Greta Raath, left, is one of the several island players in the Panthers ranks. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 0544133)

WHILE the Investec Men’s Division One may have lost a team, the women’s league has gained one in Legis Independents. The men’s game was rocked recently by the news that Mavericks had pulled out of the top flight after only one season.

In contrast, the women’s hockey was buoyed when the Independent Hockey Club announced that they were to become the first club on the island to have a men’s and a women’s team.

The female Indies are captained by island stalwart, Debbie Hunter, who explained the reasons behind the formation of the team, who in their first ever league match on Saturday narrowly lost 4-3 to last year’s runners up, Ship & Crown Puffins.

‘We thought it would be great to try and mix the league up a little bit and try and get some new people involved,’ said Hunter.

Hunter signed for the new team from Redbridge Vixens where she spent last season after spending a number of years at Cubs.