Cold weather may have kept some would-be ringette players home last Saturday night, but about two dozen Westlock-area athletes still took to the ice to learn more about the game.
The Pembina Ringette Association held a “Come Try Ringette” even at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre, which also featured an exhibition game between the Knockout and the Sonics — two U-16 teams from the St. Albert Ringette Association.
Janice Tymkow, vice-president of the Pembina Ringette Association, said she was disappointed with the weather and the low turnout for Saturday’s event, but not with the growing enthusiasm for the sport in the Westlock area.
The association started last season with just 13 players on the ice in Linaria, a number that has more than doubled to 29 this year. Most hail from the Westlock area, with a handful from Barrhead as well.
At this point, the association has two teams — one team with players aged four to seven, the other with players aged eight and up.
There was not enough players this year to have teams play in a league, so it’s just been exhibition games up to this point.
“We’re not in the formal league yet,” she said. “The goal is maybe next year, or if not, the year after.”
Teams usually comprise 11-17 players, so Tymkow said with a bit more interest next year they maybe be able to have three teams at the different age levels.
Like hockey, the sport is open to both boys and girls. Whereas hockey is male-dominated, however, ringette is female dominated. Nonetheless, there are few boys taking part in the association as well.
Tymkow said she got involved with starting up a league in the area because she played as a youth, and now that she has girls of her own she hopes they will get involved in the sport as well.
“I would love to see ringette come to Westlock,” she said. “We need something else for the girls. It’s like you just have hockey and dance. You just need something else, so the push is on.”
As for why they asked the St. Albert teams to come play, Tymkow said they wanted to give the Pembina players a chance to see what the sport looks like at a higher, more competitive level.
At first glance the game looks to be similar to hockey, but there are some key differences that make it more akin to lacrosse played on ice — without any of the body contact involved in either of those sports.
Players can get involved as young as four years old, and no prior experience with the sport or even with skating is required. For more information, contact Tymkow at 780-349-4675 or e-mail [email protected].
