Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association's new president would love to see more all-girls teams.
"We've had female programming in the past but the numbers have been lower than we would like," said WLMHA president Heather McKinnon. "We are just trying to drum up some interest and get more girls out there playing."
Addy Brown, 13, played on an integrated team last year with boys and girls mixed.
McKinnon said the mix was very lopsided and Addy was one of two girls on her team, while Olivia Zurak was the only girl on the integrated U11 team.
Addy said she is really looking forward to the upcoming season.
"I hope it works," she said. "I look forward to playing with girls because it would just be really fun."
Coach Aaron Zurak said last year was the first time in U13 they didn't have enough females for a team so the league was shut down for the year.
"We hope to get a team up and going again," he said.
There are U15 and U18 teams in place for females and prior to last season there was a U13 female team, he confirmed.
Zurak said they are focusing on U7 all the way up to U18 for the female league, but the numbers would need to increase.
Currently about 70 girls are registered for the upcoming season in total.
With registration still open, McKinnon and Zurak are hoping more girls will sign up.
Additionally, Zurak has organized some fun ice check-in sessions for females.
"We are doing that for ages U11 to U18," he said.
An all-girls camp was held a couple of weeks ago at Total Ice and attracted 11 players, Zurak added.
McKinnon said 100 Mile House Minor Hockey Association has released some female players to play for Williams Lake.
"We also have First Shift, a start-up program for people who have never played hockey before. The fees encompass six weeks of lessons and all of the gear. The idea is when it finishes, after Christmas they would join a minor hockey team for the remainder of the season," McKinnon said.
First Shift is a good opportunity for all players that have not tried it yet, she added.
"It's a great place to start."
McKinnon never played hockey herself, but said she is a hockey mom and a hockey-wife. Her husband Brad McKinnon is a coach.
"We have a daughter who plays - she joined later and U13 was her first year of hockey. She was into swimming and figure skating prior to switching to hockey."
It was the team aspect of hockey that she was drawn to, McKinnon said.
Zurak agreed.
"It is the camaraderie and playing out of town, it isn't just the hockey," he said. "Most of the memories are made at the hotel or going shopping or team go-carts."
Playing integrated hockey meant Abby and Olivia got ready in their own female dressing room and then met up with the team just before they went on ice, he said.
People wanting more information are encouraged to check out the WLMHA website and Facebook page. Online registration forms are available on both sites.
Editor's note: This article has been updated as the ice time for girls session had already occurred.
