SMHA to expand in New Year

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Despite the downtick in the economy, the Strathmore Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) has seen inflation in their numbers program-wide.
SMHA went from having just under 400 skaters last year to 455 this year, while projecting to add three more teams next season.
“We were pretty shocked to see our numbers rise like they did considering the way the economy has been lately,” said SMHA secretary Natalie Haslund.
Having a finger on the pulse of the market has seemed to help improve things. They made payments easier on families during these difficult times by offering extended payment plans.
Running ripe with numbers, the SMHA offers programs all the way from Intro to Hockey, Timbits, up to the midget level, with the number of teams being maxed out along the way.
Even the girls programs are on the rise. One of the marquee events of the New Year happened Jan. 14 when the Strathmore Family Centre hosted the inaugural Alberta Female Hockey League Elite All-Star game.
“It’s events like that that help grow awareness of female hockey in this area. Our numbers for the girl’s teams are up, and we are looking to add an atom program next year,” said Haslund. “We want to give the girls another option other than ringette and help build competiveness at an early age.”
The season of prime time events put on by the SMHA started back in November when they hosted a successful 20-team atom tournament.
Last December, SMHA was granted the rights to host another major event, the midget A provincials, running March 23-29 at the Strathmore Family Centre. The tournament will feature the Top 10 teams from across Alberta, including the host Strathmore Storm.
Haslund and the rest of the SMHA will have their hands full the next couple of months as they try to land volunteer support and put together what they hope will be a fantastic tournament.