(Battlefords AAA Sharks/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

Battlefords AAA Sharks

Battlefords Sharks U18AAA hockey team ranked top in the country

Oct 1, 2025 | 2:58 PM

The U18 Girls AAA season is underway, and it has been a positive start to the year for the Battlefords Sharks. After winning the Calgary Firestarter tournament earlier in September, the team started the season 2-0 with wins against the Northway Northern Bears in Prince Albert.

They took those games 4-1 and 5-2 this past weekend, led by Brooke Weber who had four points in two games as well as Danika Dureau and Charleigh Johnston who each scored twice. The team’s depth was on display as well, with 13 of the 17 skaters getting at least a point in the Sharks’ first two contests.

After going 5-0 to win the Firestarter Tournament and 2-0 to start the year, the Sharks have landed at #1 on the Girls U18 Tier 1 ranking across the country. Sharks head coach Nolan Horbach is trying not think too far into it but knows the standard that his team is trying to set early on.

“We know these rankings don’t have any meaning…October is a long way from when it matters the most. That said, we’re excited to embrace it as a marker of where we’re at and as a way to hold ourselves accountable to doing the things necessary to truly be the best,” Horbach said.

Although the team is undefeated and ranked top in the country, Horbach knows they still aren’t playing at their best and have some improvement to do.

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“We have to do all the little things like really taking away team’s time and space with kind of relentless back checking…not giving them any time and that’s when our skill set and our transition game can really take over. But again, to do that we have to do it as a team.”

It’s no secret that the team’s deep lineup is a strength as seven Sharks players were recently named to team Saskatchewan for the U18 women’s national championship in November.

“They’re obviously going to push themselves every day as they prepare for that incredible experience with team Sask…when you push yourself and play against the best of the best, it only raises everybody else’s level. We’re excited for the girls, but we’re excited what it could mean for our group moving forward,” Horbach said.

The Sharks continue their season with their home opener on Oct. 4 when they start a back-to-back against the Notre Dame Hounds at Battleford Arena.

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Ryan.lambert@pattisonmedia.com