Airdrie hockey fans can check out the city's first U18 prep tournament this weekend at Genesis Place Recreation Centre.
Jonah Cimolini, with Airdrie Stars Hockey Academy, said the Hockey Super League (HSL) is putting on the tournament from Sept. 23 to 25, and the Stars are the host team. Other squads taking part will include the Saints Pro Hockey Academy, the Thunder Pro Hockey Academy, the HDC Bandits, and the Calgary Crusaders.
He noted the Saints and Thunder provide developmental pathway opportunities to the Spruce Grove Saints and Drayton Valley Thunder – U21 teams in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"It's a new developing, alternative path to minor hockey," Cimolini said of the HSL, which launched in Edmonton in 2017. "We're just breaking the ice here with these tournaments."
According to Cimolini, the Airdrie Stars have been in operation since 2017, catering to players between the AA and AAA levels in Airdrie and surrounding communities, including Olds, Acme, Drumheller, and Cremona.
"We started with one team in this league and now we have eight private teams," he said, adding what sets the academy apart is the high level of coaching available to the players.
"Our developmental coaching is at a AAA level or higher," he said. "Our coach Dylan Olsen is a retired NHL player and we use people like Danielle Fujita, who is the Calgary Flames' power skating instructor. We pay the coaches a lot to provide the best development. It's not about winning the banner, that's not what we're about. It's a true, long-term development plan."
Cimolini said the Stars play at 12:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on Saturday at Genesis Place. They are recognizable by their green jerseys, which mirror the sweaters worn by the NHL's Dallas Stars.
For more information on the HSL, visit hockeysuperleague.ca
