Female Hockey Day takes place on Saturday, but on Thursday the U9 Wildcats took the ice at the Moose Recreation Centre. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

SPORTS

Medicine Hat hosts Female Hockey Day on Saturday

Jan 31, 2025 | 3:36 PM

Female Hockey Day will take over the Big Marble Go Centre Arena on Saturday, with the Medicine Hat Minor Hockey Association the host of the 2025 provincial event.

The Hockey Alberta initiative is aimed to bring female players, parents, coaches and supporters together for the development, growth, and celebration of the game.

The event throughout the day will also have a showcase game between the South Alberta Hockey Academy U18 prep team and the U18 AAA Calgary Fire at 3:30 p.m.

Leading up to the event, the U9 Medicine Hat Wildcats were practicing at the Moose Recreation Centre on Thursday.

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A combinations of coaches, and a few players from the U13 team, as well as the captain of the South Alberta Hockey Academy women’s team Riley Gramlich helping out.

Eleven-year old Paisley Krasko who plays for the U13 team, and was helping out stared hockey at the age of four, and is excited for the big day.

“I’m really excited, because I just feel like it’s a good day to just support, females playing hockey, and it’s just really fun,” Krasko said.

“There’s a lot of fun activities, and I really like it.”

Eleven-year old Hudson Vandervelde is also a member of the U13 team, she expects similar excitement to when she attended Wickfest.

“I’m really excited. My team got into the Hayley Wickenheiser tournament in Calgary, and I think it’s really cool that we could all try and all the girls can come out and try hockey and see if they like it,” Vandervelde said.

For 8-year old Eberle Dease who just started hockey this year, playing for the U9 Wildcats, she has really taken a liking to the game.

“I think it’s really fun. Yeah. Because I tried every sport, but this is the only one I like,” Dease said.

Watching older siblings is what got a few of these young ladies into the sport.

“I just kind of watched my sister play, because she played before me, and then I just thought that it was pretty cool,” Krasko said.

“Then I asked my parents if I could go public skating, and then I asked them if I could go in hockey,” she added.

“Then I went in hockey, and then I just really liked it, and I decided to keep playing.”

“My brothers, I have three brothers, and all three of my brothers played hockey,” said Vandervelde.

“I was thinking if I was at the rink the whole day, I just might as well try hockey, so I tried it.”

Dease’s favourite drill in practice is crossovers, but also enjoys providing offense.

“Maybe scoring a goal,” Dease said.

It was similar for one of the older players.

“I like to score and win, but my most favorite thing is like the bond I have with my teammates,” Vandervelde said.

While Krasko is very enthusiastic about the sport.

“I feel like the game just really gets me pumped up,” Krasko said.

“It’s really exciting, and just like fun. And just the team is just like, it’s just such a great experience, and it’s just really fun.”

The opportunities for these young ladies continues to improve with the focus each year on the female game growing.

Registration information for those wanting to try the sport is available through Hockey Alberta.