Emily Wittkopf transitions from Chinook to Barracuda

Barracuda Emily Wittkopf
C. Davis photo

Chris Davis, Sports

Emily Wittkopf has been a well known figure in the Pincher Creek minor hockey community for years.  The Grade 9 St. Michael's School student is turning 15 next week, and has been playing for Pincher Creek's Chinooks since initiation level.  Last season she was a Bantam Chinook forward, well known for her many assists, goals, successful face-offs, and team-first attitude. She was a Peewee Chinook the season before that.  This season there is no Bantam Chinooks team due to low enrollment numbers, so Emily joined the Lethbridge Midget Tier One Barracudas, a Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League team. "There was no team here, and I wanted to keep playing," she explained.  "It's been different, but it's been good."

The Lethbridge Barracudas hoist the banner after winning their home tournament
Joanne Wittkopf photo

The Barracudas haven't lost a game yet this season, and won their home tournament last weekend in Lethbridge after defeating Cranbrook, Notre Dam, and Calgary.


Wittkopf is a winger for the Barracudas, and wears #18 as she did for the Chinooks. She said her biggest asset is her skating ability. Her dad Randy Wittkopf was a Chinooks coach and wears #18 for Pincher Creek's RHL Senior Huskies. When asked which was her favourite Pincher Creek team she said "The Senior Huskies, of course." As for her dad, Emily said  "He says it's quite weird watching from the stands, not being the coach.  He coached me for pretty much my whole hockey career."

The Barracudas have a relatively small roster with a total of 12 skaters and one goalie. That suits Emily fine.  "I get a lot of ice time!"

"I'm the youngest girl on my team.  A lot of them played on the team last year." While most of her new teammates were strangers to her before she joined "There was one girl, Keira, that I know from last year from trying out."

Being on a Lethbridge team means there's a lot of travel involved, going as far away as Olds to play.

Emily said she is quite comfortable with the team, and with playing in an all-girl league.  'I don't want to play boys midget.  It's scarier, I think."

"I just wanted to continue playing hockey.  I didn't want to lose it, because I love it so much.  Midget has guys that are 6 foot 3, two hundred pounds.  I thought, ummm, no."

When I asked her what the biggest difference was between boys and girls hockey she said  "the concept".  You work on more of your positioning plays, and your stick handling.  Whereas in the boys hockey you work more on your hitting and your speed. In girls hockey you have time to think, because someones not on you right away."

"It's still fast, but you have time to play with the puck and to really work on your positioning."

"The girls are a lot more supportive, with cheering you on and stuff."

"It's a non-contact sport," she explained, while laughing that there can be plenty of contact despite that rule.

Emily's mom Joanne expressed a little bit of frustration at the way girls hockey is viewed by the larger hockey community.  "The attidude toward girls hockey is still poor even in Lethbridge," she said.  "They rank lower than the boys hockey, they don't get the prime ice time.   I don't know why.  We have girls Olympic teams, and we have girls university teams."

Emily Wittkopf  last season, when she was a Bantam Chinook
C. Davis file photo

There's been a notable increase of girls playing hockey in recent years.  Emily has been an example for some of the younger girls to look up to.  I asked her if there was anything she'd like to say to them.  "Just keep going, doing it.  Keep at it, you'll love it.  Play where you feel you should play."

Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League website: rmfhl.com

Related stories:
Athlete of the Day, December 11, 2012: Emily Wittkopf
Atom Chinooks host the Lethbridge Hurricanes
Athletes of the Day, October 31, 2012: Bantam Chinooks