A provincial championship banner will be lifted in the barn for the Lakeland College Apex Automation Women’s hockey team after winning the ACAC championships on Mar. 15.
The Lakeland College Women’s Hockey program has progressed steadily over the last three seasons in the ACAC.
The returns show bronze, silver and in 2024-25 the team has lifted the gold medal as the leading women’s college program in Alberta.
“It happened pretty quick. We could not ask for a better layout of it all,” says coach Morgan Mann.
As a team, the Rustlers had the most wins and most goals scored in a regular season, and in the playoff championships they had the highest goal differential in the history of the league, says Mann.
Mann credits the initial team builders, and the coaching staff.
Then there is the long list of corporate community sponsors, volunteer efforts, community raffles and other fundraisers.
For the 26 players, Mann says the players are taking in the crowning championship experience and will have a greater appreciation for winning as a group as time goes by.
“They are finding out that winning something is a pretty satisfying feeling. This is something they will appreciate and enjoy years from now – when they are coaching their own kids, adults in whatever profession they are in or when they get together at reunions.”
The team will have its end of season banquet in April and a recruitment camp.
Mann pays tribute to the Rustlers fraternity who have been incredibly supportive to ensure the success of the Lakeland College hockey team.
“It was one for the history books.”
