Rockies looking for improved play this year

Posted 6 months ago

Photo courtesy Dave Holland - The Strathmore Rockies are looking to better their record this year after making some changes, including getting a new head coach.

Richard Saad

Standard Reporter

A lot of changes are in store this season for the Strathmore Rockies, a team entering their fourth season as part of the Western Women’s Hockey League (WWHL).

For starters, they have a new coach. Tom Molloy, an experienced Canadian and international hockey coach, is taking the reins this year and with it comes a whole new attitude for the team and the players.

“We are extremely lucky to have his experience and passion,” said Holmes. “We are super excited about that this year.”

Despite Holmes saying that this year will most likely be a building year for the Rockies, she is excited about the upcoming season and predicts that the team will do very well.

“We have a lot of veterans but we have a lot of new players as well and they will be strong assets for us,” said Holmes. “I’m really confident that we’re maturing as a group and we should do very well this year.”

Last season, the team struggled with inconsistent play and faced several on and off-ice challenges. Despite a season that saw the team lose more games than they won, Holmes remembers that the team remained positive.

“I never thought that I would have that much fun losing,” said Holmes. “But I think that every year we evolve something different.”

Last season, for example, saw the Rockies finish fourth in the league standings, with only six wins out of 23 games played. Despite being extremely competitive, she admits that the season was a good experience for the team and regardless of the relatively few wins put up, Holmes and her teammates valued the experience. Holmes sees the team’s role as more than just what it does or does not achieve on the ice.

So far, the team has had one practice but they have plenty of time to get up to speed with the new coaching staff. Their first game of the season won’t be until either late October or early November. Despite, some time still left in training, the team has a little fewer than 10 players registered for this season.

With financial difficulties hitting the Calgary Oval X-Treme, only three teams will play games in the Western Women’s Hockey League this year, including the Rockies, the Edmonton Chimos, and the Minnesota Whitecaps. The X-Treme will most likely play exhibition games this season, said Holmes, adding that the Rockies would also like to face off against them here in Strathmore later in the season.

Overall, Holmes said that she expects that the Rockies will most likely play 10 home games this season, which will be a great opportunity to reach younger hockey fans who come out to the games.

“It should be great to see some of the young girls to come to the games and see what it’s all about,” said Holmes.

While most of the national players and those who are looking to make playing hockey a full-time career play and train in Calgary, the Rockies situation is different, explains Holmes.

“The point of the Rockies is to provide high-level play and to allow players an opportunity for a full-time job, or to go to school,” said Holmes, who worked and went to school while dividing her time with the Rockies a few seasons ago.

“From my perspective, we play at a very high level and we’re all role models and it’s very important to us to be in the community and to help the development of local girls,” said Holmes.

She went on to explain that the Rockies pride themselves on working with the community through several different programs, including one called Hockey ROCKS—a partnership between EnCana and the Rockies.

The program provides one player or several players from the Rockies an opportunity to go out and help local teams with practices and skill development, all at no cost to the team that the Rockies visit.

“Basically, we give them the opportunity to get help with coaching and to connect one-on-one with the players,” said Holmes. “We want the girls to know that we all support them and encourage them to do their best.”

The benefits are also self-evident to the Rockies as well, said Holmes. Giving something back to the community makes the players enjoy their roles on the team that much better.

“The girls really enjoy going out there and seeing the smiling faces,” said Holmes.

The league has also undergone a new restructuring this year that will see brand new executives volunteering their time.

“The changing of the executive just provides another opportunity to bring experience and expertise to the league,” said Holmes. “The league will be better for it.”

New players can register to take part in the Western Women’s Hockey League season. Players interested should go to www.strathmorerockies.com or e-mail Holmes directly at president@strathmorerockies.com for information. There is no cost for registering but the cost for playing during the season is approximately $500 to $700 per player.

The cost, Holmes explained, includes all of the ice time, practices, and travel. Trips include going to Minnesota to play against the Whitecaps.