The Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) is home to 30 teams at the U18 AAA, U18 AA, and U15 AA levels, providing a competitive platform for young aspiring female athletes to enhance their skills. A collection of 12 host associations around the province are committed to the growth and development of AAA and AA female hockey. The member associations include: Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Leduc, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Okotoks, Olds, and Red Deer. Through dedicated staff and volunteers, the AFHL offers opportunities for female athletes to receive mentorship, off-ice education sessions, female specific coaching, post-secondary exposure opportunities, academic & billet programs, and a competitive skill development atmosphere.

Since its inception in the 2016-17 season, the winner of the Esso Cup (Canada’s female U18 AAA national championship) has come out of the AFHL, as the St. Albert Slash have become champions over the past three seasons consecutively.

If you have questions about Alberta Female Hockey League operations, please check out their resources page.

The U18 AAA Division teams play a 30-game regular season schedule that consists of playing each opponent six times throughout the season; three home and three away.

The U18 and U15 AA Division teams play a 26-game regular season schedule. Each AA Division has been separated into two conferences based on geographical location: North and South. Each team will play their Conference opponents four times, two home and two away, resulting in 20 conference games. Additionally, the remaining six games will be out of conference play with each team playing each other once. Teams in the “AA” Division will participate in “Crossover Weekends” throughout the season to help ease travel for the out of conference games.

While U18 AAA operates without boundaries or draw zones, players interested in playing U18 AA or U15 AA are expected to access their first tryout with their Recruitment Area Team. The Recruitment Area team that a player is eligible for depends on your Resident Minor Hockey Association (not the one the player was last registered with).

Please refer to this breakdown of Recruitment Area Teams.

Girls Hockey Calgary has tentatively scheduled our critical ice times for the upcoming season, notwithstanding any changes or delays that may result from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and various provincial restrictions. At this time, the Association is unable to provide final confirmation of these dates. Our planning continues at full speed as we wait for further directives from our governing bodies. Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.

• GHC Registration Opens: July 1, 2020
• U18 AA/AAA Prep Camp: August 15-20, 2020 (Great Plains Arena)
• U15 AA Prep Camp: August 22-27, 2020 (Great Plains Arena)
• U18 AA/AAA Tryouts: August 22-30, 2020 (Great Plains Arena)
• U15 AA Tryouts: August 28-September 3, 2020 (Great Plains Arena)

Dates will be confirmed when the Hockey Canada Board of Directors, in conjunction with public health officials, deems it safe to resume sanctioned activities.

If you live in Zone 9 and have...

1. Registered with Girls Hockey Calgary Association (GHC)
2. Selected Calgary Fire AAA/AA Try-Out in your Registration Package

...you do not need to complete any additional paperwork to try-out for the Calgary Fire.

At the “AAA” level, yes.

What paperwork is involved?

1. HOCKEY ALBERTA NOTIFICATION OF TRY-OUT FORM

All players trying out for an “AAA” team that is outside their Resident Minor Hockey Association must have a completed Notification of Tryout Form signed by their Resident MHA. This completed form must be presented to each team that the player is trying out for before she/he is eligible to participate in the try-out camp. Please send this this form to registrar@girlshockeycalgary.com

2. LETTER OF PERMISSION (HOCKEY CALGARY)

Zone 9 Players who wish to attend a U18 "AAA" training camp and/or tryout camp outside of their Recruitment Area must submit Hockey Calgary's online Letter of Permission form.

3. ELITE WAIVER FORM

If a player signed a Player Agreement and was registered with the Calgary Fire U18 AAA team for the 2019/2020 season and would like to play for another AAA team for the 2020/2021 season, the family will need to request an Elite Waiver from GHC. The signed waiver, complete with rationale must be submitted to the Female Elite Hockey Committee prior to the start of tryouts.

Please note: It is understood by all parties that should the player be chosen as a member of another LMHA, the association will notify the AFHL and GHC. If the player does not make the LMHA, it is the player’s responsibility to notify GHC whether or not she is returning or wishing to access an additional try out.

For those within Zone 9, your Resident MHA is Hockey Calgary, not GHC or another  community association.

At the “AAA” level, yes. The U18 AAA operates without boundaries or draw zones.

What paperwork is involved?

1. HOCKEY ALBERTA NOTIFICATION OF TRY-OUT FORM

All players trying out for an “AAA” team that is outside their Resident Minor Hockey Association must have a completed Notification of Tryout Form signed by their Resident MHA. This completed form must be presented to each team that the player is trying out for before she/he is eligible to participate in the try-out camp. Please send completed form to registrar@girlshockeycalgary.com

2. LETTER OF PERMISSION (HOCKEY ALBERTA)

Players outside of Zone 9 who wish to attend a U18 "AAA" Calgary Fire training camp and/or tryout camp must submit a Letter of Permission to Girls Hockey Calgary Association (GHC). Please send completed form to registrar@girlshockeycalgary.com

2. ELITE WAIVER FORM

If a player signed a Player Agreement and was registered with a AAA team for the 2019/2020 season and would like to play for another AAA team for the 2020/2021 season, the family will need to request an Elite Waiver from the Previous Registered Team. The signed waiver, complete with rationale must be submitted to the Female Elite Hockey Committee prior to the start of tryouts.

Please note: It is understood by all parties that should the player be chosen as a member of the Calgary Fire, GHC will notify the AFHL and the player’s Resident LMHA. If the player does not make the Calgary Fire, it is the player’s responsibility to notify her Resident LMHA whether or not she is returning or wishing to access an additional try out.

Players selected for a Calgary Fire U18 AAA, U18 AA, or U15 AA team must sign a Player Agreement Form prior to the start of the regular season. By signing this document, the player is agreeing to register and play for that specific Member Club for the upcoming season. This document is viewed as binding and it is the expectation of both parties, the player, and the Member Club, to uphold their portion of the agreement.

Drafted players must pay the additional AAA/AA fees. (Registration fees already paid will be credited towards the AAA/AA Program Fees, and drafted players must pay the balance). Please visit our Registration page for our current fees.

If a player is "released" from the Calgary Fire AAA/AA selection process, this does not mean the player is released from GHC.

• If a player is released from the Calgary Fire U18 AAA team and they have requested a second tryout with another U18 AAA team, she may move on to this second tryout.
• If a player has not requested a second try out for another U18 AAA team, she may or may not be “drafted” to further tryout for the GHC U18 AA tryout.
• Once players are released from the U18 AA or U15 AA teams, they will move on to the Community Evaluations for their respective age groups.