Another fun season of the Sunshine Coast Women’s Hockey League (SCWHL) has come to a close.
The Source for Sports Sourcerers had a very strong season, with the other three teams – Shell Wilson Creek’s High Octane, Strait Coffee’s Grrrinders, and Sluggers Gym’s Sluggers – well matched and often giving the Sourcerers a run for their money.
As in previous years, there was a big focus on attracting new players to the league, and it was a delight to see so many new faces on the ice this season.
“I think the best part about the hockey league was making new friends with the other teams and my team,” one of the league’s new players, Erika Holstein, said. Holstein even scored two goals in her first season, which she said was especially fun. Emily Tredger – who had never played hockey before – said what stood out to her was how both teams cheered when she scored her first goal.
“It’s always so great to see people improve their playing over the year and just how much fun everyone has,” league veteran Sharon Johnson said. “There’s always a lot of smiles and laughter on the ice.”
The age of the players ranged from 12 to 62 in the 2015-16 season, with around 25 per cent of the players being 19 or under and around 25 per cent being 50-plus, which created a wonderful mixture of youth and wisdom.
“It’s great to be mentored by such an amazing and fun group of women,” Sofia Caroll – one of the younger players – said.
Though the season has ended, the league is sending a team to the Female International Hockey Tournament in Delta this weekend, which is sure to leave the players with many fond memories.
The SCWHL runs from September to March and plays Monday and Friday evenings at both the Gibsons & Area Community Centre and the Sunshine Coast Arena in Sechelt. The league welcomes players who are new to the game, as well as those with more experience. For more information, visit www.scwhl.com or check out the league’s Facebook page.
