By Kristi Patton /
The Western Women’s Hockey League kicks into gear this month and the Edmonton Chimos organization is ready for their next revolution in the league.
With a league re-organization, due partly with the new ownership of the Calgary X-Treme sidelining them to an exhibition squad for at least this year, the Chimos will face regular season competition against the Strathmore Rockies and Minnesota Whitecaps. The newly formed Manitoba Maple Leafs, Chinese National Team and select men’s teams and Male Bantam AAA teams will also hit the ice in exhibition play against WWHL teams.
The Chimos have also changed ownership this year with Arlan Maschmeyer and business partner Jamie Graham taking over those duties.
“We bought this team really to ensure that female elite athletes have a place to play. In comparison, if you look at male players coming out of the NCAA or university, they are at the prime of their careers. For women, they have their post -secondary playing years and that is it. That just doesn’t make sense,” said Maschmeyer.
Maschmeyer said he is hopeful that the league will get back on its feet and develop a model that the Canadian Women’s Hockey League back east has. The CWHL has a major sponsor in Scotiabank and the teams are player-owned. This gives the elite women hockey players the chance to continue playing in their prime and for the most part without costing them money to play.
“The WWHL has the best players in the world, playing at the highest level of hockey yet they are not paid. That is one of our biggest goals and to attract and grow a fan base that the women’s national teams has. This league will be a place that houses those players on the national team.”
The Chimos will practice in Leduc with most of their home games held in outreach centres such as Fort Saskatchewan, Beaumont, Thorsby, Smoky Lake and Bruderheim.
For more information on the team visit www.edmontonchimos.com. |