St. Albert Jr. Raiders

St. Albert Minor Hockey Association is committed to providing a comprehensive development program for players who want to reach elite hockey and stay within their hockey community.

The Jr. Raiders Female program introduces players to an enhanced development program focused on preparing female athletes for competitive-stream options in U13.

Being a member of a Jr. Raiders team will place an increased demand on your time and financial obligations.

NEW IN 2024!

The Jr Raiders program is growing! In the 2024-2025 season, the program will include four U11 teams, two U9 teams, and one female U11 team.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The U11 female program will include 16-17 players. The U11 female team will play in the EFHL and be classified in the appropriate tier to ensure a strong competitive balance and level of competition.
PLAYER SELECTION
- Team formation will be based on players' abilities. Players will be evaluated using the data collected from the Times Skill Skate and three evaluation skates.
- The named coaches will work with board members (HOCVP, Female Director, and Evaluations Director) to finalize roster selections.
- Players may opt out of this category of play; notice of this process will be emailed to registered participants at the start of the season.
ABOUT

The Jr Raiders program was formed in 2021 to support the development of young athletes aspiring to play elite-level hockey for the St. Albert Raiders. This program prioritizes player development, with the aim of steadily advancing players' skills and understanding of the game throughout the season. Our focus is on establishing a solid foundation that will support the long-term success of players within our program for the next eight years and beyond.
The program has two core principles that guide decision-making, program planning and player selection: community and resilience.
COMMUNITY

The St. Albert Raiders elite hockey program provides a unique opportunity to become part of a passionate hockey community with a rich history of excellence. The sense of pride and identity that comes with being a part of the Raiders program is ever-present within our community. We embrace this philosophy and firmly believe that our players will flourish within this dynamic environment.

Our goal is for players to gain meaningful experience in hockey through our hockey community as a whole. Players in the Jr Raiders will be introduced to the St. Albert Raiders female hockey community. Teams will partner with one of the program's four St. Albert Raiders teams and have the opportunity to participate in on-ice and off-ice activities together.
RESILIENCE

Our goal is to help our players cultivate the skills that are essential to excel in the years ahead as players advance in AAA and AA hockey. We are looking for players with the necessary skill set to play at a higher level of hockey and who can effectively manage adversity. Adversity in hockey can take many forms, such as playing with unfamiliar teammates, being coached by someone new, or not experiencing sustained success on the ice. These experiences serve as valuable building blocks for our players' overall growth and equip them with the skills to advance as they move through Elite Minor Hockey and eventually into future opportunities in female hockey.
FEES

Being a member of a Jr Raider team will place an increased demand on your time and financial obligations. This program's Team Fees are expected to cost $1500 per player.

Players can anticipate receiving additional practice ice and enhanced player development opportunities. The program requires participants to purchase a team apparel package that includes Jr. Raiders apparel and customized jerseys.

COACHES

Coaches selected for this program will have exceptional leadership skills previously exemplified in the hockey community. They will be progressive in their coaching philosophies and possess the ability to develop players to their full potential.
2025-2026 Jr Raiders Coach
Head Coach - Brian Mofford
2024-2025 Jr Raiders Coach
Head Coach - Ryan Polny
Ryan Polny brings a wealth of experience to our team. He has coached Senior Female AA hockey for five years and has been an assistant coach in St. Albert Minor Hockey for the past two seasons. Ryan has also coached minor lacrosse and basketball. His certifications include Coach 2, Respect in Sport Activity Leader, and Safety certifications. Additionally, he is a certified personal fitness trainer, and a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. Ryan's athletic background includes lacrosse, at a professional level, and high level hockey. Ryan is a former St. Albert Raiders U15 AAA and U18 AAA player, joining a long list of Raiders coaches who were once players in the program.
Ryan is passionate about equipping players with the foundational skills necessary for success in hockey while fostering a positive and enjoyable experience in the game. Additionally, he is dedicated to ensuring the success of the female hockey program within St. Albert.
DEVELOPMENT

Players can anticipate 34- 40 practices between September and March, 20 of which will be focused on advancing individual hockey skills.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT - KENNEDY GANSER
Hockey skills professional Kennedy Ganser will work with the Jr Raiders female program in 2024-2025 to deliver 20 skill and development sessions.
Kennedy is a former professional hockey player who played four seasons with the University of Albert Pandas.
Last year, she returned to the team as an Assistant Coach, and this fall, she will start her second season behind the bench with the Pandas.
Kennedy is dedicated to helping our young athletes enhance their technical abilities and grow their love for the game. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes building a solid foundation of fundamental skills while fostering creativity and confidence on the ice.
GOALTENDING DEVELOPMENT - DAVE RATHJEN
Dave Rathjen provides goalies with eight development sessions. For four years, he has been a valued partner of the St. Albert Raiders and St. Albert Minor Hockey. He had a successful junior career in the WHL, BCHL, and with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. From 2004 to 2005, Dave was a member of the University of Alberta Golden Bears National Championship team.
He is the coach for the Swift Current Broncos (WHL), the University of Alberta Golden Bears and the St. Albert Raiders U15 AAA, U17 AAA and U18 AAA programs.
SEASONAL STRUCTURE

The St. Albert Minor Hockey Association Player Development group expects coaches in the Jr Raiders program to follow a U11 Competitive Seasonal Plan that supports the development of these young athletes in competitive stream hockey.
2024-2025
TEAM FORMED: mid-September
PRACTICES: start in mid to late September
GAMES: October - March
Teams can anticipate playing 20 Regular Season games and playoffs in Edmonton and surrounding regions.
Junior Raiders teams typically attend 2-3 tournaments. This season, the Junior Raiders U11 Female team will participate in Wickfest Calgary.

APPAREL PACKAGE
The Jr Raiders apparel package will be supplied by BarDown Apparel.
The Jr Raiders apparel package includes:
- Custom Game Jersey(s)
- Practice Jersey
- Pant Shells
- Hoodie
- Technical Short and T-shirt
- Touque