Five years back, Asha Petrie was gearing up to wrap up her minor hockey journey on a high note by playing her final season with the AAA U18 Lloydminster PWM Steelers. However, the 2020-21 hockey season got called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving players like Petrie disheartened and limited in their options. Despite having offers to play in the U.S. or at SAIT, Petrie decided to stay put.
The Steelers’ head coach, Morgan Mann, recognized the impact of the canceled season on his players and, with a dedicated team, proposed the idea of establishing a women’s hockey program at Lakeland College. The college agreed to the proposal under the condition that the team would have to self-fund.
Over the past five years, the Lakeland Rustlers women’s hockey team has managed to cover expenses like ice rentals and travel costs through fundraising efforts. The team’s commitment to hard work and community engagement has attracted sponsorships from local businesses and organizations.
Individual players also contribute to fundraising through initiatives like the ‘Adopt-a-Rustler program,’ where they seek sponsorship from their own communities. The college supports the team through student scholarships and grants, emphasizing the valuable life lessons learned through sports participation.
Competing in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference women’s hockey league, the Rustlers have defied doubts about recruitment and funding by clinching the conference title in only their third year. With a focus on community involvement and hard work, the team aims to replicate their success in the new Cenovus Energy Hub this season.
As the Rustlers gear up for another season, the college is exploring ways to incorporate community funding and innovative revenue-generation strategies into other sports programs, ensuring sustainability in the long run. Despite facing challenges, the supportive environment in Lloydminster fuels optimism for continued success in sports initiatives.