Showdown Sunday is set to showcase the opportunities available in women’s hockey.
The SAIT Trojans and Medicine Hat College Rattlers will lock horns in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference action for the Women’s Hockey Showdown on Oct. 6 at Okotoks’ Vikings Rentals Centre.
“It's a great initiative to highlight two ACAC teams in the Okotoks draw zone and showcase the ACAC as a potential avenue to pursue after minor hockey,” said SAIT head coach Amanda McLeod, an Okotokian and OOAA alumna.
The game, hosted by the Okotoks Oilers Athletic Association and Okotoks Minor Hockey Association in partnership with SAIT, is a 4 p.m. puck drop.
“OOAA and OMHA are very excited to be hosting this game in partnership with SAIT and we hope to make an annual event in our community,” said Jennifer Dustow, OMHA senior female director. “Female hockey is growing at fast rate, and we feel that this will only continue now that these young ladies have a professional league (PWHL) to aspire to play in.
“Okotoks has a prosperous hockey program from minor, to AA, AAA, Junior A, B and a female junior team. This is an opportunity to showcase the ACAC in Okotoks and we are hoping to pack the rink for this event.”
McLeod can speak to opportunities in the sport first-hand.
The gritty forward played with the AAA Raiders program in her youth and ended up playing four years of NCAA hockey at Penn State University.
Prior to taking on the SAIT coaching role in 2022, McLeod coached in the OOAA at the U18 and U15 levels.
“Seeing the growth of women's hockey over the past few years has been great, especially in my hometown,” McLeod said. “The support from OOAA and OMHA members doesn't go unnoticed as they actively look to grow the female game for up-and-coming players and coaches.
“It's inspiring and makes me proud to call myself an OOAA alum.”
The Trojans feature two players from the community in Kaylan Easson and Alex Baumbach on this year’s roster.
As part of the event, the OMHA U11 girls team will take part in the warm up and national anthem, the first intermission will showcase Okotoks’ U9 team in a scrimmage and the second intermission will put the Rocky Mountain U15 AA Raiders in a shoot to win contest.
Following the game, the SAIT athletes will be in the upper concourse for autograph and photo opportunities.
For more information, go to ooaaoilerhockey.ca.
