The countdown is on for the Innisfail Female Atom Flyers as they prepare to host the 2016 Provincial Championships.
Innisfail will welcome eight female atom teams from across the province from March 17 to 20 for the 2016 ATB Financial Provincial Championships.
“We've been very busy. We have quite a few number of special activities and events going on in combination with the provincial championships,” said Connie Holbein, team manager and chair for the provincial championships.
“We have a big home opener game on March 17. There will be a light and smoke show and a face painter and some other surprises that will happen during that game as well as some entertainment for our community and our sponsors,” she added.
The provincial championships kick off with a home opener March 17 when the Innisfail Flyers face the Calgary Devils. The game begins at 6:45 p.m. with festivities beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“There will be three round robin games for each team in the championships and then on the Sunday there's two semifinal games and a final game,” said Holbein.
During the past several weeks the team has been fundraising and working with sponsors for the event.
“Our community and surrounding communities have been overwhelmingly generous with their sponsorship,” said Holbein, noting the work with other female hockey teams and organizations to help with activities and special events during the tournament.
“On the Friday (March 18) we have our opening ceremonies with a dance party for the girls. Our novice team has come on board and is involved with that and our peewee team is involved with our home opener game,” said Holbein. “On the Saturday the Central Alberta Co-op has partnered with us and they are sponsoring a free pancake breakfast (at the arena) from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. We will be accepting cash donations for the food bank during the breakfast.”
In addition, there are several local Central Alberta small business owners putting on a market at the arena on Saturday (March 19) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holbein said the female atom team consisting of nine- and 10-year-old girls had a good season this year. They took top spot and finished first overall out of 12 teams in the Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League.
The regular season ended on Feb. 21 and the team is currently in the second round of playoffs.
“We've been very successful this year; our girls have done very well. They're a unique group of young female athletes that exemplify what it means to love a sport,” said Holbein. “They play for fun, they play for each other. They celebrate each other's successes and truly love the game of hockey.”
Connie Holbein
"They're a unique group of young female athletes that exemplify what it means to love a sport."
