Lace up your skates, buckle those helmets and watch out, the girls are taking over Moose Jaw this weekend.  

The annual Moose Jaw Mavericks Female Classic Hockey Tournament is back this weekend kicking off on Friday afternoon and wrapping up on Sunday.  

The tournament will consist of 30 teams across five divisions. There are two U9 divisions, and one division each for U11, U13, and U15.  

In total 490 female players, which equals 30 teams and their coaches and parents from across the province will call Moose Jaw home for the three-day tournament. 

To boot, Moose Jaw has four teams included in this weekend’s tournament. There is one team in U11, two in U13, and one in the U15 division. 

“It’s really exciting for female hockey; the program is growing all across the province,” says tournament coordinator, Jamie Feiffer. “It’s super exciting to host them and have a good turnout.” 

This year’s event will be played at the Kinsmen Sportsplex, Red Knight Arena, and the Pla-Mor Palaces’ Bert Hunt and Wally Boschuk arenas.  

There is no cost to enter the tournament, but they do ask if you’re able, to bring a non-perishable food item to donate that will go toward the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank. A raffle table with about $3,000 worth of prizes will be on display, along with a penny parade and 50/50 tickets will be sold.  

The hope is this tournament will continue to build Moose Jaw’s female hockey program, but also attract more girls to the game. 

“All the girls grow up and want to be Mavericks, just like the boys who want to grow up and be Warriors. We have our little group and will continue growing the program with them.” 

Feiffer explains that in the past year, the Mavericks program has grown by 37 females.  

For those looking for something to do, the Moose Jaw Warriors have back-to-back home games this weekend, as they host the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday and the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday. Both games start at 7:00 p.m. and Feiffer encourages teams to get out and cheer on the Warriors. Wear your jerseys and show off the strength of female hockey in the province.

After Friday's game Atley Calvert and Lynden Lakovic will be signing autographs on the concourse and on Saturday Max Wanner and Matthew Gallant will be signing autographs.

For more information on the Moose Jaw Mavericks Female Classic Hockey Tournament, you visit the city’s minor hockey website or call Feiffer at 306-684-5748.