Hay River Hazard Women's Hockey is looking for players.
"I'm hoping for 25 this year," said Kelsey Gill, vice-president of the team.
Lisa Billings, president, is also hopeful for 25 players, which will give the team enough skaters for scrimmages.
Thirteen women had signed up as of Oct. 4.
Gill said 13 is a good number at this point in the registration process.
"We're still bringing them in, because your first skate is free with us to try it because a lot of women maybe don't play hockey," she noted.
Hazard Women's Hockey has been actively recruiting players – 16 years of age and older – in a number of ways, including holding registration nights and contacting previous players through email and Facebook.
"People have just been kind of like sending us, 'Hey I want to play. What do I do?" Billings noted.
Neither Billings nor Gill think the fact that the arena has been closed for two winters while the Rec Centre has been rebuilt will negatively impact the number of women who will eventually play hockey this season.
"I think that will help us, because there hasn't been hockey and now people maybe are a little bit more hungry for it," said Gill. "I don't think it's going to hurt women's hockey, at all."
Billings agrees.
"Since you haven't had the opportunity in two years, other than I think one tournament, I think people would want to," she said.
Instead, they explain a woman's decision to play or not play hockey is affected more by the ice time that Hay River Hazard has twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and how much time a woman would have available for the sport.
"Organizing ladies is hard because they're the caregivers," said Gill. "They're never free."
However, both Gill and Billings encourage women to give hockey a try or return to the game.
"It's so much fun," said Gill.
"It's a really good group of people," added Billings.
Gill noted no experience is required.
"You just need equipment, which is a barrier to entry, for sure," she said, noting hockey equipment is expensive.
However, Billings pointed out that used hockey equipment is available at Georgina's Place Thrift Store.
New this year, the Hay River Hazard has a coach for the first time.
Anyone interested in playing for the team can get more information on its Facebook page – Hay River Hazard Women's Hockey.