Hockey players will have to relinquish the bench at
three Hamilton arenas next weekend, as hundreds of ringette players from
across Southern Ontario are expected to take to the ice in the Southern
Region Regional Championships next weekend.
Ringette is a non-contact, fast-paced sport played in full hockey
gear. The players, predominantly females, hit the ice, street stick in
hand, looking to capture the ring and slam it behind the net of the
opposing team.
The sport, which follows rules similar to lacrosse, is 10-year-old Jamie Lynn Hardy’s favourite.
The Waterdown resident and St. Thomas School student was first
introduced to ringette when she was living in Mississauga. At the age of
four, she took part in a learn-to-skate program that taught the basics
of the sport.
Six year’s later, Jamie Lynn continues to hone her skills. A
forward with Hamilton Heat’s Petite (under-12) team, she has
demonstrated strength and talent on the ice and looks forward to the
regional championships that are hosted by the Hamilton Ringette
Association.
The three-day event taking place April 8-10 will see players of all
ages compete for the championship title at Hamilton’s Chedoke Twin Pad
Arena, Mountain Arena and Spring Valley Arena in Ancaster.
Defending champions
For the second consecutive year, Jamie Lynn will enter the competition with aims of defending her team’s championship title.
“We have won the regionals the last two years,” she said. “They’ve
done awesome,” added the youngster’s mom, Diana, of the girls’ on-ice
performance.
Approximately 700 ringette players are expected to take part in the
Southern Region Regional Championships next weekend. Accompanied by
family members and supporters, the event could bring 2,000 people to
Hamilton.
The draw to Hamilton, noted Diana, “will be really good for local business.”
Ringette enthusiasts also hope the regionals will garner more support and exposure for the game.
“So many people don’t know what ringette is,” said Diana, who moved to Waterdown with her family in the summer of 2008.
“Whoever knows about ringette and actually plays it, it’s probably
around their first or second favourite (sport),” said Jamie Lynn,
conceding, “Hockey is a good game, too.”
Since she began playing ringette, the Grade 5 student has reaped
the benefits of the sport, including team building and strong staking
skills. “It’s really exciting. It’s fast and you have to work as a team
or else you won’t go anywhere far,” she said.
There is no ringette association in Flamborough so the Hardy family
makes its way down the escarpment for Jamie Lynn’s practices each week.
On weekends, the Hamilton Heat competes against teams from as far away
as Niagara Falls and Newmarket. For one tournament, the Hardys traveled
to Ottawa.
Jamie Lynn said she plans to keep playing ringette until she’s “a grown up,” at which time she hopes to coach.
She is also keeping her fingers crossed that fans of the game will
turn out next weekend to support ringette and cheer on the participating
Hamilton Heat teams at one of the three arenas.
“Usually, it’s just the parents,” in the bleachers, said Jamie
Lynn. “It would be nice to have people that don’t have any relatives
playing there just to watch, like at hockey games.”
The Southern Region Regional Championships kick off on Friday,
April 8 and run through until Sunday, April 10. Game times are available
on the Hamilton Ringette Association’s website,
www.hamiltonringette.ca.