It is the fifth anniversary of the Muskoka Women’s Hockey League and to celebrate four teams are travelling to Nashville.
The 44 women are doing it in style as well, taking a chartered aircraft from Muskoka Airport to the Tennessee music capital tomorrow.
League executive Steph Oates says she thought it was important to give the women a chance to play hockey in an international arena.
“I wanted to give that experience to the girls in Muskoka,” says Oates.
The league started in 2014 after Oates decided there were too many cancelled games due to the spread out nature of playing in five area towns. Between bad weather, not enough refs or players showing up the old style of the league was slowly dying. She created the league with Courtney Doran and Kim Knight.
Oates also thought having a better ice time would help strengthen the league.
In the first year, there were four teams and all ages and skill levels were welcome. Baysville arena was selected as the base and the league had two hours Sunday from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
“The second year we had double the amount playing,” explains co-league executive Kim Knight, about the quick growth of the league.
This year there is a wait list and the league’s recreational division is looking to expand to six teams next season.
“It’s harder to find the competitive goalies,” explains Knight. “I actually stepped up and started playing nets for that reason.”
The four teams going to the US will play games Friday and Saturday before returning on Sunday. The biggest challenge may be off the ice, however, as the charter aircraft they are using has 50 seats for the 44 players and only 40 bags will be allowed on board.
“So some players are splitting up their equipment into other people’s bags and we are asking people to pack very light,” says Oates.
The flight to Nashville will take around two and a half hours and there will be Customs inspectors at the Muskoka Airport to pre-screen the passengers.