ABOUT SAWHA

RULES & REGULATIONS

Whether you are a new team or player joining SAWHA this season, or have been a part of the league for many years now, below you will find all the important information to help guide you through the season.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Shoot us a quick email at development@sawha.com and we will be happy to answer your questions.

HELPFUL TIPS, DOCUMENTS & PROCEDURES

CODE OF CONDUCT

OUR HISTORY

In March of 1989, SAWHA was incorporated under the Societies Act. During that summer, SAWHA expanded by assuming the teams from the Calgary and District Women’s Hockey League (CDWHL). The size of the League almost doubled to ten teams.

From 1990 to 1996, SAWHA added one or two teams each season to expand to about 15 teams. This even included two Calgary Midget teams from Girls Hockey Calgary and one Midget team from Olds. The addition of the Midget teams helped the growth and development of female minor hockey as the two midget teams ended up moving back to a new Midget Division under Girls Hockey Calgary in the late 90’s.

Between 1997 and 2001 SAWHA aided another program development which took place with the elite program of the Oval X-treme. The Oval program had two teams which played in SAWHA until the development of the NWHL, which the Oval and Edmonton Chimos joined. During this span, players like Jennifer Botterill and Hayley Wickenheiser played on the Oval X-treme when they weren’t training for the Olympics with the National Team.

In 2002 SAWHA hosted its first ever Western Shield Championship, which is a regional championship consisting of the host team, and the Provincial Champions from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. At the final game two SAWHA teams, the Red Deer Bandits and the Calgary Chargers competed. The Chargers went on to win that game and also went on to win an unprecedented five straight Provincial and Western Shield Championships from 2002 to 2006.

In December 2005, at the request of a league member, SAWHA organized a very successful All-Star Charity event and rose over $15,000 for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation. In 2012, SAWHA also organized a large sale of Graf hockey equipment and the net proceeds of $11,000 were donated to the YWCA.

The most important and successful initiative in SAWHA’s history was undertaken in December of 2007. The Fairview Community Association had turned back the Fairview Arena and Community Hall to the City of Calgary. The Arena was built in 1972 and the Community Building was built in 1976 and both were in dire need of significant repairs, which the new tenants would have to fund. SAWHA submitted an Expression of Interest to take over the management and operations of the Fairview Arena. Effective April 1, 2008 SAWHA was awarded a fifteen-year License of Occupation to manage and operate the Fairview Arena.