By Mike Stackhouse, SJHL
While no official records are kept, it’s believed history was made last night when Taylor Keast dressed as the back-up for the La Ronge Ice Wolves as it marked the first time a female has suited up in the SJHL for a regular season game.
The 17-year-old dressed behind Jordan Frey as the Ice Wolves were without newly acquired Brendon Benoit, who was picked up during the trade deadline from the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings.
Keast told MBC Radio, “It was pretty cool, I’ve grown up here, so when I was a little kid, I used to want to play for the Ice Wolves. It was fun, it was a really good experience.”
While this is a first for the SJHL, it’s not a first for Junior ‘A’ hockey. Shannon Szabados starred in the AJHL between 2003-04 until 2006-07 and was even named that league’s Goaltender Of The Year as a 20-year-old.
Keast’s full-time team is the La Ronge Midget Ice Wolves and she is the only female on the club, according to a roster listed on the community’s minor hockey web page.
