Mad Hatters senior women's hockey team debuts in Medicine Hat area
A newly formed team gives area women another avenue to keep playing competitive hockey after their minor, junior or college careers end.
A new senior women's hockey team, the Mad Hatters, is preparing to open its inaugural season in the Alberta Senior Women's Hockey League, a division of the Canadian Senior Women's Hockey League. Organizers of the Saskatchewan-based league surveyed interest in expanding into Alberta earlier this year and formed the Medicine Hat team after finding enough interested players locally.
Alex Fedosa, a player and co-manager, said the team offers women a chance to keep competing after minor, junior or post-secondary hockey ends. Fedosa, who grew up in Redcliff playing alongside boys due to limited opportunities for girls, said local programs such as the South Alberta Hockey Academy, Medicine Hat Wildcats, Irvine Bulldogs under-18 team and Medicine Hat College Rattlers have since expanded options for female players.
The Mad Hatters will play a 12-game schedule against primary opponents the Lethbridge Chinook Riders and Gull Lake Falcons, as part of the Alberta South Division alongside the Central Alberta Warriors, Foothills Fossils and Calgary Summit. Due to limited ice availability in Medicine Hat, the team plans to host six home games in surrounding communities, including two in Bow Island, two in Fox Valley and possibly two at Ralston Arena.
The season opens Saturday, Oct. 17, with a 6 p.m. game against Lethbridge in Stand Off, followed by the team's first home game against the Chinook Riders on Nov. 13 at the Bow Island Arena. Preparation has been largely player-led, including limited practice ice and an exhibition against a men's recreational team.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.