Lethbridge Steel
Team logo
Founded2010
Based inLethbridge, Alberta
Home fieldUniversity of Lethbridge Community Stadium
Head coachMike Peters
LeagueWWCFL
DivisionWestern
Colours       
League titles0
Conference titles3 (2012, 2013, 2014)
Websitewww.lethbridgesteelfootball.com

The Lethbridge Steel are a women's football team in the Western Women's Canadian Football League's (WWCFL) Western Conference. The team is based in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Team history

The Steel were founded in 2010 and joined the Edmonton Storm and the Calgary Rockies in creating a new league, the Alberta Female Football League (AFFL). The league played just one season before the three Alberta teams became charter members of the WWCL, joining the Manitoba Fearless and new teams in Winnipeg, Regina, and Saskatoon. The WWCFL began play in 2011 as a seven-team league.[1]

The WWCFL was divided into two conferences, with the three Alberta-based teams forming the Western Conference. In the inaugural WWCFL season the Steel posted a 1-3 record; they lost their first three matches before winning their final regular season game by a score of 34–32 over Calgary. They then lost a re-match against the Rage in the first round of the playoffs.[2] However, Lethbridge was the host city for the first WWCFL Championship game, in which the Saskatoon Valkyries defeated the Storm to become the first league champions.[3]

Lethbridge had its most successful run from 2012–2014, losing just one regular season game in three seasons and advancing to the WWCFL title game as the Western Conference champion all three seasons. However, the Steel finished as the runner-up all three years, losing the Final to Saskatoon each year.[4] During this period the Western Conference also expanded to include two new teams, the Northern Anarchy and the Okotoks Lady Outlawz. Okotokz played only the 2013 season before suspending operations.[5]

In 2018 the Steel posted a strong regular season with the best defense in the WWCFL, allowing only 33 points against during the regular season.[6] However, they lost a dramatic first-round playoff match against Edmonton by a score of 45–44, which ended their season.[7]

The WWCFL cancelled its 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The Steel struggled after play resumed in 2022, losing their first game 69–0 and failing to win a game in either the 2022 or 2023 seasons.[9]

Year by year

= Indicates Division Title (regular season)
= Indicates Conference Title
= Indicates League Championship
Season League Conf.W LConf. standingPlayoff result Ref.
2011 WWCFL Western1 33rdLost Western Conference Semifinal, 26–14 vs. Calgary Rage [2]
2012 WWCFL Western3 01stLost WWCFL Final, 64–21 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries [10]
2013 WWCFL Western3 01stLost WWCFL Final, 27–13 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries [11]
2014 WWCFL Western 3 1 2nd Lost WWCFL Final, 53–0 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries [12]
2015 WWCFL Western 2 2 3rd Did not qualify [1]
2016 WWCFL Western 1 3 3rd Lost Western Conference Final, 14–4 vs. Edmonton Storm [13]
2017 WWCFL Western 0 4 3rd Did not qualify [14]
2018 WWCFL Western 3 1 2nd Lost Western Conference Semifinal, 45–44 vs. Edmonton Storm [7]
2019 WWCFL Western 2 2 3rd Lost Cross-Conference Final, 53–0 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries [15]
2020 WWCFL Western Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic [8]
2021 WWCFL Western Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 WWCFL Western 0 4 3rd Did not qualify [16]
2023 WWCFL Western 0 4 3rd Forfeit Quarterfinal vs. Edmonton Storm [17]
Totals (2011-2023) 18 24

IFAF competitors

Two members of the Lethbridge Steel have competed in the IFAF Women's World Championship as members of Team Canada, both at the 2017 IFAF Women's World Championship: Wendy Iwaasa and Rebeckah Heninger.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Lethbridge Steel - About". Lethbridge Steel Football. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  2. 1 2 "WWCFL 2011 Schedule/Results/Standings". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  3. ↑ Menz, Kevin (2011-08-13). "BRIEF: Saskatoon Valkyries league champs". The Sheaf. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  4. ↑ Piller, Thomas (2014-07-06). "Saskatoon Valkyries capture 4th WWCFL championship". Global News. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  5. ↑ Staffieri, Mark (2013-05-06). "Sky Is the Limit as WWCFL Enters Third Season on Wings of Optimism". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  6. ↑ Ferris, Danica (2019-05-03). "Lethbridge Steel looking for redemption as WWCFL season kicks off". Global News. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  7. 1 2 "2018 WWCFL Results". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  8. 1 2 Lazaruk, Les (2020-03-30). "WWCFL Cancels 10th Anniversary Season Due to COVID-19 Pandemic". CJWW. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  9. ↑ Kucey, Jaclyn (2022-05-01). "Lethbridge Steel come out rusty against Calgary Rage in WWCFL season opener". Global News. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  10. ↑ Guenter, Cole (2012-07-17). "Saskatoon Valkyries defend title". The Sheaf. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  11. ↑ "WWCFL - Schedule/Results". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  12. ↑ Piller, Thomas (2014-07-06). "Saskatoon Valkyries capture 4th WWCFL championship". Global News. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  13. ↑ Hills, Jason (2016-06-18). "Edmonton Storm off to WWCFL final after beating Lethbridge Steel". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  14. ↑ "2017 WWCFL Schedule". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  15. ↑ "2019 WWCFL Results". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  16. ↑ "2022 WWCFL Results". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  17. ↑ "2023 WWCFL Schedule". WWCFL. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  18. ↑ "Football Canada Unveils 2017 Women's National Team Roster". Football Canada. 2017-01-14. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
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