FEMALE

LMHA Female Hockey Pathway

 LMHA Female Hockey Pathway

The main goal for LMHA is to offer programming that meets the needs of the players who want to play the game recreationally, as well those that have their sights on the competitive/high performance pathway. Hockey begins at our grassroots level in our Cyclones program with most teams playing in the Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League (RMFHL). If players choose to continue onto a high-performance pathway, LMHA offers a U13AA, U15AA and U18AA Southern Express program which plays in the Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL).

With this pathway, we hope to encourage female athletes to play hockey at a variety of levels by developing their skills, experiences, and relationships recreationally or competitively.  Athletes from outside the City of Lethbridge who have no female team in their area are eligible to apply to play with LMHA on one of our female teams.

We have several programs for athletes to get started; the pathway will start with our Future Olympian program, which is an all-female Learn to Skate and Play Hockey program. Here girls will be able to learn, laugh, and build their hockey skillset, while making friends.  This program is offered to first time players aged 5 to 9 years and runs for 45 minutes, once per week.

For our U7 athletes (age 5 to 6 years), LMHA offers a Timbits program that focuses on fun, skating and skills.  This program offers two hours per week on weekends, with pick-up style cross-ice games introduced between teams after Christmas.  Our Cyclones program starts at this level with an all-female team.  Jamboree style tournaments are also introduced at this level.

For our U9 athletes (age 7 to 8 years), your athlete will build their friendships and skills on an all-female team in a mixed city league.  This program offers a team practice for one hour during the week, and a half-ice game on weekends against other City teams.  Additional practices on weekend mornings are also possible.  Tournaments at this level can be either of jamboree style, or competitive.  All-female tournaments can also begin with this age group, but some may still be mixed.

Cyclones will play in the RMFHL beginning at U11 (age 9 to 10 years); this is one of the largest female hockey leagues and athletes will play against other female hockey teams from associations in southern and central Alberta.  At the U11 level, teams will receive one hour of practice during the week, and full-ice games will take place on the weekends.  All-female tournaments are widespread with this age group.

For the U13 age group (age 11 to 12), athletes can choose to play Cyclones hockey in the RMFHL or play more competitively with our sister program, the Southern Express that plays in the U13AA AFHL.  At this level, RMFHL teams are tiered based on skill level to maximize athlete development and ensure that athletes are playing with like-skilled teammates and opponents.  Southern Express will compete against other U13AA teams throughout Alberta.  The Southern Express team will be comprised of athletes from the communities listed at the bottom of this page.

For the U15 age group (age 13 to 14), athletes can choose to continue with the Cyclones hockey in the RMFHL or once again with our sister program, the Southern Express that plays in the U15AA AFHL.  Cyclones teams will again be tiered at this level, while the Southern Express will compete against other U15AA teams throughout Alberta.

In U18 (age 15 to 17), athletes can choose to continue with the Cyclones program and the RMFHL or once again with our sister program, U18AA Southern Express team.  Alternatively, athletes can try out for the AFHL U18AAA, which offers tryouts with various teams throughout the province.

For those who have graduated from U18, our association also runs the U22 Junior Female Eagles team (age 18 to 21), or athletes could potentially play at the post-secondary level; some of our graduating U18AA players have received offers from universities and colleges.  There are also many other recreational options beyond U18.  It is a dream of our association to establish a female recreational league so our athletes can continue to share their passion for the sport.

South (Southern Express) draw zone associations:

Lethbridge

Bassano

Bow Island

Brooks

Cardston

Claresholm

Coaldale

Crowsnest Pass

Duchess

Foremost

Fort Macleod

Irvine

Kainai

Lomond

Magrath

Medicine Hat

Picture Butte

Pincher Creek

Raymond

Redcliff

Taber

Vauxhall

Vulcan

Warner