84 points (22 games played) in 1999-2000, and Chris Page (Legal Vipers) 84 points (20 games played) in 2007-2007 are currently 1-2.
NCHL All Time Single Season Penalty Minutes - Chad Cuthbert (Slave Lake) 235 minutes in 17 games 1998-1999. The NCHL hasn't had a player accumulate 100 pim in a season for many years.
At this time, I would like to thank everyone involved with all of our member teams - owners, management, coaching staffs, trainers, live scorekeepers, trainers, volunteers and all of their fans who support senior hockey. It was great to see large crowds at many of the games I attended this past season. We are particularly appreciative of the teams that allowed us into their dressing rooms for Player of the Week awards as well as when we announced our all star teams.
Speaking of Player of the Week awards - this was brought about by UNPRLD, who supplied the 30th anniversary hoodies for the recipients.
A big thank you for our league sponsors - Thinkwerx out of Bonnyville and Unparalleled Athletic Company out of Calgary. Your continued generousity significantly helps us keep our (and our member teams) costs down.
The league's Spring Meeting and AGM is scheduled for May 4th in Devon. It appears that there are a few teams interested in joining our ranks for next season.
Stay tuned!
LACOMBE
BONNYVILLE
CAMROSE
STONY PLAIN
INNISFAIL
WESTLOCK
WETASKIWIN
MORINVILLE
DEVON
