Vancouver Island Seals provide elite development pathway for female hockey players

The team also practices three times week with strength and conditioning twice a week and at least one video session.

There are four other teams across BC with the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers, Northern Capitals in the Prince George region, the Fraser Valley Rush and the Greater Vancouver Comets.

Fowler said it’s important to have options for girls to play at a high level and now the Seals have a pair of feeder teams from younger age groups on the island.

“Victoria and Oceanside have U15 AA clubs starting this year. It’s going to provide a pathway for these girls to compete at a higher level. Maybe they’ll be able to come in at the AAA U18 level for the coming years. It’s definitely a big thing for female hockey on Vancouver Island. Typically before there was single A teams but the girls want more and if the island doesn’t move with them we’re going to lose these girls to other programs. We have to evolve and give players what they want.”

The Seals have twenty players on their roster with a lot of representation from Nanaimo and the central island.

“We have players from ages 14-17. They come from Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Comox, Campbell River, Powell River and Victoria. Currently there are five girls from Nanaimo. We had two training camps, one in Shawnigan Lake and one in Parksville in May.’

Fowler said every player has a different set of goals and the organization wants to move players forward to whichever path is best for them.

“Our main objective is keeping these girls passionate about the sport and keep fueling that passion. We want them to be the best player they can be and supporting their goals. A lot of them want to play post secondary whether that’s NCAA, U Sports or other teams. We want them to reach their potential in both hockey and life.”

Fowler is excited for more opportunities locally for female players at higher age groups as well especially at the university level.

“Female hockey is exploding and there’s more numbers every year at our tryouts. VIU is starting a team this year which is super exciting for these girls to have a local post secondary option and I believe UVIC is going to be starting a team in the next couple years.”

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by Dan Marshall

Vancouver Island Seals provide elite development pathway for female hockey players

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