The Athabasca Purple Panthers are ready to host the Investors Group Senior B Womenís Hockey Provincial Championships.
The event will be held March 8-10 at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, where the Panthers will be one of eight teams vying for provincial glory.
Last year the local team travelled to Banff for the provincial championships, but this year they decided to take a crack at hosting it themselves.
Teams from as far as Okotoks and Peace River will make the trip for the event, at which each team will play a minimum of three games.
ìLast year we didnít do very good (at provincials),î said Kyley Belton of the Panthers. ìThis year weíre hoping to get a medal.î
That will be a tall order, as the Panthers will be playing against teams that compete in leagues throughout the season.
The local team has had to make due with occasional exhibition games, so their games at the provincial event will be their first real opportunity to play together.
That will give the visitors an advantage, but Belton hopes the Panthers can overcome it.
ìMost of us have been skating throughout the year, just not as much as them,î she said.
The Panthers are made up of some experienced and talented hockey players, many of whom played for the now defunct Athabasca Wildcats, so they know what it takes to compete.
Their first game of the tournament will be on the Friday at 11 a.m.
Then theyíll play a pair of games on Saturday, at 10:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The playoff rounds will be played on Sunday, and the Panthers hope to be there.
ìHopefully things will come together for us in our first game and we have a good tournament,î she said.
Belton hopes the community will come out in support of the Panthers and the event.
A weekend pass will be $15 while day passes will be $7.
There will also be a raffle table with many donated items to be won.
The eventís banquet will be held Friday night.
ìWe want people to come out and watch all our games. Weíre hoping to get a good turnout.î
