BANFF – The Jills may have a sweet-looking bunny on their sweater logo, but their intensity was more representative of the mighty bison, as they stampeded over the playoff competition in Banff's women’s hockey league.
Jamie Martin scored twice and Larissa Dingwell made 13 saves as the Jills defeated the Minks 5-1 in the 2025 finals of the Rundle Women’s Hockey League (RWHL) on Sunday (March 16) at Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.
“This was the best group of ladies I could have asked to play with,” said captain Jordan Thomson. “We had the winning formula this weekend. I can’t say enough good things about our teamwork and our camaraderie.”
Along with Martin, Lily Dennis, Sylvia Wickman and Alex Jackman each scored in the finals.
Emily Hunwicks was the Minks’ lone scorer.
Going undefeated in the eight-team playoffs, the all-round game of the Jills was too hot to handle in the league’s sixth season tournament.
“I kind of felt like we would [win]; our team’s really kind of glued together,” said Jills’ rookie Magnolia Saul.
“We all kind of came together. It was really good energy we had for this whole tournament so that was super fun.”
In the first period, the action was slower as the Jills and Minks got a feel for the ice. Breaking up the goose egg was Martin, who scored late in the period to give the Jills the lead.
The second period started magnificently for Minks goalie Bethany McMillan, who made a pair of goal-saving stops at the net in the opening minutes to keep the score at one. However, the Minks goalie wasn’t able to stand on her head all period. Minutes later, Jills’ blueliner Dennis sent a wrister on goal which fit nothing but net. Then, in the right place at the right time, Wickman’s tap-in put the Jills up by three.
Looking dominant, the Jills weren’t done yet in the period, as Martin worked some magic and went end-to-end on the power play, beating the defence and McMillan for her second of the game.
“It was a little dicey in the first, and by the second, we were getting into the groove and feeling it,” said Thomson.
In the third period, Jackman gave the Jills a 5-0 advantage, scoring short-handed.
However, goalie Dingwell’s perfect game in net had an expiration date. Late in the third, Minks’ Hunwicks took matters into her own hands. The Minks forward darted out from her zone, keeping defensive sticks away from the puck before sliding into the Jill’s zone and rifling one past the netminder to break up the shutout.
That’s as close as the Minks would come though as the Jills captured the league’s latest championship.
The RWHL had 104 players this season, aged between 18 and late 60s, with skill levels varying from former university athletes to those picking up a stick for the first time.
A key community-builder for women continuing in sport, the RWHL offers inclusivity, team spirit, and safety is the foundation of creating not only a safe space for all who identify as female, but additionally, an opportunity welcoming those to try a new sport alongside many others.
Wearing Canmore Eagles minor hockey socks at the weekend tournament, it was 18-year-old Saul’s first season in the RHWL.
Playing defence for the Jills, Saul wanted to continue hockey after finishing U18.
“I’m so glad I did sign-up,” she said. “I love hockey and it was so good to keep playing.”
