Female '03s

While still coaching the boys team, in that same 2011 spring season, Coach Rick created a female option for the first 20 players, as part of an open invite, to sign up at the '03 age group.  Coach Rick's daughter along with Gary's daughter were both '03's so they decided to bumper the boys practices in Warren MB with 10 x 1hr sessions for the '03 girls.  The plan was to copy the boy's Hurricane model of commitment, development and tradition with the understanding that the process was more important than the prize. At that time there weren't any other spring program options, including camps, let alone teams.  Currently in 2023, there are "try outs" for 7yr old female spring and many opportunities for girls of that age. It's great to see where the girls game has grown to. We believe the 'Canes had a lot to do with that progress in Winnipeg and the surrounding areas. 

 

Of course there is always a desire to "win" and "compete" along the way, but the true plan and goal was, and always has been, to gather like minded families and hockey players who understand that quality, consistent coaching will lead to long term development but even beyond that, shared experiences will lead to long lasting relationships and valued memories.  Each game during the winter hockey season is a Hurricane reunion and 'Canes players consider their Hurricane teammates as some of their closest friends after all these years.

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That original Hurricanes female team of '03's remained together, in the most part, for 8 spring seasons, from 7yrs old in 2011 all the way up to 2018 as major age 14u (u15 / Bantam) players heading in to their first year of u18 AAA. 

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Female '04s

Female hockey has traditionally been double ages in both the winter and the spring.  Over the first couple seasons we continued with that format, though found ourselves "losing" players who had aged out or were underage. Not wanting to "lose" players, while still looking to maintain a program philosophy vs a year to year team concept, in 2015 Coach Rick formed a second Hurricanes female team to find space for the '04s who weren't yet 12u and couldn't play with the '03's.  That second team, of '04's and a few '05's was another example of skill and commitment coming together.  The group of '04's and '05's remained as it's own entity for 3 spring 'Canes seasons before branching off and dissolving into a combined '04 / '03 team in 2018 for their final year of 14u. 

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Female '06s

Coach Rick mirrored the formation process again in 2014 with the creation of an '06 'Canes for his second daughter and friends when they we're 7, after witnessing the money making "try out" process of another program, which by the way, doesn't exist anymore.   This '06 Canes was formed as a single aged team trying to avoid the year to year shuffle.  Ironically after all these years, female spring hockey has grown so much that single age brackets are the current norm vs the anomaly.  Few minor age players will experience the "tough year", "good year" rollercoaster that spring once was.  The fact most families stuck it out and stayed with it, was a strong indication that we were on to something good.  This group of '06 girls have proven to be the "template" for spring team formation.  They stuck together for 6 seasons and saw much success, winning tournaments locally and elsewhere.  Of all our '06 Hurricane alumni, 15 players are currently playing AAA or Prep.  

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Female '09s

Two of our '06 girls had younger '09 sisters playing spring for another program, which left the families running wild, from rink to rink.  As we did with the original female 'Canes, Coach Rick started a new age group, the '09's. This team began in 2019, practicing back to back with the older '06 girls, making the lives a couple families much easier.  Plus offering a new group of young hockey players the Hurricanes experience.  

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So here we are, 15 years later, still doing our thing the 'Canes way. Although we only have one team, for spring 2023, we're definitely not short on memories.  #CanesFamily is a fact and because of it, every trip to the rink continues to be a reunion.  

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We're so proud of all our Hurricane alumni and happy to have been a part of their journey.  More history to be made. Go Canes!

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