The Elite Female Hockey Model provides structure for top levels of Female hockey: U18 AAA, U18 AA, U15 AA and U13 AA hockey. The AA level provides players with an opportunity to play at a level that enables skill development and focuses on helping them get to the next level, bridging the gap between grassroots programs and AAA.

Teams in the Elite Female Hockey Model are part of the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL).

PRINCIPLES

1. A standardized province wide system of hockey that provides the opportunity for female players to develop and progress from grassroots hockey through to elite hockey and up into Team Alberta’s high performance programs.
2. Defined criteria determining the appropriate number of teams within each category as well as the terms and conditions under which the teams operate. Establishes an environment that provides players with the opportunity to access the level of hockey they are capable of playing at; from grassroots programs progressing up to elite level opportunities for elite players.
3. Foster development by providing an opportunity for players to access grassroots teams within close proximity to their home town, to access the elite developmental program regionally within a reasonable distance of travel and to access the AAA program within the province with no defined boundaries.

NSMHA is within the North Central Impact/Leduc recruitment area for Female AA.

No recruitment areas are in place for Female U18AAA hockey, however Host MHAs have still been identified by Hockey Alberta to host each U18 ‘AAA’ Female Team. Players new to U18AAA are eligible to tryout for any of the teams within this category