Ringette fans will get a special treat March 5 when the National Ringette League makes a stop at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
Edmonton WAM! will face off against league newcomers, the Edmonton Black Gold Rush at 8 p.m. for a regular season matchup, and the best part is the game is free.
“We’d like to try to get as many people as possible to the game,” said Pembina Ringette Association team manager Lori Borduzak.
The NRL regularly holds games outside of Edmonton to promote the game and encourage recruitment in surrounding districts, Borduzak explained, adding that the excitement of the game was likely to draw hockey fans and ringette players alike.
“It’s on of the fastest games on ice. It’s different from hockey and it is a very quick game. We’re just trying to bring a lot more interest and get some recognition with having this game in Westlock.”
The ticket price is no reflection of the game’s quality, added association president Kyla George.
“This is basically the most elite level of ringette that you could watch,” she explained.
“NRL would be analogous to the NHL. They are the girls who are collected to be potential Team Canada players or to represent the country in world championships.
“I’m really excited to see this calibre of ringette in a small town.”
The Edmonton WAM! and Black Gold Rush last faced off Feb. 20 in St. Albert at the Mark Messier Arena.
WAM! defeated the Rush 9-5, but Rush assistant coach Martin Gautier hopes the game will give his team a chance to even the score.
“We’re a very young team. The average age in our team is probably 20 and most of the other teams are playing girls with eight or nine years in the NRL,” Gautier said. “We’d like to close the gap… If we want to go far and eventually make it to the national championship, we’re going to have to beat a team like WAM!, so it’s good training.”
Fans can expect more than just a top-tier ringette game as the night will have plenty of other activities.
Players will participate in an autograph session at 6:30 p.m. and local sports teams with eight or more members who wear their jerseys will be entered into a draw for a pizza party.
Six local players will also get the chance to skate during warm-ups.
Although admission is free, the association will also use the event to help fundraise.
“We’ll also be having a chance for the kids to do a half-time shootout and we’ll be having some raffle prizes and 50/50 throughout the night,” Borduzak added.
Hopefully, George added, the game will help boost the sport’s popularity.
“Little boys play hockey, have the opportunity to watch the NHL and wonder if one day they can be that good,” George said.
“There’s not a lot of publicity around ringette, so it’s a good opportunity for our girls to see that but also a good opportunity for people who might wonder what ringette is about and see that it is actually a legitimate sport.”
