Minor hockey hosts girls night

Times Reporter

 

Strathmore Minor Hockey, SMH, held their annual Girls Hockey night on Aug. 25 beginning at 7 p.m. It was open to girls of all ages and skills levels. 

“What Strathmore Minor Hockey is doing with girls night is to just give some girls the opportunity to try hockey before they register to see if they want to join up,” said Fern Pagenkopf, one of the female hockey directors. 

She said they give them the opportunity because sometimes girls are a little more tentative about registering. SMH wants to give them an opportunity to give it a try with no obligations before registering. 

They had to have minimal equipment – helmet, gloves sticks and skates. 

“We just provide some basic instruction on what they can expect at a regular hockey practice,” said Pagenkopf.

This year there wasn’t a spring girls night, though Pagenkopf said they try to hold them twice a year, providing the opportunity at both the beginning and end of the season. 

“There’s been girls that have played in the mainstream program switching to the female program, there’s been girls in ringette that have come over to play hockey and there’s girls that decided they just want to play hockey, and it’s just an opportunity for them to do it without being intimidated by the boys,” said Pagenkopf.

In Strathmore there is a peewee, bantam and midget female team. Registration wrapped up at REVS on Sept. 1 but SMH will still take registrations after that date. More information about SMH and any of their programs can be found at www.smhockey.com.