The Eckville Minor Hockey Association has added a new team this season, the Female Peewee West Central Wildcats.
The team works on a mini-hub system and features players from Rimbey, Bentley, Sylvan Lake, Spruceview, Caroline, Rocky Mountain House and Eckville since there is only a few girls from each organization.
“I’ve got three girls in Eckville, I’ve got three girls from Caroline, I’ve got six girls from Rocky [Mountain House], you just don’t have enough commitment or interest in one town where you needed multiple towns together to make this happen,” said Charles Hainsworth, the Wildcats’ head coach.
The Wildcats play in the Rocky Mountain House Female Peewee league, which consists of communities like Camrose, Red Deer and Wetaskiwin.
“There’s lots of interest, there’s lots of developability. It’s a really growing sport right now for females,” added Hainsworth.
The Wildcats have already played two exhibition games this season and have a tournament coming up this weekend in Innisfail.
“It’s a great opportunity for girls to come out and build confidence, to have fun and take it to the next level… to get our there and show what they can do,” Hainsworth explained. “Not just in the shadows of the boys playing hockey, they’re just as good, they just lack the confidence in that world.”
The Wildcat’s next home game is on Oct. 28 at 12:45 p.m. against Stettler at the Ecvkille Arena.