What Hockey Team Is in Alberta? (Pro, University, Juniors)

In 1978, Wayne Gretzky was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers within the World Hockey Association (WHA).

One year later, in 1979, the Edmonton Oilers, led by the “Great One”, left the WHA to join the National Hockey League (NHL).

Fast-forward to 2023, and the energy province now has six Stanley Cups between two NHL teams and dozens of other high-level teams.

In this article, I’ll show you what professional hockey teams are in Alberta and what university and junior hockey teams compete in the province.

Pssssst! Are you curious about hockey teams in other Canadian provinces? You can learn more by checking out our other posts: What Hockey Team Is in Quebec and What Hockey Team Is in Manitoba.

Let’s dive in.

Here’s What Hockey Teams Are In Alberta:

Alberta’s top hockey teams are the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames (NHL). The other professional hockey team is the Calgary Wranglers (AHL). The top D1 university teams are the Calgary Dinos, Alberta Golden Bears, and the Lethbridge Pronghorns. The top major junior teams (WHL) are the Edmonton Oil Kings, Calgary Hitmen, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Red Deer Rebels, and Medicine Hat Tigers.

Does Alberta Have a Hockey Team?

So, what is Alberta’s hockey team?

Alberta has dozens of high-level hockey teams and three professional teams. The top hockey teams in the province are the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The other professional team is the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The top D1 university hockey teams are the Alberta Golden Bears, Calgary Dinos, and the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

The top junior hockey teams are major junior teams that compete within the Western Hockey League (WHL): Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and the Red Deer Rebels

Does Alberta Have an NHL Team?

So, will you find an NHL hockey team in Alberta?

Absolutely. In fact, Alberta is home to two NHL teams: the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. The rivalry between the two teams is commonly referred to as the “Battle of Alberta.”

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers compete in the Pacific Division of the NHL’s Western Conference. The team was brought over to the National Hockey League (NHL) from the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1979 alongside three other professional hockey teams:

Hartford Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes)
Quebec Nordiques (now the Colorado Avalanche)
Winnipeg Jets (now the Arizona Coyotes)

The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Finals a total of seven times with their most recent appearance in 2006. They have won five Stanley Cup Championships (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990).

The Oilers have the sixth most Stanley Cup Championships out of all NHL teams. They have the most cups for a team outside of the ”Original Six” and even have more championships than the New York Rangers (an Original Six team).

Some of the most famous Edmonton Oilers players include:

Wayne Gretzky
Connor McDavid (Active)
Mark Messier
Jari Kurri
Grant Fuhr
Paul Coffey
Leon Draisaitl (Active)
Glenn Anderson
Ryan Smyth
Kevin Lowe
Dough Weight
Charlie Huddy
Jordan Eberle (Active – Seattle Kraken)
Esa Tikkanen
Taylor Hall (Active – Chicago Blackhawks)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Active)

Calgary Flames

The Flames compete in the Pacific Division of the NHL’s Western Conference. The team was originally introduced to the NHL in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames located in Georgia alongside the New York Islanders.

In 1980 the Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary to officially become Alberta’s second NHL team called the Calgary Flames.

The Flames have reached the Stanley Cup Finals two times: in 1989 against the Montreal Canadiens and in 2004 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In 1989, the Flames defeated the Canadiens in 5 games to hoist their first (and only) Stanley Cup. In 2004, after a controversial game six of the Finals, the Flames were defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The team celebrated its 50th season in 2022 (since its original founding in 1972).

Some of the most famous Calgary Flames players include:

Jarome Iginla
Al MacInnis
Theo Fleury
Joe Niewendyk
Lanny McDonald
Joel Otto
Matthew Tkachuk (Active – Florida Panthers)
Johnny Gaudreau (Active – Columbus Blue Jackets)
Mikka Kiprusoff
Gary Suter
Kent Nilsson
Gary Roberts
Joe Mullen
Sean Monahan (Active – Montreal Canadiens)
Jacob Markstrom (Active)
Mark Giordano (Active – Seattle Kraken)
Jonathan Huberdeau (Active)
Mikael Backlund (Active)

What Hockey Teams Are in Alberta?

So, what hockey teams are in Alberta? Alberta has two professional hockey teams in the NHL and dozens of university and junior teams as listed below:

NHL

Alberta has two NHL teams: The Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.

The Oilers play their home games out of Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton while the Flames play their home games out of the Scotiabank Saddledome in downtown Calgary.

AHL

The AHL is a high-level professional sports league just one step below the NHL. Alberta has one team in the American Hockey League (AHL) team.

What is the name of the Alberta AHL team? The Calgary Wranglers. They’re the affiliated minor league farm team for the NHL’s Calgary Flames.

So, where do they play? The Calgary Wranglers play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome located at 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary, AB.

D1 University Hockey

While Alberta is better known for its junior hockey, the province has three D1 university hockey teams that compete within the Canada West Universities Athletic Association as a part of the U Sports League — the highest-level university sports league in Canada:

Alberta Golden Bears
Calgary Dinos
Lethbridge Pronghorns

College Hockey

Alberta also has a handful of college hockey teams that compete within the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference which is the second highest-level university sports league in Canada:

Augustana Vikings
Calgary Dinos
Concordia Thunder
MacEwan Gryphons
Mount Royal Cougars
NAIT Ooks
Portage Voyageurs
Red Deer Queens
SAIT Trojans

Junior Hockey

Alberta has some of the most extensive junior hockey in North America.

The province has over seventy junior ice hockey teams spread across nine leagues:

Western Hockey League (WHL – Major Junior)
Alberta Junior Hockey League (Junior A)
Calgary Junior Hockey League (Calgary – Junior B)
Calgary Junior Hockey League (Edmonton – Junior B)
Heritage Junior B Hockey League (Junior B)
North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (Junior B)
Northwest Junior Hockey League (Junior B)
Calgary Junior C Hockey League (Junior C)
Noralta Junior Hockey League (Junior C)

Here are all the junior hockey teams in Alberta, broken down by the different leagues:

Alberta’s Western Hockey League (WHL – Major Junior) Teams:

Calgary Hitmen
Edmonton Oil Kings
Lethbridge Hurricanes
Medicine Hat Tigers
Red Deer Rebels

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL – Junior A) Teams:

So, what teams are in the Alberta Junior Hockey League?

Blackfalds Bulldogs
Bonnyville Pontiacs
Brooks Bandits
Calgary Canucks
Camrose Kodiaks
Canmore Eagles
Drayton valley Thunder
Drumheller Dragons
Fort McMurray Oil Barons
Grande Prairie Storm
Lloydminster Bobcats
Okotoks Oilers
Olds Grizzlys
Sherwood Park Crusaders
Spruce Grove Saints
Whitecourt Wolverines

Calgary Junior Hockey League (Calgary – Junior B) Teams:

CBHA Hawks
CBHA Rangers
CNHA Gold
CNHA Black
CRAA Gold
CRAA Blue
NWCAA Bruins
NWCAA Stamps

Calgary Junior Hockey League (Edmonton – Junior B) Teams:

Beaumont Chiefs
Edmonton Royals
Fort Saskatchewan Hawks
Leduc Riggers
Sherwood Park Knights
Strathcona Bruins
Wetaskiwin icemen
Beverly Warriors
Edmonton Mustangs
Morinville Jets
North Edmonton Red Wings
Spruce Grove Regals
St. Albert Merchants
Stony Plain Flyers

Heritage Junior B Hockey League (Junior B) Teams:

Airdrie Thunder
Mountainview Colts
Ponoka Stampeders
Red Deer Vipers
Rocky Rams
Stettler Lightning
Sylvan Lake Wranglers
Three Hills Thrashers
Coaldale Copperheads
Cochrane Generals
High River Flyers
Medicine Hat Cubs
Okotoks Bisons
Strathmore Wheatland Kings

North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (Junior B) Teams:

Cold Lake Ice
Killam Wheat Kings
Lac La Biche Clippers
Lloydminster Bandits
St. Paul Canadiens
Vegreville Rangers
Vermillion Tigers
Wainwright Bisons

Northwest Junior Hockey League (Junior B) Teams:

Beaverlodge Blades
Dawson Creek Kodiaks (BC)
Fairview Flyers
Fort St. John Huskies (BC)
Grande Prairie Kings
La Crete Lumber Barons
North Peace Navigators
Sexsmith Vipers

Calgary Junior C Hockey League (Junior C) Teams:

Airdrie Dragons
Bow River Bruins
Chestermere Lakers
Cochrane Generals
McKnight Mustangs
Simons Valley Storm
Southside Thunder
Springbank Rockies
Trails West Wolves
Wolverines Jr HC

Noralta Junior Hockey League (Junior C) Teams:

Beaumont Buccaneers
Edmonton Mavericks
Gibbons Broncos
Junior Braves
RCAC Riverman
Seera Icemen
Sherwood Park Renegades
St. Albert Comets
SouthWest Zone Ice Kings
SouthWest Zone Oil Kings
Strathcona Warriors

Is There High School Hockey in Alberta?

Yes, there is high school hockey in Alberta. The main league is the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). It’s a high-level national league that features high school teams from across Canada. Alberta has several teams that compete within the Prep West Division. Here are all the teams in the CSSHL’s Prep West (bolded are Albertan teams):

Edge School (AB)
BWC Academy (BC)
Yale Hockey Academy (BC)
South Alberta Hockey Academy (AB)
Okanagan Hockey Academy (BC)
Prairie Hockey Academy (SK)
St. George’s School (BC)
Northern Alberta Xtreme (AB)
Shawnigan Lake School (BC)
RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg (MB)
Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (BC)
RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (BC)
Delta Hockey Academy (BC)
International Hockey Academy (AB)
OHA Edmonton (AB)
North Shore Warriors (BC)
Notre Dame Hounds (SK)
Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy (ID)
Wenatchee Wild (WA)
Pilot Mound Hockey Academy (MB)

What AHL Teams Are in Alberta?

There is one American Hockey League (AHL) team in Alberta: the Calgary Wranglers. They play their home games in Calgary, Alberta out of Scotiabank Saddledome. The Wranglers are the affiliated minor league hockey team for the NHL’s Calgary Flames.

What NHL Team Is in Alberta?

There are two NHL teams in Alberta: the Edmonton Oilers (joined the NHL in 1979) and the Calgary Flames (joined the NHL in 1972 and moved to Calgary in 1980).

Does Calgary Have an NHL Hockey Team?

Yes, Calgary has a team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Calgary Flames moved to Calgary from Atlanta, Georgia in 1980, one year after the Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL.

Are the Oilers in Alberta?

Yes, the Oilers are in Alberta. The Edmonton Oilers play in downtown Edmonton out of Rogers Place at 10220 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB. The coach is Jay Woodcroft and the captain is Connor McDavid.

Why Does Alberta Have Two Hockey Teams?

Alberta has two NHL teams: the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.

While the NHL had been established for nearly 70 years before either team came on the scene, Alberta was able to secure two NHL teams within a one-year span.

In 1979, the Edmonton Oilers, an already established professional hockey team, moved from the World Hockey Association (WHA) to the National Hockey League (NHL).

Just one year later, in 1980, the Atlanta Flames (based out of Georgia in the States) were relocated to Calgary.

Thus, the “Battle of Alberta” was born.

Ultimately, the main reason Alberta has two NHL teams is that there is a ton of demand. Because of the hot hockey market, investors took on the Flames in 1980, one year after the already-established Oilers joined the NHL.

The ownership of both teams crunched the numbers and could see that there was enough of a financial reason to have both teams compete in the province.

Just over 40 years later and six Stanley Cups between the two teams and it’s safe to say that they were right.

Are you curious to know what hockey teams compete in different American states? Be sure to check out our post: Hockey Teams in Every U.S. State: Complete NHL & College List (2023).