Welcome to the Battle of the Border website!

The 5th annual, EnCana-sponsored Battle of the Border women’s hockey tournament featured the Calgary’s Oval X-Treme women’s hockey team playing the four-game tournament against the United States Selects in four of EnCana’s operating areas in February, 2009.

Several of the most elite team members, including Carla McLeod, Colleen Sostorics, Mollyn Engstrom and Chanda Gunn, have represented their countries during previous Winter Olympic Games.

The 2009 locations for the tournament were: Dawson Creek, Wabasca, Stettler and Shaunavon.

Proceeds from these games support two local organizations in each community – local minor hockey and a family-related organization.

Battle of the Border Recipient Agencies

Dawson Creek, British Columbia – Monday, February 9, 2009, 7:00 p.m

  • Dawson Creek Minor Hockey Association
  • Dawson Creek Ark Youth Society

Wabasca, Alberta – Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 7:00 p.m

  • Wabasca Minor Hockey Association
  • The Wabasca Healthcare Centre

Stettler, Alberta – Friday, February 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m

  • Stettler Minor Hockey Association
  • Heartland Youth Centre

Shaunavon, Saskatchewan – Saturday, February 14, 2008, 7:00 p.m

  • Shaunavon Minor Hockey Association
  • The Wickenheiser Centre

Did You Know?

  • Battle of the Border has raised over $450,000 in the 22 communities in which the tournament has taken place.
  • More than 20 Olympians, from both sides of the border, have participated in the EnCana-sponsored Battle of the Border tournament since its inception.
  • A total of 14,191 fans have watched the high-intensity Battle of the Border games in those communities.
  • The tournament busses have driven 11,773 kilometers across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan over the past five years.
  • The tournament has booked and stayed at a total of 800+ hotel rooms since 2004.
  • To date, 662 kids have participated in the ‘Meet Your Heroes’ Lunch.
  • The event organizers affectionately call the tournament BOB.
  • Angela Ruggiero, a three-time US team Olympic medalist and Battle of the Border player was selected to be a candidate on the sixth season of NBC’s business-themed reality game show The Apprentice and made it to the top three finalists. The season debuted in January 2007. During the final episodes, Ruggiero was playing in the 2007 Battle of the Border tournament.

Battle of the Border Program Elements

Battle of the Border is about women’s hockey at its finest, but that’s not all. This tournament has several program elements:

X-Treme Queen for a Day Contest – Girls under 18 can become royalty for a full action-packed day by entering the X-Treme Queen contest. The winner of the online contest spends the day with the players, receives a souvenir gift package and VIP seating at the game that night.

School Visit – If the schedule permits, each team visits pre-selected schools in each community. The players speak to the students about hockey, sportsmanship, respect, self-esteem and leadership through their personal experiences.

Meet Your Heroes Lunch – Working with the local Minor Hockey Association, Battle of the Border event organizers put together a list of girls in each community who are currently playing minor hockey. These young women are then invited to have lunch with the Battle of the Border players on game day. The youth are interspersed among the players, giving them the opportunity to interact directly with their heroes.

The Hockey Game – This is the main element of Battle of the Border. Elite players from both sides of the border play some of the most spirited women’s hockey ever seen.

Autograph Session – Following each game, the public is invited to participate in an autograph session with the players.

Keep checking back for more details about the EnCana-sponsored Battle of the Border.

Battle of the Border Alumni Communities

  • Athabasca, AB
  • Bashaw, AB
  • Brooks, AB
  • Cold Lake, AB
  • Dawson Creek, AB
  • Drumheller, AB
  • Fernie, BC
  • Grande Cache, AB
  • Lac La Biche, AB
  • Medicine Hat, AB
  • Ponoka, AB
  • Ralston, AB
  • Shaunavon, AB
  • Stettler, AB
  • Strathmore, AB
  • Three Hills, AB
  • Unity, SK
  • Viking, AB
  • Vulcan, AB
  • Wabasca, AB
  • Warner, AB
  • Weyburn, SK