Lexxi and Veda Smith played minor hockey for Peninsula MHA from Novice to Bantam and went on to play for the VIAHA Royals and the FMAAA Vancouver Island Seals.

 

Still teenagers themselves, they took on coaching duties for the Peninsula MHA Bantam Female team in 2017-18 along with a group of friends.

 

When CRFMHA was approved in early 2019, they immediately got involved and took on volunteer coaching duties for Friday Night Development sessions, which CRFMHA had inherited from the recently disbanded Saanich MHA.

 

In the inaugural Reign season, they participated as Assistant Coaches on the Bantam 'A' team, while at the same time kickstarting the Reign Juvenile program (aka U21).  Lexxi served as Team Manager and Veda as Player-Coach.  They recruited former teammates to build the roster and attended UVic Thunderfest to promote interest in the upstart team.  They aged out of U21 after that season, but when the pandemic flattened the U21 team in 2020-21, Veda returned as Head Coach the following season and rebooted the program, including coaching many of the players who will be competing in this weekend's Championship Game.

 

They have frequently been involved in CRFMHA recruitment programs like NHL/NHLPA First Shift and Esso Fun Days and also participate in coaching Spring Hockey programs.

 

In addition to their on-ice coaching efforts, they both served two year terms as CRFMHA Board Members.  Lexxi was Director of Communications and Veda split her time between Director of Promotion and Director of Tournaments.

 

Veda nearly single-handedly organized the first CRFMHA Awards Banquet at Pearkes Fieldhouse in 2022 and also undertook a significant fundraising effort for CRFMHA by volunteering at the IRONMAN competition at Elk Lake in May 2023.

 

Lexxi and Veda Smith are role models for the girls and young women in our Association, not only with respect to their skill and playing ability, but also for their commitment to coaching, volunteering and for being the original coordinators of the Reign U21 program!