New women’s hockey league in Fredericton fills gap for adult women

One, two, three, start! Fredericton's first recreational hockey league for women aged 30 and up is facing off in its inaugural season this fall. This face-off would never have happened a year ago. That's because most of these women had nowhere to play. And that was a problem that Krista Mullally set to fix by starting a rec league for women who wanted to hit the ice without getting circles skated around them. There was a gap that I didn't even realize was as big as it is. So I think it is really cool that there are women here who I think didn't know themselves that they needed a space to just play. Mullally started the Fredericton Senior Recreational Women's Hockey League for women finding their way back to the sport or coming into it as an adult who aren't looking for serious competition, like Victoria Hitchcock. I kind of thought that once you hit a certain age, it's really not going to happen. But when she heard about the RWHL, she knew it was for her. I just think it's so great to take that time for yourself. You know, most of us are, you know, we have full-time jobs, a lot of us are parents, and we don't get a lot of that time just to do something for ourselves and something that's good for our health, our mental health, and just to get out with a bunch of other women and do something really fun, I think is a great opportunity and this league sort of offers that to people. I think it's such a great example to set for our kids that it's never too late to try something new and put yourself out there and just have fun. It's fun. Fun is what it's all about, even in the league slogan. Rederton Recreation Women's Hockey League. Good fun, good hockey, great company. Angela Wickett is surrounded by hockey, as both the hockey mom and as the president of the Central Female Hockey Association, who supports girls' teams. But she hasn't actually laced up since 1999. Kind of doing this simultaneously as my daughter and watching her play and develop friendships and just gain self-esteem and physical strength has encouraged me to do the same thing. Just get back out on the ice because hockey was always my first love. I think it's living proof that women in general just can really do it all. Lisa Robinson tried to play in other leagues, but the schedule was too much to fully commit. So the RWHL's regular ice times were right in the slot for her. I think I found a letter to myself that I'd written to myself in high school that was saying, so, are you still playing hockey or are you boring now? And I was like, I'm still playing. This is great. It is. A chance to get out, it's a chance to play, it's a chance to connect. Unlike most leagues, the scoreboard isn't the focus for the RWHL. Play is so foundational to who we are as humans, and it is so good for us. So I hope that it inspires women to get out and play however they are playing. Although this is the first season for the RWHL, organizers hope they've scored a win and can continue operating the league for many seasons to come.