Cops versus College: Rattlers to host Medicine Hat Police Service in exhibition hockey game

While job fairs help with recruitment and awareness, S.Sgt. Cory Both says that further community outreach is needed and that athletes make for ideal recruits.

“We’ve identified a lot of identity traits within high level athletes that translate well into policing,” Both said.

“Work ethic, self-discipline, resiliency, self-motivation, coachability. If we can tap into that market, specifically the female athletes, and let them know that it doesn’t matter what your educational background is, those traits translate well into policing,” he said.

Head coach Chad Barons said that when the Rattlers were approached to play the game, they jumped at the opportunity.

While the Rattlers are currently winless in their inaugural season and even though they’re playing to win, Barons says the message is ultimately bigger than the final score.

“I know they’re looking for female recruits there,” Barons said.

“We’ll be spending the day there, they’ll be running the girls through some stuff there,” he said.

“Just trying to show them another option, if further down their career, if they wanted to change that, this is something they could maybe take up.”

Rattlers Mya Girard echoes her coaches sentiment, saying that even though this is a friendly exhibition game, they’re still going to play hard.

“It’s going to be pretty friendly, but we’re excited,” Girard said.

“We get to spend the day with them and then play against them that night, so maybe a rivalry will come throughout the day,” she said.

“I think it’s just a fun way for us to get out and play without pressure and just have some fun.”

The game will be free for all to attend and will be hosted at the Medicine Hat Stampede and Exhibition Park Kinplex.

by Adrian St.Onge

Cops versus College: Rattlers to host Medicine Hat Police Service in exhibition hockey game

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