The Slave Lake Thunder U18 Female team was awarded a Hockey Alberta grant to give its players additional opportunities to develop their hockey skills and leadership abilities.
The team recently used the She Leads Hockey Grant, for Boreal Elite PEP and skills training.

An opportunity Team Manager Sable Seppola says is helping keep female players engaged in the sport.

“Female hockey with the Slave Lake Thunder is currently limited to a combined U15/U18 group,” Seppola tells the Lakeside Leader, explaining that there are not enough players at the younger age levels to form additional female teams.
The Thunder girls play from September through March, and the program provides an opportunity for local female players to continue playing organized hockey as they get older.

The team thanked Hockey Alberta and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation for supporting the grant, as well as Boreal Elite for providing coaching and training.
The Sept. 14 post from the team described the Boreal Elite sessions as an opportunity for both skill development and leadership, with the funding intended to create more opportunities for female athletes and team leaders.

Seppola says Nathan Smith of Boreal Elite – who is also the head coach of the Slave Lake Wolves – provides valuable training for the players and helps the program keep female athletes active in hockey.
The additional development comes after a successful 2025-26 season for the Thunder U18 Female team.

The team won both its league and provincial titles, including a 5-2 victory over the Irma Aces in the Female Provincial A final on March 22.
The championship capped a season in which the Thunder girls played a series of closely contested games before winning the Provincial A banner.
The players later received championship rings to commemorate the season, with the rings presented during the summer.

At the Slave Lake Minor Hockey Association’s year-end barbecue and ESSO Awards, three Thunder players were also recognized: Ansen Cuthbert was named Most Dedicated, McKenna Ghostkeeper was named Most Improved and Harlow Lukan-Kubel received the Most Sportsmanship award.

With the new season underway, the She Leads Hockey funding program is giving the Thunder another opportunity to build on that success while developing both players and leaders within its female hockey program

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader