The Red Deer U18AAA Sutter Fund Chiefs have earned a spot in the national spotlight after securing the Pacific Region Championship for the first time in program history. The team clinched the title on April 6, 2026, by defeating the Greater Vancouver Comets in the final game of their series at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
This regional victory follows a dominant run through the provincial playoffs. The Chiefs captured the Alberta Female Hockey League U18 AAA provincial championship on March 25, 2026, after a hard-fought series against the St. Albert Slash. The team entered those provincial finals as strong contenders and remained unbeaten on the road throughout their playoff campaign, which included a series victory over the top-ranked Edmonton Jr. Oilers White.
Head coach Don Morrison, who took over the team at Christmas from original head coach Marissa Graham, has guided the group through a consistent period of improvement. Goaltender Brylee Hull has been a major factor in the team’s success, recording 113 saves during the three-game provincial final series with a 1.63 goals-against average. The roster, which Graham assembled, consists of 20 players ranging from first-year to third-year experience levels.
The team is now preparing for the Esso Cup, which is Canada’s highest national women’s U18 hockey championship. The tournament will take place in Dieppe, New Brunswick, from April 19 to April 25, 2026. This marks the second appearance for the Red Deer program at the national tournament; the Chiefs previously competed as hosts in 2015, where they earned a silver medal after a loss in the gold medal game.
The Chiefs are scheduled to face Quebec in their opening game of the tournament on April 19. Subsequent matchups include games against the host Moncton Rockets, the Winnipeg Ice, the Northern Selects, and the representative from Ontario.
