Reginald H. Brown
Reg Brown was the first president of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, starting in November 1907 until 1909. Reg was a local Pharmacist and an avid sports enthusiast.
Ten delegates from clubs around Alberta attended the first AAHA meeting in Red Deer, and appointed Reg as president. The playing rules of the Manitoba Hockey Association were adopted during that first meeting. At the second meeting, districts were created and a constitution drafted. Throughout his time in Red Deer, Reg was an involved member of the community and coached minor hockey.
Don Gatto
Don Gatto spent over 30 years as a dedicated builder and promoter of hockey in Alberta and across Canada. He served as President of Hockey Alberta (1992-94), and then became chair of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Minor Council (1994-96).
Other roles included: chair of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, volunteer coach with the Carstairs Minor Hockey Association, and a member of the Lethbridge Hockey Hounds, an organization of dedicated volunteers who have helped to raise over $1 million for hockey groups in Southern Alberta.
Dale Henwood
Dale Henwood was hired to be the Technical Director for the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association in 1982 when the Alberta Government began to fund the development of sport leading into the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Dale’s leadership at the Provincial and National level propelled the AAHA as a leader in Canada in coaching and player development. The Program of Excellence was established, National Coaches Certification Program was implemented, and numerous grassroots programs started to facilitate coach and player development. In 1986, Dale joined Hockey Canada as a coach where he helped Dave King lead Canada’s Olympic Team in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Roger Otteson
Roger Otteson began his career as a volunteer coach and leader in the Edmonton community of Ottwell and later the Southside Athletic Club. He was one of the founders of Sport Central, an equipment supplier for disadvantaged kids, and a key driver behind the successful bid to host the 1995 World Junior Hockey Championship in Red Deer.
Roger also was a founding director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation, established in 2001 to assist in the funding of scholarships and leadership development for young future leaders within Hockey Alberta. Roger served as Hockey Alberta’s Chief Financial Officer from 1986-96.
Suzanne Triance-Wright
Suzanne Triance-Wright was a pioneer volunteer with Hockey Alberta starting out as a referee assignor in Ardrossan and ending up as Chair of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Female Council.
Suzanne was the Chair of Female Council in Alberta (1978-89), helped establish Female Hockey Provincial Championships and the inclusion of female hockey in the Canada Winter Games in 1991 and the Alberta Winter Games in 1994.
Edmonton Mercurys (1950/1952)
The Edmonton Mercurys of the 1950s were a powerful team that represented Canada twice at the international level. The Mercurys won the 1950 World Championships in London, England, and then in 1952 represented Canada at the Olympic Games in Oslo, Norway winning the Gold Medal for Canada.
Canada would not win another hockey gold medal at a Winter Olympics until both the Canadian Men’s and Women’s teams accomplished the feat at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City – celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mercurys’ gold medal win.
Stony Plain Eagles (1999)
After 14 straight Alberta Senior AAA crowns, the Stony Plain Eagles finally took the final step, capturing the 1999 Allan Cup as Canada’s Senior hockey champions.
In winning the title, the Eagles became only the fourth Alberta champion, and the first since the Drumheller Minors won in 1966. The Eagles had been the premier Senior AAA hockey in Alberta since they moved to that level in 1991-92, and were Allan Cup runners-up in 1992 and 1995. Prior to that, the Eagles played at the AA level, winning the Patton Cup in 1987.
