Photo From Facebook/Medicine Hat College Rattlers

By Aidan Boelsgaard

Home debut coming Nov. 13

Rattlers women’s hockey team plays historic first game

Oct 27, 2022 | 4:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat College Rattlers women’s hockey team was shut out on the scoreboard last weekend but the real win came off the ice.

Making its debut this year, the Rattlers team played its first game in Red Deer, losing 8-0 to the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens. Just dropping the puck though was a big moment for women’s hockey in southeastern Alberta.

MHC manager of athletics Terry Ballard says the team has been working hard through their early morning practices, and it was rewarding to get into the first game.

“It was fantastic. I think it was a reward for them to finally get a game in after waking up so early and working so hard for 10-12 practices,” he said. “You know they probably thought this can’t be real either, this can’t be really happening. So I think that was a big part of it. I think they were certainly nervous to start the game rightfully so, but they adjusted and got better as every period went on.”

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Perhaps the true benefit of the program is to local female hockey players who are looking for an opportunity to play their sport at the college level without having to move away.

Long-time ringette player Hailey Grey says the program has given her a chance to get back into hockey following some injuries, as well as meet new people while attending school.

“I always wanted to play college hockey … I’ve had a couple concussions so I didn’t get a chance to do that. So when I came back here I figured I would try it out again,” the forward says. “So I’m excited to have the experience of playing hockey again at a higher level with different people.”

The team does not have a full season schedule this year, but will play their first home game at the Big Marble Go Centre on Nov. 13 against the SAIT Trojans.