It's been a successful season so far for the Airdrie Lightning of the Alberta Female Hockey League.

"The season's been going very well," said Head Coach Ray Hoppins. "We only have a few losses but more importantly, the skill development is noticeable in the players. They're a very, very good team, they play well together. We're very pleased with the development so far."

Hoppins has been coaching the Lightning since the beginning of the Alberta Female Hockey League Midget elite program in the 2016-2017 season.

Now in their second year in the league, Hoppins said the team has not only connected well as a unit but have helped to give back to the community.

"We have a lot of our girls playing leadership roles. They serve as models to younger girls playing hockey, to know that they can play at a higher level. All of their minor hockey does lead to somewhere. It's very important for our girls as leaders in their communities."

Although the team plays in Airdrie, the Lightning are more of a regional team, with players from Airdrie and Cochrane as well as communities like Olds and Bowden.

"All these girls grew up playing against each other when they were in Atom and Peewee and Bantam, now they've come together and they're on the same team and I think that's pretty cool that it's a regional team but they're still pretty close knit even though they live quite a ways apart."

The Lightning are back on the ice on November 11th, when they take on the Calgary Fire.

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com