BOW VALLEY – The Rundle Women's Hockey League (RWHL), a key community for local women continuing in sport, finished its latest season with its largest growth in four seasons.
Growing from four to six teams with 91 players, aging from 18 to 70 and of all talent levels, organizer Karli Fleury said the RWHL is an important outlet for new arrivals and long-time locals to connect with right away and with potential for more growth.
"I think we obviously live in a destination that's transient," said Fleury. "[The league] still provides that opportunity if you've grown up playing hockey and you brought your equipment here ... this is a very Canadian thing, and it's been super cool to see Australians and people from England and women having the confidence to start something as an adult and be able to join that community, as well."
Consisting of teams including the Nanny Goats, Jills, Minks, Vixens, Shrews, and Luna Wolves, the inclusive league provides a competitive formula that's been working.
The league championship was decided earlier this month when Allison Burger scored the game-winning goal and the Vixens hoisted the RWHL's Rundle Cup after a 3-2 overtime victory against the Luna Wolves on March 19 at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.
Fleury said Burger's goal had a little extra meaning for the "women-created, women-empowered league."
"The woman who scored the OT goal, it was really cool, she just started playing hockey as an adult when we started the league, so it was just really cool she was the person to score it," said Fleury.
At the beginning of each season, the league has a draft to evenly disperse skill and experience levels throughout the teams. Talent levels in the league range from university to novice in Canada’s sport. From October to March, 15 regular season games are played and the season-ending four team playoffs are in March.
"It was really competitive and close all [playoffs], which was awesome. It was exactly what we hoped for," said Fleury.
So far, the Vixens have had the winning formula and have won each season.
