By Kristi Patton /
It has been a tumultuous inaugural season for the Strathmore Rockies in the Western Women’s Hockey League.
Just over the halfway mark in the season, the Rockies are battling with the Edmonton Chimos and the Minnesota Whitecaps for the coveted second spot that could take them to the National Championships held March 11-5 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The Calgary Oval X-Treme holds a tight grip on first place have guaranteed themselves the trip and a re-vamped format to this years tournament awards the second-place team in the WWHL a chance to join them.
“We really need to win these games against Minnesota but we are up for it,” said Rockies Captain Samantha Holmes.
“We just keep getting better and better as each game passes. We are extremely motivated and have a great coaching staff.
“It is just great to be in this league where we are competing for a top spot.”
Earning the spot is only half the battle for the Rockies. They also will have to pay about $30,000 in expenses to get to the nationals, not an easy task considering players in the WWHL do not get paid to play.
“We are always accepting sponsors. So anything an organization is willing to give, we will work with them to start a relationship. Even smaller $500 donations help out. It can pay for a trip to Minnesota or for us to host a game day,” said Holmes, who can be contacted at president@strathmorerockies.com.
The Rockies have been working to become a positive influence on the town of Strathmore’s (located 40 km east of Calgary) youth by setting up adopt-a-school programs, in turn helping expose the league and their team to more people.
“It has been awesome,” Holmes said. “Having all these women speak to the schools about a sense of accomplishment is a big plus for little girls and little boys, who we get a lot of responses from.
“We want to put ourselves out there as role models but not in a cheesy way. One of the visions the Rockies have is to get out in the community and support them in any way that we can.”
Players talk to students about healthy eating and lifestyles, setting goals and incorporate fun by challenging the students and teachers to floor hockey. The team also took a local pee wee girls squad under their wing, having a pizza party with them and taking time to play dodge ball and floor hockey with the young players.
The Rockies have also volunteered and donated to several community events and organizations.
But the Rockies road this season has been just as their team name infers.
On Jan. 18, the assistant coach Wally Kozak came back to the bench. He had suffered a massive heart attack in October while conducting a practice and the quick-thinking players who shocked him with the arena defibrillator helped save his life.
CBC will present a three-minute segment on Kozak during the Hockey Day in Canada broadcast on Feb. 9.
The Rockies hope their assistant coach will be able to join them this March at the National Championships.
For more information on the Rockies or game schedules visit www.strathmorerockies.com. |