After a long void of hockey in her life, Marcie Benson is finally back in the "skate" of things.

The Weyburn Comprehensive School English teacher formed a women's hockey league three years ago by placing an ad in the newspaper seeking interested players.

In its first year the team had 15 players. In the second season the number grew to 20. For the third season, Benson anticipates most of last year's players will return and she hopes for some new recruits as well.

Benson says her love of sports began at an early age.

"I started skating when I was two or three," she says.

And she hasn't stopped moving since.

Benson played on a girls' hockey team in high school and also played hockey with the University of Saskatchewan's women's team, although at the time there was no official league.

"It wasn't organized at all," she says, and the women played mainly for fun.

Benson obtained her bachelor of arts and bachelor of education degrees at the University of Saskatchewan. She has been teaching at WCS for 10 years and coaches cross-country running. She is also involved with the canoe club and she enjoys cross-country skiing, golfing, and soccer in her spare time.

"Anything involving the outdoors, I love," she emphasizes.

After University, Benson didn't play hockey regularly until three years ago. She says it fell by the wayside as other commitments took up her time.

"I've always loved it, it's just that I was busy doing other things; but I'm getting involved in hockey again as my own children start to get involved." Benson has two children aged six and eight.

Benson says the women on the team range in age from 16 to 40.

"A lot of them have played ringette or figure skated before," she says, but notes that even if someone hasn't skated before, she can come out and learn.

The first night of their hockey season was Saturday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. Last year the team played only five or six scrimmages. This year Benson anticipates more games because she is making more contacts with other teams from the surrounding area.

"To me, the most important thing about a sport is that you have fun doing it and it's a way to exercise and keep fit."

Benson wants people to know that involvement in sports doesn't have to end when highschool does.

"You can still play and have fun."