The PCI Saints open their Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League season on the road tonight.

They're in Winnipeg to face Fort Richmond in 'B' division action. The Saints were initially placed into the 'A' division this season for having one of the stronger top lines in the league, but won their appeal to be placed in 'B' last week. Saints' Head Coach Jo-Anne Clark-Gillespie says it came as a bit of a shock when they won.

"I think they understood where we were coming from where we weren't trying to go down to win, we were going down thinking of next year and letting our girls play in a division where more of our team is at. So they can develop, and maybe even have some success though too, and continue on building for next year."

The Saints have a good number of players this season which Clark-Gillespie says makes for a little internal competition.

"Some of the girls have to play for spots in the games. That's not a great situation for players to be in, but it's not a bad situation for coaches to be in where you can have a little bit of a motivator for girls to work hard in practice and games to keep their ice time."

She adds the girls are excited to get the season going. The puck drops at 3:30 this afternoon in Winnipeg.