Rec female hockey alive and well in Western Manitoba

The Minnedosa Wild defeated the Pilot Mound Prairie Fire in Sundays A-Side final at the annual Killarney Sherocks female hockey tournament. Seven teams competed in the tournament this year, an event the Sherocks have hosted for over 10-years now.

Most of the teams that attend the tournament each year are part of the Westman Senior Women’s Hockey League. This is a rec league across Westman that includes teams from Neepawa, Virden/Reston, Pilot Mound, Minnedosa, Wawayseecappo, Russell, Killarney, Boissevain, Shilo, Manitou/Baldur, Glenella & a few from Brandon. Sometimes the league will have additional teams or a team takes a year or two off depending on their player availability, etc. The league is very flexible & open to any town within the area to add/include.

Brett Skeoch, of the Sherocks, told bdnmb.ca that the league is open to all caliber of players. “Being a smaller community Killarney keeps it open to almost any skill level – we do want people to know how to skate & know the game from a safety perspective at a minimum”. “That being said there is a TON of talented female players across Westman. Some teams have multiple players that played elite level college/university hockey both in Canada & the USA – it really speaks to the growth of female hockey over the years” added Skeoch.

In additional to the Sherocks tournament, there have been several other female tournaments held recently including Pilot Mound & Baldur/Manitou.

Dauphin hosts an annual ladies tournament in conjunction with the men’s (separate divisions) & it’s March 17, 18, 19 this year. There will also be an annual co-ed tournament in memory of female player, Taylor Renwick – this year Feb 18 & 19 in Melita..