Mavericks Hockey Program Loses Bantam A But Picks Up Midget A Program
By Robert Thomas
It’s a bit of a case of one step forward in one area at the same time one step back in another for the Moose Jaw Mavericks female hockey program in 2019-2020.
Coming off of a successful 2018-2019 campaign where the Bantam A Mavericks battled to the provincial final the Mavericks program finds itself without a Bantam A team this year.
While provincially the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League has stepped the level of play up a notch as they introduce the Bantam AA league this season.
With no Bantam A squad in Moose Jaw three players – Jasmine Kohl, Payton Copeland and Jessie Mielke have opted to jump to a higher level and play for the Weyburn based Southeast Gold Wings.
Last year's Bantam A Mavericks goaltender Brooke Archer is playing Bantam AA hockey for the Swift Current Wildcats this season.
Action From Last Season's Provincial Bantam A Final - MJ Independent File Photo
Whereas the remaining Bantam aged players (13 and 14 year olds) were allowed by the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) to play with the Midget A Mavericks squad this year.
The absence of a Bantam A program this year – which in the past two seasons has been a bright spot for the Mavericks program – is something which will impact the program in future years, says Dawn Froats coordinator for the Moose Jaw Mavericks program.
“Not having a Bantam Program this year hurts our Mavericks program and the development opportunity for the players to within their age group. We are fortunate that SHA has allowed our Bantam aged players to play with our Midget Mavericks program this year - but not something you want to see become a consistent practice, and why we are focusing at our Grassroots levels to grow the game, so our depth will be strong right through Midget, and still allow the top talented players to move outside the city and play at higher levels,” Froats said in an email interview with MJ Independent.
“But having no Bantam program will affect us a few years down the road at the Midget Level - so the hurt of not having a Bantam program this year will be felt for a few years to come. Something we are cognizant of for future years.,” Froats wrote.
Despite the loss of the Bantam Mavericks program this season Froats wrote the return of midget female hockey is a step forward.
“It is great that we will have a Midget program this year for the Maverick Girls. Last year we played with WoodRiver and that is a tough season on parents having to drive for practices and games. It is best for the girls to be able to play at home and not be on the road so much. Ultimately we would love to see a Bantam and Midget program, but this year our Midget Program is going to be very strong and will compete for a league championship, Froats wrote.
Action From the south Pee Wee A Final which the Maverick won - MJ Independent File Photo.
Coached by Mike Botterill, who was an assistant coach in last year's Mavericks Bantam A program, the squad will see many returning faces from last year's Bantam effort.
Despite the gap with no Bantam A this season – due to the lack of players – the Maverick Pee Wee A program has a full compliment of 17 players.
“This year our Pee Wee Girls are going to be strong. We have a team of 17 girls with great coaching from Matt Maltais. It will be exciting to see what Matt can do with the Pee Wee girls and their development both on and off the ice, I am looking forward to watching them grow throughout the year,” Froats said in an email.
The loss of the Bantam program this season may impact the Midget program in coming years but development wise the Maverick program is seeing strong numbers in the younger age leagues.
“I am really excited about the whole Mavericks program this year. For the first time we are offering an Initiation All Girls Team,” she wrote, adding “Another exciting thing this year is in Novice and Atom we will be putting in a Mavericks B & C level teams - first time in the program history - the past few years the program has placed strictly C, but the growth of the female game in our city and the development of the girls is really showcasing with their talent levels.”
The growth in female hockey will see the Maverick program hosting an All Girls Tournament - Mavericks Classic on January 24-26, 2020 for Novice, Atom & Pee Wee. Eight teams will compete in each division.
The last two seasons there was no local female hockey tournament of this scope in the city.