Yelnats Cup U18 Hockey Tournament, 800 Griffin Road East, Cochrane, AB (2026)

03/28/2026

The YELNATS Tournament marks a very special milestone for our Cochrane third-year U18 players, as it represents the end of their community hockey journey. This tournament is an opportunity to celebrate the important role hockey has played in shaping these young athletes, both on and off the ice.
This year, the YELNATS Tournament Committee is proud to present the 7th Annual Colby Sweet Memorial Scholarship for the 2026 tournament.

This scholarship was created in memory of Colby Sweet, a player who truly loved the game of hockey and valued the friendships, teamwork, and sportsmanship that came with it. Hockey was an important part of Colby’s childhood and gave him, along with his family, many treasured memories. Colby’s father, Trevor, is also a passionate hockey supporter and was one of the founding members of the YELNATS Tournament more than 20 years ago.

The Colby Sweet Memorial Scholarship honors a player who reflects the same love of the game and strong character that Colby showed. It is open to all third-year U18 players registered with Cochrane Minor Hockey Association who are attending YELNATS during the 2025–2026 season.

In Colby’s memory, the recipient of this $2,500 scholarship is selected based on the following qualities: being a strong team player, demonstrating community involvement, and showing personal development.

Applications were submitted and the winner was chosen by the selection committee made up of past YELNATS Tournament Committee members, along with Trevor Sweet, Colby’s father.

Today, it is our honor to recognize a deserving player who embodies these values and carries forward Colby’s spirit and passion for the game.

Please join us in congratulating Alexandra Pearce!

03/28/2026

It is our pleasure to present one of the YELNATS Scholarships.

This scholarship recognizes more than just success on the ice. It is awarded to players who reflect the values of Cochrane Minor Hockey through their commitment to education, their sportsmanship, and the strength of their character.

These recipients have demonstrated dedication in the classroom, respect for teammates, coaches, and opponents, and a positive attitude that has made a lasting impact on those around them. They have shown what it means to lead by example and to represent our association with pride.

On behalf of the YELNATS Tournament Committee, we are proud to announce this year’s recipients of the $1,250 YELNATS Scholarship are Sayje Wade and Ashlyn Rost.

Congratulations, Sayje and Ashlyn! We are very proud of you and all that you have accomplished. We wish you every success in the future, both on and off the ice.

03/26/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Sakib Sheikh

My hockey journey began when I was four, just learning how to skate on the backyard rink we made every year. I always enjoyed watching hockey and playing with my brother and dad, but focused more on other sports like soccer and archery. At ten years old, I played my first season of minor hockey. Playing on a team with kids, who have been actually playing on a team for years, made me extremely nervous. It took me a couple of years to really start to love hockey and understand how this sport teaches such valuable life lessons. The past eight years of my hockey journey have been filled with ups and downs, but every season I can look back at with pure happiness and no regrets. I have made such good friends and memories through hockey and will never forget them. Hockey will always have a place in my heart and I will never stop loving it.

03/25/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Ronan Neutens

Hockey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the years, hockey has become a huge part of my life and has taught me many important lessons about teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. Some of my favorite minor hockey moments include winning provincials in U15 Tier 1, a Las Vegas tournament and an international tournament that created some amazing memories. In addition to hockey, I am also involved in volleyball, basketball, golf, and track and field at school. After graduating high school, I plan to continue my education in Aerospace Engineering and stay involved in sports, including hockey at a recreational level. I am very grateful for all the teammates, coaches, and experiences that have made my time in minor hockey so memorable.

03/25/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Roan Taerum

I started playing hockey when I was in the U9 league at 7 years old and I continue to play it to this day. Hockey has taught me many important lessons like teamwork, sportsmanship, creating friends and most importantly having fun. One of my most fond memories of this sport was when I won the banner in my first year of U15. Our team played great that year and I think we had lots of fun because of one key aspect, our head coach Chris Strawson. Before every game we played he would always tell us a story to get us fired up and sometimes it was just to make us laugh but whatever story he told it always worked. One of the biggest influences of my minor hockey career was when I was in my first year of U18 at our first ever game of the season my dad who was the head coach told us a story about a fighter pilot who served in WWII Douglas Bader who never gave up no matter the situation, and that story carried our team through the entire season to never give up. In addition to playing hockey, I also play lacrosse, curling, and track and field. After I graduate from high school I plan to continue my education in post-secondary. I also plan to continue playing hockey either at the university level or just recreational level. Thank you Cochrane Minor Hockey for the many great years of hockey.

03/25/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Nolan Girardi

I started playing minor hockey in Oakville, Ontario when I was around 6 years old and have continued playing up until today. I have played a little bit of all positions including goalie, but have now found my spot at defence. My fondest memory of my minor hockey career would be scoring the tying goal in the semifinals of a tournament back in Ontario. While this is just one fond memory, there have been countless other fantastic moments that I have experienced while playing hockey both in Oakville and the past few years in Cochrane. I have played many other sports such as soccer, baseball and martial arts but have found hockey to be the one that has stood above them all. My minor hockey career has been an incredible experience and I am so grateful to the coaches who have coached me, the friends I have made and my parents who have taken their time out to watch my games and support me along the way.

03/25/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Noah White

What a journey this has been, from 5 am road trips to 1 am parties, hockey has taught me so much. Across these past 13 years, I’ve made countless memories with teammates, coaches and even fans! I’ve always looked up to my mom and dad the people they are, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities I’ve had growing up on and off the ice. I’ve been lucky enough to have my dad coach just about every season, and have an amazing supportive hockey mom in the stands every game. This sport has taught me so much about discipline, teamwork, resiliency, and pride. Hockey has always given me a place to escape when the regular world becomes too much. I hope to move forward with these relationships and connections, qualities and passions that I’ve built, and bring them to Mount Royal University in the pursuit of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. The ups and downs, the wins and the losses I’ve taken from this sport have built me into the person that I am today. Thank you hockey, thank you mom and dad, thank you friends and loved ones for supporting me in this wonderful journey!

03/25/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Nick Walsh

I began my hockey career playing in Airdrie, spent a couple years in Crossfield, and will finish in Cochrane. Definitely met some great teammates, coaches, and friends playing hockey in these last 12 or so years. Scored some big goals, made some big hits, and undoubtedly did some stupid things that I do not regret. At the end of the day there's no specific memory that I will hold onto. I'm just gonna miss some of the simple things. Early morning games in the coldest barns Alberta has to offer, having to skate lines because we keep messing up in practice, and honestly
just going out to eat with the guys. I can't give it a name, but there's just something special about going to catch a meal with the team, and it's honestly going to be the part I look back at the most. Those memories are priceless and it's something I'm likely going to be chasing for the rest of my life. Hockey wise, I'll go find a beer league to play in just so I can hit the ice a little. But it won't be the same, thank you hockey for everything you've taught and given me.

03/24/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Maxx Campbell

I first laced up my skates at just two years old and started playing Timbits hockey at four. Since then, hockey has been part of who I am. I have played in Oakville, Ontario, White Rock, British Columbia, and Cochrane, Alberta, and each stop added to my growth both on and off the ice.
Last season’s playoff run will always stand out. Winning the banner with that group was unforgettable, and the road trips along the way created some of my best memories in the game. Hockey has given me lifelong friendships, meaningful lessons, and moments I will always carry with me.
I am grateful for the coaches who helped shape my journey, especially Coach Brad and Coach Wacey, who pushed me to be better every day. Growing up in the game taught me discipline, teamwork, resilience, and respect, skills that have shaped who I am today.
As I graduate, I plan to continue playing junior hockey while working toward a future in sports medicine at Mount Royal University. Hockey has prepared me for whatever the next chapter brings.

03/24/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Magnus Lang

I started playing hockey when I was four years old, and from the moment I first stepped on the ice, I fell in love with the game. What started as a fun way to learn how to skate quickly turned into a passion that shaped much of my life growing up. I spent years developing my skills, competing, and enjoying every moment I could on the ice.

In my first year of Peewee, I made the move to Cochrane Minor Hockey, which became an important part of my journey. It was there that I continued to grow as a player and as a teammate. One of the highlights of my minor hockey career came during my U15 Tier 1 season when our team won provincials, an unforgettable achievement that showed the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

Over the years, hockey gave me more than just competition and victories. It gave me friendships that will last a lifetime and countless memories in locker rooms, on road trips, and during big games. After playing all the way until I was 18 and graduating from minor hockey, my love for the game is still just as strong as it was when I first started. Hockey has been a huge part of who I am, and the experiences and relationships it gave me will always stay with me.

03/24/2026

Continuing our 2026 Yelnats Cup Grad Bios Is Sayje Wade

I began playing hockey when I was 5 years old. Hockey has taught me many valuable life lessons, including teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. It has also allowed me to build lifelong friendships and create countless memorable moments with my teammates. One of my favorite memories from my time with CMHA the year my brother coached my team. We had so much fun and really gelled as a team. We were teammates on the ice, and friends off the ice. We would often get together on non hockey days to hang out. Having my older brother coach was a unique experience, I appreciate him volunteering his time and it was neat to have a younger coach who could relate to the team in a bit different way than a parent could. Another significant influence on my hockey journey has been coach, Tai Hasumi. He has coached me for many years and has imparted important skills both on and off the ice, such as dedication and maintaining a positive outlook in every situation. I am grateful to Coach Tai for all his guidance and support throughout the years.
Besides hockey, I also compete in dance. Balancing the two has been a challenge at times and I appreciate the understanding from my instructors and teammates for both sports to help me succeed and manage scheduling conflicts. After graduation, I plan to continue my post-secondary education and hope to keep playing hockey through intramural teams. Thank you, CMHA, for many wonderful years, unforgettable memories, and invaluable life lessons.

Yelnats Cup U18 Hockey Tournament

03/28/2026

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