U15 A LBMHA Lynx
There are 32 teams in the U15A division throughout the province. The Lynx had 16 skaters on their roster and two goalies. The girls come from many communities in the area including: Lumsden, Bethune, Grand Coulee, Holdfast, Regina Beach, and Strasbourg.
15 of the girls were first-year in the U15 division leaving only three returning second-year players on the team. The Lynx finished the season with just 9 points but peaked at the right time, winning their first three rounds of playoffs to make it to the Provincial Consolation Final.
Unfortunately, the girls lost out against the Hawks in the best of three series but played hard and gave it their best. It is amazing to see the girls come together as teammates and friends as they worked together throughout the season. Many of the girls in Grades 8 and 9 had not played together previously. The coaches, John Bennett, Rachele Huber and Sydney Schmidt, did an amazing job developing skills in their players but also leadership and teamwork.
This U15 team is the first in the Lynx program. There hasn’t been an all-female team in the LBMHA (Lumsden Bethune Minor Hockey Association) in this age category. These young women are role models to all the young female hockey players in the area. There are approximately 115 female athletes in the Lynx hockey program from eight different teams spanning from U7 to U15.
Next year the Lynx program will be adding more female athletes as it will be the inaugural season for a U15AA Lynx team as well as a Lynx team in the inaugural U22 female league. So many opportunities for our young female athletes to benefit from all the aspects that team sports provide.
-Submitted, Lorilee Davies
