Irvine U18 female hockey player signed by Medicine Hat College Rattlers

She had been scouted by other colleges, however she made the decision to stay in Medicine Hat to play.

Hutchinson (left) and Kuipers (right), coach and player of Irvine Bulldogs’ U18 female team. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

The process for creating the team began in January of 2024 and 15 girls joined for the upcoming season.

Torill Hutchinson, coach of Irvine’s U18 female Bulldogs team, said that one of their goals is to keep players here in Medicine Hat and surrounding areas.

She said that, with the team, they want to provide an opportunity to develop the players.

“That was one of the primary drivers, was to create opportunities here for our female athletes,” she said.

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“We have a lot of talent within the city and surrounding areas,” she added.

“We just wanted to showcase that, and then provide an opportunity to develop the players and have them compete at a higher level for post-secondary.”

The U18 female Irvine Bulldogs hockey team, developed in 2024. Irvine Minor Hockey Association

Hutchinson said that Katie Kuipers, who was signed by the Rattlers, is paving the way for other players.

Kuipers said that this creates more possibilities for new things to be built here in Medicine Hat and the college.

She said that more teams will open up, allowing more girls and players of any sport to achieve more than what is currently available.

She said that all of their hard work is paying off.

“Once we put in this hard work and stuff, it builds, and then in the end it pays off,” she said.

“Then we’re able to go to the teams that we want to, or join the classes that we want to for schooling,” she added.

“Without that hard work and effort put into the team, into the stuff that we’re doing, it makes it hard to achieve our own goals.”

Hutchinson talked with CHAT News this past summer when the Irvine girl’s team had started to develop.

She said it’s great to see these opportunities now come to their athletes, and that it is a “full circle moment” for the team.

“It was a push from the community to create this team, and see that they have the opportunities in the area.”

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Irvine U18 female hockey player signed by Medicine Hat College Rattlers

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