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Vipers - Women's Hockey
by Debi Smith

Their motto is "Just have fun and enjoy yourself." so says Val Maser, one of the original female hockey players who helped to form the all-woman Houston hockey team in 2002.

There wasn't any one person who started the team, but it was a collective decision after noticing there were enough women who wanted to play hockey every week at the local Claude Parish Arena.

The Houston Vipers 2005
(team photo courtesy of Dawn Potvin)
Click to zoom

"It was funny, that first month we all borrowed our husband's gear just to check it out."

The women soon decided that they loved it and needed to buy their own gear. They borrowed jerseys from the men's Silvertips team and attended a two-day tournament in Hazelton. That same year, they hosted their first and very successful one-day women's tournament in town. "That year we didn't do so well, but, we did have fun."
Action shot
(courtesy of Dawn Potvin)
Click to zoom

Coached by hockey enthusiasts Brian Goold, Dave Jellett and Kelly Annis, both who have daughters on the team, the team seems to be "...getting better and better every year."

Val Maser tells me "Our main practice is Sunday from 4 to 5:30 but once in awhile (we) get asked to play the Oldtimers on Friday evenings. We take it easy on them."

It seems the girls have a good sense of humour as well.
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