MEDICINE HAT, AB – Soon, the women's rattlers hockey team will start their ACAC season. Triplets were signed to the team this year and are happy to be a part of the developing hockey team, the first of it's kind in women's Rattlers history.
Maddy and Kennedy King are both forwards, and Brooke King plays defense, a triplet lineup that's been turning heads. The three have been playing hockey together since they were kids.
"It's always been an advantage," says Maddy, when asked about playing on the ice with her sisters. "The chemistry, there's always just a little bit more having a sibling and then a triplet on top of it. Especially me and Kenny as forwards, we kind of know where each other are."
Last weekend, the Rattlers team went to Lakeland College for two exhibition games, and did lose both. The two forwards say there was a lot to learn from those games.
"We have a good work ethic. We definitely have a ways to go, but that's okay. We have three practices every week, so we're just going to keep going to our home opener and it's definitely going to get better," says Kennedy.
Brooke says early-season nerves have been there, as the team strives to catch up to veteran ACAC teams like NAIT and Red Deer in skill.
"There wasn't much girls hockey here growing up, so to be able to show that we can put good product out on the ice is really important to us," explains Brooke.
Head coach Chad Baron says his main goal this year is to make sure the team is competitive. So far Baron says he's seen a lot of leadership coming from the triplets both on and off the ice, keeping the team united.
"Maddie and Kenny, they both play forward so they're great together. They've got that connection, with some telepathy or something," Baron jokes. "Yeah, and Brooke's been great, they're a great family."
Whether or not the team is successful on paper this year, is not top of mind. The triplets are just hoping to make their hometown proud as the first Rattlers women's hockey team competing in the ACAC.
"It's an honor, it's amazing. All of our staff, all of the admin at the college have been super supportive. Even the community, everyone's growing around us. So we're super excited, excited to get going," Kennedy says.
The home-opener of the ACAC women's hockey season is October 7th at the Moose Arena against the NAIT Ooks.