Purple Posts Episode 3: The Ottawa Alerts

Go back in time with LJ and Elisha to talk about early 20th-century women's hockey history and team names.

Purple Posts Episode 3: The Ottawa Alerts
The Ottawa Alerts: Ladies Ontario Hockey Association Champions. Shirley Moulds, the team's star player, is in the center, seated above the trophy. Library and Archives Canada via Today in Ottawa History.

If you wanted more Purple Posts, you’re in luck! We have another episode of the podcast about the memorable, funny, and sometimes just strange moments in women's hockey history. Hosted by TIG writer LJ Bachenheimer, Purple Posts is for the people who love a Wikipedia rabbit hole. In each episode, LJ will have a guest on to trade stories and drop lore on some of the wilder moments from the world of women's hockey.

In this episode, LJ is joined by TIG’s own Elisha Côté, the resident Ottawa expert, to talk about the history of the Ottawa Alerts. More than the almost-namesake of the team that we now know as the Charge, the Ottawa Alerts were an early 20th-century women’s hockey dynasty, and they did it all in skirts. LJ and Elisha dig into the story of this team, as well as answering questions like “Would wearing a skirt make you a better goalie?” “Why does Ottawa have such bad sports team names?” and “Who the heck was Dr. Lorne Robertson?” 

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