Lethbridge Steel Explained

Lethbridge Steel
Founded:2010
League:WWCFL
Location:Lethbridge, Alberta
Field:University of Lethbridge Community Stadium
Division:Western
Coach:Mike Peters
League Champs:0
Conf Champs:3 (2012, 2013, 2014)
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The Lethbridge Steel is 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 through the 2024 season.[9]

Year by year

= Indicates Division Title (regular season)
= Indicates Conference Title
= Indicates League Championship
Season LeagueConf.W LConf. standing Playoff resultRef.
2011WWCFLWestern1 33rd Lost Western Conference Semifinal, 26–14 vs. Calgary Rage
2012WWCFLWestern301st Lost WWCFL Final, 64–21 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries[10]
2013WWCFLWestern301stLost WWCFL Final, 27–13 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries[11]
2014WWCFLWestern312ndLost WWCFL Final, 53–0 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries[12]
2015WWCFLWestern223rdDid not qualify
2016WWCFLWestern133rdLost Western Conference Final, 14–4 vs. Edmonton Storm[13]
2017WWCFLWestern043rdDid not qualify[14]
2018WWCFLWestern312ndLost Western Conference Semifinal, 45–44 vs. Edmonton Storm
2019WWCFLWestern223rdLost Cross-Conference Final, 53–0 vs. Saskatoon Valkyries[15]
2020WWCFLWesternSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021WWCFLWesternSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022WWCFLWestern043rdDid not qualify[16]
2023WWCFLWestern043rdForfeit Quarterfinal vs. Edmonton Storm[17]
2024WWCFLWestern042ndDid not qualify
Totals (2011–2024)1828

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lethbridge Steel - About . 2023-07-15 . Lethbridge Steel Football.
  2. Web site: WWCFL 2011 Schedule/Results/Standings . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL.
  3. News: Menz . Kevin . 2011-08-13 . BRIEF: Saskatoon Valkyries league champs . The Sheaf . 2023-07-15.
  4. News: Piller . Thomas . 2014-07-06 . Saskatoon Valkyries capture 4th WWCFL championship . Global News . 2023-07-15.
  5. News: Staffieri . Mark . 2013-05-06 . Sky Is the Limit as WWCFL Enters Third Season on Wings of Optimism . Bleacher Report . 2023-07-15.
  6. News: Ferris . Danica . 2019-05-03 . Lethbridge Steel looking for redemption as WWCFL season kicks off . Global News . 2023-07-15.
  7. Web site: 2018 WWCFL Results . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL. https://web.archive.org/web/20181010163337/http://www.wwcfl.ca/results.html . 2018-10-10 .
  8. News: Lazaruk . Les . 2020-03-30 . WWCFL Cancels 10th Anniversary Season Due to COVID-19 Pandemic . CJWW . 2023-07-15.
  9. News: Kucey . Jaclyn . 2022-05-01 . Lethbridge Steel come out rusty against Calgary Rage in WWCFL season opener . Global News . 2023-07-15.
  10. News: Guenter . Cole . 2012-07-17 . Saskatoon Valkyries defend title . The Sheaf . 2023-07-15.
  11. Web site: WWCFL - Schedule/Results . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL. https://web.archive.org/web/20131204141520/http://www.wwcfl.com/p/scheduleresults.html . 2013-12-04 .
  12. News: Piller . Thomas . 2014-07-06 . Saskatoon Valkyries capture 4th WWCFL championship . Global News . 2023-07-15.
  13. News: Hills . Jason . 2016-06-18 . Edmonton Storm off to WWCFL final after beating Lethbridge Steel . Edmonton Sun . 2023-07-15.
  14. Web site: 2017 WWCFL Schedule . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL. https://web.archive.org/web/20171113150644/http://www.wwcfl.ca/schedule-1.html . 2017-11-13 .
  15. Web site: 2019 WWCFL Results . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518172021/http://www.wwcfl.ca/results.html . 2021-05-18 .
  16. Web site: 2022 WWCFL Results . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL. https://web.archive.org/web/20220809044535/http://www.wwcfl.ca/results.html . 2022-08-09 .
  17. Web site: 2023 WWCFL Schedule . 2023-07-15 . WWCFL.
  18. News: 2017-01-14 . Football Canada Unveils 2017 Women's National Team Roster . Football Canada . 2023-07-15.