Sharks hockey is just around the corner this season. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

New season approaching

U15 AA Sharks announce roster, prepare for expanded league in 2023-24

Sep 22, 2023 | 3:00 PM

The Northwest Sharks U15 AA team will be navigating new waters this fall, when the 2023-24 hockey season begins.

The Sask Female U15 AA Hockey League has expanded from eight teams last year to 12 this season.

Gone are the Prairie Storm Lightning, but added are second teams in Regina (now the Rebels Black and Rebels White) and Saskatoon with the addition of the Saskatoon Comet Chargers, who join the Comet Impact. Also added are the Western Prairie Thunder, Lumsden Bethune Lynx, and Parkland Fire.

The new teams join the already well-established Sharks, P.A. Foxes, Warman Wildcats, Swift Current Wildcats, and Southeast Goldwings, to form two divisions of North and South in place of just the standard single pool of eight from years past.

First-year head coach of the U15 Sharks, Kim Kramer said it’s great to see the league grow with more and more female players getting involved in the game from the grassroots level.

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“It’s exciting to see the numbers growing in female hockey, especially within our zone, and I’m looking forward to the year,” Kramer said of the expansion.

The U15s recently announced their roster ahead of the season, featuring six players from the Battlefords, three from Meadow Lake, and another eight from surrounding communities including Glaslyn, Edam, Livelong, Maidstone, Lashburn, and Paradise Hill, making for a nice mix of local-area talent from around the northwest.

Below is the complete Northwest Stars U15 roster, listed by position in alphabetical order by last name:

Forwards:

Jersie Anderson (Meadow Lake, SK)

Amelia Bernier (Battleford, SK)

Bryan Florence (North Battleford, SK)

Madeline Matweow (Glaslyn, SK)

Vayda McDonald (Edam, SK)

Tori Taves (Livelong, SK)

Brooke Weber (Battleford, SK)

Kendall Weber (Battleford, SK)

Presley Weber (Battleford, SK)

Defensemen:

Shelby Booy (Glaslyn, SK)

Elan Kramer (Battleford, SK)

Bria Ludwig (Meadow Lake, SK)

Reyn Siklenka (Meadow Lake, SK)

Macy Stelezki (Maidstone, SK)

Kendra Wilson (Lashburn, SK)

Goalies:

Anna Buitenhuis (Edam)

Hayden Palen (Paradise Hill)

Five players from last year’s roster will return this season, including forwards Tori Taves and Jersie Andersen and defensemen Shelby Booy, Madeline Matweow, and Macy Strelezki.

With six 2010-born players on the roster, it will be a young Sharks’ team this year, though Kramer said what they may lack in experience, they more than make up for with youthful exuberance and team speed.

“Just from being at practice, there’s lots of energy,” Kramer said. “They work hard, and I can see we’ve got all kinds of speed. We’ll have a good fast-paced team.”

Joining Kramer behind the bench this year will be Gregg Slabaida, who has previous experience coaching the team, and Sharks’ alum, Emily Perehudoff who will be the trainer.

The U15s will open their pre-season this weekend at a showcase tournament in Wainwright, AB., with the regular season opener to come next month, Oct. 15 against the Prairie Storm at 12:30 p.m. at the Lashburn Sportsplex.

The team’s first game in Battleford will be Oct. 29 against the Regina Rebels White, with puck drop at 11:45 a.m.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1