Girls’ hockey took centre ice over the weekend in Jasper.
The second annual Female Hockey Day in Jasper brought to town female players, coaches, trainers and community leaders. Teams and their supporters came from Edmonton, Hinton, Valemount and in the case of the Wheatland Wranglers, all the way from Strathmore, AB, a good six hour haul in most minivans.
Congregating in the newly renovated, expansive (and as-of-yet-unheralded…WTG MOJ!) dressing rooms at the Jasper Arena, players lifted each other up, learned from one another and celebrated the love of the game.
“An unforgettable celebration of incredible talent, drive and passion for girls and women in hockey,” is how Director of Female Hockey for Jasper Minor Sports, Lynn Wannop, billed it.
The hockey festival, which saw 77 female players lace up their skates over the Feb 1-2 weekend, definitely lived up to the hype.
The weekend of camaraderie, skating and skills clinics, off-ice workshops and a three-team U13 tournament (including the EF551 Edmonton Storm and the return of Jasper’s own Alice Wannop, who moved to the city in September to live out her hockey dreams) culminated in a Saturday night college league game between the NAIT Ooks and the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Queens.
The game brought more than 400 spectators out to the Jasper Arena on a bone-chilling night to watch a highly-skilled, fast and clean contest played by 40 of the best college-age female hockey players in the province.
“We’re watching the future of the sport,” one spectator commented.
The college players helped run the weekend’s clinics and handed out gold medals to the eventual winners, the U13 Storm.
The off-ice sessions for the participants included everything from painting workshops, to Hayley Wickenheiser watch parties, to Q&A panels with college players, coaches and high level administrators—including the highly decorated, veteran head coach and current athletics director for Grant McEwan University, Lindsay McAlpine.
The power skating clinics, run by educator, kinesiologist and literal skating scientist, Renee Brown, had participants working on their stride mechanics, transitions and edge control. If that sounds like work, it didn’t look like it. Despite the lack of pucks on the ice, the faces of the players coming off the ice looked elated—and empowered.
A relay race during the first intermission of the Saturday night college match saw four skaters from the U13 Jasper Bears (wearing their Grizzlies sweaters) edge out the visiting competitors, winning with their blazing speed a full team dinner, redeemable at any BearHill Brewing Co. location.
During the Sunday afternoon Ask Me Anything session, Ooks and Queens captains and coaches were asked what attributes can help propel young athletes who harbour dreams of high level women’s hockey.
“We’re looking for grit,” Ooks forward Greir Slabaida suggested. “We want to see those third and fourth efforts.”
Other answers included hard work, good time management, high hockey IQ, and “being a good human,” not necessarily in that order.
One hockey player who has exemplified those characteristics has been local goaltender, community ambassador and born-and-raised Jasperite, 33-year-old Cassi Allin. Allin’s love for hockey first bloomed in her hometown, after which she went to a Toronto hockey academy for her Grade 11 and 12 high school years, then to the University of Alberta, where she suited up for the Pandas.
Allin’s hockey career and on-ice volunteer commitments motivated Wannop to organize a special jersey retirement ceremony for the 34-year-old during the Saturday night college contest.
“Her passion and mentorship continue to inspire Jasper’s youth, and we’re so grateful to have her as a role model in our community,” Wannop said.
Wannop also thanked the numerous volunteers and sponsors who helped make sure Female Hockey Day was a success—including 13-year-old Hana Callihoo, who in between skating sessions belted out the Canadian national anthem to open Saturday night’s game.
“This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from so many people—coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone who helped make the day unforgettable,” Wannop said.
“Get ready… because we’re already planning next year’s event!”
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
