The Western Prairie Thunder female hockey program made a big announcement earlier this week. On Monday it was announced that all three of the associations AA coaches will be remaining with their respective teams for next season.

First off at the U13 level, Cam Aitken is back as head coach. The U13's went 13-9-6 this past season, good for third in the SFHL's north division. The season ended with them losing in a winner-take all Game 3 to the Saskatoon Comet Hurricanes in the playoffs.

Next with U15, co-coaches Amber Grolla and Marley Ervine will again share duties behind the bench. The former high-level players led their team to a 22-5-0 record this past season to finish first place in the north division. Earning a bye, the Thunder were ousted by the Warman Wildcats in a second round playoff exit.

Finally looking at U18, Mike Rublee is back for another year as well. Rublee's team went 6-17-2, squeaking into the playoffs, where they swept the Saskatoon Comet Legends to move onto the next round. Trading overtime wins with the top-seed Prince Albert Foxes in the second round, the Thunder's season ended with a 8-0 loss in Game 3.

This was the first season that each level of Western Prairie AA hockey had a team at the AA level. Combining that with the emergence of the Western Prairie Klippers of the brand new Saskatchewan Junior Female Hockey League, west-central is looking nowhere but up in the world of female hockey.