The Orillia Girls Hockey Association (OGHA) is sending six teams to the provincial championships in the Greater Toronto Area this weekend.
By winning their respective league playoffs, Orillia earned the right to be represented at the U11, U13, U15, U18B, U18BB, and Sr. C level at the most competitive three-day tournament in the province.
OGHA president Les Blackwell says sending five out of six rep teams from the OGHA's minor hockey program is "pretty amazing."
"That hasn't happened since I've been with the club," he said. "It's quite rare."
Blackwell says he isn't surprised by the success of the local teams.
"At the end of last season when we were putting the teams together, we ran a new program where we offered a free tryout clinic," he explained. "We've also invested quite heavily into additional ice time for clinics for house league and rep in the regular season. We are now seeing the results of those programs."
Blackwell says a lot of the credit for the success of the local teams should be attributed to coaches, bench staff, and management.
"We've done a great job at retaining girls," he said. "We've attracted quite a few girls that traditionally would have gone outside of our club. We have a lot of girls from Midland, Barrie, and places like that."
Blackwell says the OGHA has earned a good reputation among players from around the region through its skills programs and winning ways.
"With sending this many teams to provincials, I do expect there will be a boost in registrations," he said. " We are going to be running our largest tryouts ever."
While Blackwell is hoping the Hawks can bring home at least one provincial championship on Sunday, he knows they are up against the province's best.
"We are facing some really good teams this weekend," he said. "It could go any way."
Blackwell says he's proud of the Orillia teams for making it this far.
"It's a wonderful accomplishment," he said. "Anything else that happens beyond that this weekend is just complete surplus to our expectations and hopes. In my estimation, we've already won considerably."
For the first time in club history, the OGHA will be icing a U9B team next year. A clinic for interested players will be held over the next three weekends.
"It's a growing program," Blackwell said. "I think all of this is happening at a time when girl's hockey is growing."
Next season, Blackwell expects the OGHA to have more girls than they have ice for.
"It's a fine problem," he said. "We've already pre-emptively found some ice from out of town."
Blackwell says women’s hockey is a competitive sport that is entertaining to watch, and it helps "build champions" on and off the ice.
For any girls interested in joining the OGHA or trying out for a rep team, you can find more information and register here.
