The Battlefords WPD Ambulance Sharks look to get back in the win column later on in February as they head down the final stretch of the regular season. (Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

U18 AAA Female Hockey

Strong season continues for Battlefords WPD Ambulance Sharks despite some recent struggles

Jan 30, 2026 | 10:37 AM

With a record of 17-1-2-1 (W-L-OTW-OTL), the Battlefords WPD Ambulance Sharks still hold first place in the league, but they’re also dealing with their first bouts of adversity this season.

In their last game, the U18 AAA team suffered their first regulation loss of the season, falling 5-3 to the Weyburn Gold Wings. Earlier in the month, they lost 6-2 loss against the Southern Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA).

The losses came while the Sharks were dealing with some missing players due to injury and illness, but head coach Nolan Horbach said it may not necessarily be a bad thing for the team to work through something like this.

“If anything, it’s kind of, in a way, exactly what we need,” he said. “In the sense that we’ve been dealing with some injuries and some sickness and people have had to move around, people have had to step up.” 

Horbach also said that it’s better for the team to deal with this now, rather than during the playoffs.  

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“I guess January is the time to lose and identify some opportunities to clean up a few things. It wasn’t the end of the world for sure, but overall, I think there’s a lot of take away from it and get ready for your final push here,” said Horbach. “Sometimes we just get maybe, I’m not going to say complacent, but things are going well, there’s really no adversity, everyone’s contributing on a nightly basis. Then when someone goes down, it doesn’t matter who it is, it’s all of a sudden, we’ve got different roles to play.” 

One of the players that went down with an injury in early January was captain Danika Dureau. Brooke Weber took her place, and Horbach has been impressed with her in that spot.

“She’s with Julia Poole and Anneka Aspaas. I’m not sure there’s a better line in the league right now through January when those three get going.”

Horbach also gave credit to Charleigh Johnston who filled a needed role moving to centre.

The Sharks bounced back after a 6-2 loss to SAHA with a 2-1 win the very next day against the Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union Wildcats. It was a game that Horbach described as their “best ‘team game’ to date.” 

As they look to get some players back from injury and illness, the Sharks will look to continue their success throughout the remainder of the season, starting with a pair of matchups against Swift Current on Feb. 7 and 8.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com