Eying a gold medal
By Melissa Piche Times Contributor
Photo Courtesy of Lori Loree, Loree Photography
Molli Radford (12) and the other members of her U13AA Rocky Mountain Raiders female hockey team have their eyes set on gold as they head to the Alberta Winter Games on the Family Day long weekend Feb. 16-19 in Grand Prairie.
The Okotoks-based Raiders will be representing Zone 2 Big Country at the games coached by Mark Hallam. This is Hallams’ first year as head coach although he’s been an assistant coach in the past. Along with the Strathmore representation there are players from Okotoks, Diamond Valley, Foothills County, Nanton, Vulcan and Chestermere.
The U13AA is a new addition the Alberta Female Hockey League this season making it a division many people will be tuned into.
The team won their spot at the Winter Games by defeating Airdrie Lightning in two games in a best-of-three win in December at playdowns.
“It was kinda fun because they hadn’t beat Airdrie in a league game and when it came down to when it totally mattered for this important event, (we) beat them in two (games) which was super awesome,” said Molli’s mother, Darci Radford.
Molli has been playing hockey since she was 4.
“She played for Strathmore Storm and moved to the girls team, the Raiders, last year; her first year of U13.” Darci said. Molli plays mostly left wing, but coach Hallam also uses her as a centre – making her a force to be reckoned with on ice.
Molli’s team is dedicated to their sport, they practice 3-4 times a week including a mobility dryland event weekly in Okotoks, making some of the nights quite long with travelling.
“Some nights we don’t get home until 10:45 at night,” Darci said. “She loves it she wouldn’t choose any other sport.”
To be eligible for the Alberta Winter Games teams must participate and win in their respective zone playoffs. The games will be a Round Robin style starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb.16 and commencing with medal games and medal presentation on Monday Feb. 19.
The Winter Games is slightly different from other tournaments in the aspect of living arrangements for the athletes. The athletes will be staying in an “Athletes Village.”
The teams will be bunking in schools throughout Grand Prairie and each team will have a classroom they will call home while attending the games with catered meals and adult chaperones.
The countdown is on and Molli and her team are thrilled to be representing their zone at the Winter Games. If anyone would like more information on the Winter Games and where to watch, more information is available online (https://www.2024awg.com).