(Published Aug 1st, 2025)

Nicky Windrem will never forget the thrill of running onto the field as part of the first all-female support crew to work a game in the Canadian Football League.

Also unforgettable: the cheers from a group of female football players witnessing a night of history at McMahon Stadium.

“They were all waiting to come out for the national anthem and unravel the flag,” Windrem says of the elite group who were in Calgary for the U18 Women’s National Championships. “You could just see the pride. They were cheering us on, and it was really moving for me.”

In truth, it’s rare for anyone in zebra stripes to hear anything resembling a cheer (outside of sarcasm) — from players, coaches or fans. But the all-woman support crew received a resounding ovation from the crowd on July 23 in a 23-21 Montreal victory over the hometown Calgary Stampeders.

“It was awesome,” Windrem says. “It was exciting. It was, for me, a personal dream come true.”