The Hockey Edmonton Show · Edmonton Sports Talk

The Hockey Edmonton Show - Season 1, Episode 6

·48 min·4 clips

Jeremy reveals how non-body checking options are boosting hockey participation in Edmonton.

This episode focuses on the community hockey programs available in Edmonton, hosted by YouTube Trav and Jeremy Hollistrock from Hockey Edmonton. They are joined by guests Tyler Hennessey, Mark Obie, and a planned appearance from Brad Butterfield to discuss local opportunities. The hosts aim to highlight the extensive network and options for players outside the elite stream. Hockey Edmonton oversees 17 distinct community organizations where nearly 90% of local participants play. Tyler Hennessey is the KC North Parish President, leading an amalgamation of the former St. Charles and St. Matthews clubs to create more tiers and teams. His program offers hockey from U7 to U21, including free goalie equipment loans and weekly goalie development sessions at no extra cost. Mark Obie, President of the KC Sabres, manages the U15 to U18 house program, which has grown from 8 to 19 teams and offers both contact and non-contact tiers. Registration for these community programs typically costs between $1,000 and $1,200, involving one game and one or two practices weekly. A key insight is the emphasis on keeping players in the game by offering non-body checking options, which studies show has increased participation. Community programs provide significant development, including 24 to 45 practices per season, power skating, and shooting clinics often included in the fee. The KC North program runs year-round with conditioning camps, tryouts, and a spring league, plus popular year-end tournaments for U9 through U13. Flexibility is a major theme, allowing athletes to play other sports and choose commitment levels, with some tiers just one level below AA competitive hockey. The hosts note that evaluations are a stressful period, so KC Sabres uses third-party evaluators and seeks non-parent coaches to reduce pressure. Player recruitment largely relies on word-of-mouth and positive experiences within the tight-knit hockey community. Despite being in October, registrations are still open for many teams, emphasizing that it's not too late to join. The tone is conversational, promotional, and informative, designed to showcase local hockey opportunities directly from administrators. This episode is ideal for parents in Edmonton seeking affordable, flexible hockey options for their children, especially those new to the sport or wary of physical play. Listeners solely interested in professional hockey analysis or elite player development might find less relevance here.

As heard by us

A grounded look at Edmonton minor hockey and the people keeping it going.

The Hockey Edmonton Show spends this hour on the local hockey community, with Trav and Jeremy talking through Edmonton programs, free goalie equipment access, and the volunteers who keep those efforts moving.

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Why you'd press play

You want the local blueprint for how Edmonton hockey stays accessible.

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