The Alberta Power League (APL) is an independent privately-run hockey league designed for players born between 2014 and 2017. The APL was created to facilitate affordable and competitive gameplay between similarly skilled hockey teams by:
Qualifying all teams to ensure league parity
Facilitating competitive gameplay by providing ice, referees, and scorekeepers
Providing teams with a set schedule
Proving a central repository for schedule, stats, rules, and a code of conduct
The APL is committed to providing a well-organized, competitive, and safe alternative youth hockey league that aligns to the development goals and principles of its members: Namely the physical, social, and emotional development of its players.
The APL is governed by Sports Events Inc. in cooperation with team officials. The APL will create both a competition committee and a discipline committee to ensure transparency and fairness for all its participants. SportsEvents Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Calgary Hockey Development Centre Inc. SportsEvents Inc. currently runs the Alternative Youth Hockey League as well as all 13 tournaments in Southern Alberta, the U.S., Europe, and Asia. SportsEvents aims to operate the APL with the utmost professionalism and integrity ensuring league parity, fairness, safety, and facilitating an environment that fosters development.
TEAM ELIGIBILITY
APL Showcases are available to any private academy or spring team that meets the minimum skill requirements
Elite Teams are comprised of top-level players who are well above their peer group with regards to skill and gameplay. These teams will likely play in a division above their age group. I.e. an Elite 2016 team will be placed in a 2015 silver or gold division depending on the level of skill in the 2016 division.
Gold Division Teams are comprised of mainly tier-1 players or players that are above their peer group.
Silver Division Teams are comprised mainly of players that play tier 2-3 and are at a comparable level to their peers.
LEAGUE SCHEDULE
The APL league runs a Showcase format on weekends.
LEAGUE PARITY
The APL will determine each team’s division placement by assessing the following inputs:
Teams’ overall skill level
Coaches’ rationale for division selection
Historical gameplay between participating teams
TEAM STRUCTURE
Teams will organize and structure themselves according to their own development philosophy. The APL does not set the following parameters:
Goalie Rotation and/or set positions
Number of on-ice or off ice sessions
Uniforms (APL will coordinate colors to ensure there is no duplication during games)
Team “catchment” area
Positional rotations or requirements
OVERAGED PLAYERS
The APL does not allow any overaged players to play. Any player, however, is free to play up a division.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The APL has created a code of conduct for its players, coaches, managers, and parents. The code of conduct is meant to serve as a guideline of expected behaviours and disciplinary tracking to ensure the league can fulfill its promise of maximizing enjoyment for all. We stress that the APL is a development league for teams and academies seeking a better development alternative.
