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The Mad Hatters Shyla Stadnicki takes a shot on Chinook Riders goaltender Samantha Winder during the inaugural game for both teams at the Blood Tribe Twin Rinks in Stand Off on Oct. 17, 2026. (Image Credit: Lethbridge Sports Photos/Mad Hatters/Lethbridge Chinook Riders)
Alberta Senior Women's Hockey League

Medicine Hat’s Mad Hatters and Lethbridge Chinook Riders play each team’s first-ever game

Oct 19, 2026 | 12:57 PM

A historic first for two southern Alberta hockey teams on Saturday at the Blood Tribe Twin Rinks in Stand Off.

The Mad Hatters from Medicine Hat and the Lethbridge Chinook Riders faced off in each team’s first-ever game.

Both teams are playing in the first season of the Alberta Senior Women’s Hockey League, a division of the Canadian Senior Women’s Hockey League.

The Mad Hatters won the contest 6-2 over the Chinook Riders.

Goal scoring for the Mad Hatters was spread out. Jade Bleau had two goals, and Madison Liptak, Baili Isley, Keely Gilham, and Amber Seask each scored once. Two players had multi-assist nights, Micheleen Shagin with three and Janaya Laqua with two.

Ireland Greenhouse scored both goals for the Chinook Riders.

In net, MacKenzie Fontaine got the win for the Mad Hatters, and Samantha Winder took the loss for the Chinook Riders.

The Chinook Riders host their next game Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Blood Tribe Twin Rinks in Standoff.

After that, they face the Mad Hatters for three straight games. Nov. 13 and 14 will be at the arena in Bow Island, starting at 7 p.m. on the Friday and 2 p.m. on the Saturday. Saturday, Nov. 21 will be in Standoff at 6 p.m.

Organizers of the Saskatchewan Senior Women’s Hockey League surveyed interest earlier this year in expanding into both Alberta and Manitoba and helped form teams. That league played its inaugural season in 2025-26.

The Alberta League includes 10 teams, five teams in each of the north and south divisions. Each team is expected to play a 12-game schedule, and won’t necessarily face every team in their division.

The Mad Hatters are expected to split their games between Lethbridge and a team in the Saskatchewan league. That opponent, the Gull Lake Falcons, is located about 160km east of Medicine Hat.

Teams across the three leagues have a variety of players, including those who have played at the collegiate level.