Perth Hockey League Includes Ten Female Players in This Seasons Lineup

Mitch D

The Perth Summer League (PSL) is a local hockey league that plays in the Perth Ice Arena in Perth, Australia. The Perth Summer League is currently in the midst of its twelfth season and is fielding eight teams with over 120 players. The goal of the league was to bring affordable hockey to an area where you wouldn’t really expect a great deal of hockey to be played. From cost to culture in general, hockey is an expensive male dominated sport. Ice hockey can have a massive barrier to entry and can be an incredibly expansive sport to participate in, just the equipment alone can be over $4000 and then the yearly cost for teams to join and play for can really add up fast. The idea that Adam Murphy and Adam Plamondon had has now manifested into an something truly amazing and has created a subculture that is fully inclusive and allows players of all skill levels to be able to come out and enjoy the game we all hold so dearly to our hearts.

This season is special for the league as ten women have signed up to lace them up and are currently playing in a league made up of a majority of male players. Currently, ten out of the 128 players are female. Louise on the Outlaws described the experience thus far in the league “With the Perth Summer League, I have found the ice is shared, the positivity and encouragement from the bench is brilliant and the supportive feedback from strong players is great”. She also described her growth as a player now going into her second season, “I was Bambi on ice when I started but was fortunate to have access to daily stick and puck sessions, great friends who offered to coaching and managed to pass a try out to allow me to play in Division 2 as a start point”. Louise is a warrior on and off the ice sharing with us that she currently bouncing back from a major injury. “I broke my leg in a few places in October last year, after a few surgeries and 12 months of rehab, I am happy to not only be walking again but back out there on the ice”.

This is not a rare case in the Perth Summer League, as the culture that has been developed is one of inclusivity and confidence boosting. Each player helps one another, giving advice and coaching, really fostering a welcoming environment for players at any skill level. Sarah has also felt that she has been able to grow as a hockey player saying, “With the opportunity to play alongside such experienced players in the league to learn from them I have grown so much as a player”. She is currently in the midst of her third season with the Perth Summer League and is more than ecstatic to be playing with the Moose. Sarah also went on to share how proud she is of her current season, “this season I have scored two goals in three games. As someone who’s games played are never high, this is something I am very proud of, and I am excited for the rest of the season”.

Founder and General Manager of the Perth Summer League Adam Murphy is absolutely delighted with the growth of hockey in Perth and more women joining the league saying “having women play in the league is something that has been encouraged since the first season. Creating a multi diverse league throughout Perth has been something that the league management have aspired to achieve and having ten women players in the league this season ticks the right boxes”.

Alivia Del Basso isn’t new to hockey like some, playing for Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA and winning Gold at the 2016 World Cup with the Australian National Team. Del Basso had much praise for the growth of the sport in Perth and the inclusiveness of the league itself. Being one of the ten women in the league is something she incredibly proud of and something she is very used to, going on to say “Being one of the ten females in the league is a familiar feeling to me growing up in the Perth Ice Hockey scene. I grew up playing pretty much only with boys until I was 17. Its really nice being able to play in a league with talented players regardless of the gender. This wasn’t always a given growing up in a male dominated sport. I was really excited when I found out I was drafted by the Beavers this season. I have only played in two games so far, but the guys seam really lovely and have been very welcoming. Its also great to play with a couple people from back in the day and also have another talented female on the team”. Just for an extra layer of tough, she is a physical training instructor for a police department.

From a small league consisting of four teams way back in 2010, the Perth Summer Ice Hockey League has really become a treasure in Western Australia. The league doesn’t just foster a welcoming and inclusive culture but is also becoming a staple in their community. The Perth Summer League has expanded to eight teams hand has become a family event and fosters friendships through the game of hockey. The league also partners closely with local business to help keep the sport alive and well. The inclusion of ten female players coming from a wide range of skill and experience levels in the sport is truly a testament of just how much this league has grown the interest of hockey in Western Australia. The growth of this league is something that should be commemorated and celebrated by the players and families that make up this wonderful league.

All contact information can be found on their website pslicehockey.com.