For 17 players, the coaching staff and a number of very proud parents, it was an historic Thursday afternoon when the puck was dropped at 4 p.m. at the Seven Oaks Arena as the Steinbach Regional Secondary School played it's first ever game in the Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League.

"They were so excited," said Sabres head coach Kayleigh Henrikson. "They wore their jerseys at school all day so I think they were super pumped to actually be able to finally say that they're representing our team. The energy in the dressing room is really great. They've already formed such a close bond so that's going to be a very key factor in our success this season."

The visiting team came up short in game one.

Alyssa Procter scored twice as the West Kildonan Wolverines defeated the SRSS 3-0.

"We can definitely improve in some areas," said Steinbach Regional captain Kendra Wiens shortly after the end of their season opener. "Just getting the puck to their end but I think it went pretty good."

"We are a young team," added Wiens. "It's just getting things going. That's what we got to figure out at the beginning of the season and we'll figure it out."

 

 

Shelby Wiewel was outstanding in net for the Sabres stopping 35 shots.

The Wolverines had the ice tilted in their favour Thursday as West Kildonan outshot the SRSS 38-8.

"We've reminded the girls a couple of times that all the teams we're going to be facing this year - they have vets returning, they've been in this loop forever and ever, and we're starting from the ground up," said coach Henrikson. "As a coaching staff we decided first and foremost we wanted to get our defensive play down and next week we're shifting gears to offense. Hopefully we can tip the scales back our way a bit."

The Sabres will play their home opener October 24th against Murdoch MacKay at the T.G. Smith Centre.