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Calgary will be well represented at the 2024 Canadian Ringette Championships in Dieppe, N.B.
Three U16AA teams and two U19AA teams from the city are taking part in the April 7-13 event.
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In the U16AA bracket, the Calgary Attack, Calgary Peak and Calgary Strike (Team Alberta) hope to bring home the championship. In U19AA, the Calgary Combat (Team Alberta) and Calgary Crew are aiming for success.
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“I believe everyone is really excited for this opportunity to go to nationals in New Brunswick,” said Strike goaltender Sophia Coli.
Coli explained that nationals are an opportunity to potentially get recruited to the National Ringette League or Team Canada, adding that playing at the event provides amazing exposure.
“It really just makes me feel really proud of myself for all the work I’ve put into the sport,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Western Canada Ringette Championships in Calgary wrapped up on Saturday. Calgary’s U14AA Blue started off 4-0, but came up short against Spruce Grove in the semifinals, then settled for fourth place after falling 7-6 in overtime to AB2 Zone 2 in the bronze-medal game on Saturday.
“Team Blue has been steadily improving throughout the season,” said manager Cheryl Barnabe before the tournament. “The athletes have been committed to improving their skills, learning key tactical plays for their respective positions and playing to their strengths.”
Barnabe added they have a strong coaching staff with three members coming in from Team Canada Junior, one being a goaltender for the Calgary Rath of the National Ringette League and one who will be playing for Team Alberta’s U19AA squad at nationals.
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Team Blue came into the tournament having won its hometown Esso Golden Ring championship and placing third at provincials
Looking ahead to nationals, here’s a Q&A with representatives of the local U16AA and U19AA teams competing in New Brunswick:
U16AA Peak
Representative: Manager Amanda Roach
Describe your team’s season so far?
“This season our team has had great success both on and off the ice, but it has not come without its share of adversity. We have enjoyed the success of playing in three gold-medal games, coming out on top in two of them. Our team has faced their fair share of challenges along the way, including significant injuries and illnesses. Whether it be playing with a very short bench or having to change positions, the coaching staff has been impressed with how well our players have adapted to trials throughout our season. Our team name is Peak and we’ve used the analogy of climbing to the peak of a mountain. It’s rarely a direct line to the top. Your route can include unforeseen challenges, takes planning, grit and determination and might even include a few backtracks. The resolve of our team has allowed us to continue to play and compete at a high level. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished so far but look to compete to the best of our abilities at nationals.”
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What is the team’s X-factor?
“The X-factor of our team has been our mental toughness. I touched on this before, but I believe it’s one of our biggest contributors of our team’s success throughout the year. I can’t count how many times this team has faced difficulties, but the players’ mental strength has allowed them to push through and remain highly competitive. The girls have rallied together, drawn closer as a team and continuously look to put their best effort forward. At no time has there ever been a question about the team’s effort, commitment or loyalty.”
What does the team need to do to win the national championship?
“Winning the national championship is no small feat. It’s a long week with many amazing teams across the country competing. For Peak to accomplish this goal, we’ll need to remain tight and focused as a team, both on and off the ice. We will need to play the game according to our strategy and remain positive and get creative when things do not go according to plan. Peak has all the tools to beat the strongest teams across Canada: an outstanding goaltender, strong and disciplined defence and forwards who can control the play and put the ring in the net. It’ll be a matter of sticking to our strategy and putting our best effort forward all week long.”
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U16AA Attack
Representative: Manager Christine Profili
Describe your team’s season so far?
“Calgary Attack’s season can best be described with the word ‘perseverance’. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, but our team has the ability to play their best ringette when the chips are down and it matters most. We went into provincials as the eighth seed and made it all the way to the championship game.”
What is your team’s X-factor?
“Our team is full of incredibly talented players, but we don’t have a single player that could be described as an X-factor. Our X-factor is our team’s belief in each other and knowing that we have a chance to win every time we step on the ice, no matter who we are playing.”
What does the team need to do to win the national championship?
“To win a championship our team will need to continue to work together and support each other. This is a goal we set back in September and our focus has never wavered. We have a lot of respect for all the teams competing at nationals this year, but we also know that we have the skill to accomplish this goal.”
U16AA Strike (Team Alberta)
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Representative: Head coach Bill Blackwell
Describe your team’s season so far?
“We have a wonderful group of young athletes who care about each other and who have become a tight-knit group of friends. We also have an amazing parent group, willing to step up and support the team in any way possible. The team has had an amazing season thus far — the Strike have medalled in six tournaments this year, including three golds. That includes winning gold at the biggest ringette tournament in the world, the Esso Golden Ring, and also winning gold in the provincial championships, becoming Team AB for the upcoming Canadian Ringette Championships in New Brunswick.”
What is your team’s X-factor?
“The coaches have said since Day 1 that if you do the little things right, the big things will happen. Our team works on being calm and controlled, and works on doing all the little things right. Our team genuinely works together as a team — players play for each other and for the success of the team.”
What does your team need to do to win the national championship?
“Our team needs to focus on controlling the ring, having quick transitions up the ice, and playing strong defence. It’s an honour to represent Alberta at the CRCs and we are looking forward to the tournament.”
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U19AA Combat (Team Alberta)
Representative: Head coach Caley Mineault
Describe your team’s season so far?
“To sum up our season in one word: consistency. Through illness, injuries and other commitments our team has overcome adversity and maintained a high level of performance. Three of our teammates and our head coach Caley Mineault had the opportunity to compete at the World Ringette Championships hosted in Calgary in November 2023. This experience has brought new knowledge and skills to our team. Our athletes consist of four university students, 11 multisport athletes (lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball and more,) and five coaches. We’re proud of how this has been balanced over the course of the season. Our team has worked hard to compete in the gold-medal finals in all the tournaments we’ve competed in with the turning point in our season being a gold medal at Esso Golden Ring in January. This is the time our team really began to click on and off the ice. The momentum from this success carried us forward to the provincial final where we played an exciting game against our sister team, Calgary Crew. We are honoured to represent Team Alberta at the Canada Ringette Championships.”
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What is the team’s X-factor?
We have a strong and cohesive team dynamic. This has been consistent all season. We have so much fun playing together. Whether that’s belting Jealous by Nick Jonas before games, or laughing at the ongoing blooper reel our team has of everyone’s falls. We move the ring very well as a team. We have believed in our abilities since the start and have trusted the process and each other. Our team is older on average than many of the other U19 teams in Alberta. We have sixth third-year U19s with many bringing Team Canada, Canada Winter Games and other experience. This group of athletes has provided strong leadership to our team this year and are looking to “leave it all out there” and nationals. Each athlete on this team is incredibly coachable and has a team-first mindset. We have a small snack club that gathers outside the dressing room before every game, chatting and sharing their various snacks of pickles, cherries, skittles, corn nuts and go-go squeezes.
What does your team need to do to win the national championship?
We need to be present in the moment. Play and focus on one game and one shift at a time. Enjoy the experience. Our team plays our best when the atmosphere is light and we’re working together. We need to pass like we’re capable of, see the ice and use each other. Nationals is the longest competition of the season, it is a grind. We will be focusing on active and preventative recovery and fuelling ourselves physically and mentally for the week.We will lean into our experiences as a team and the composure our team has in overcoming obstacles and playing through setbacks. We need perseverance, confidence and flexibility.
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U19AA Crew
Representative: Head coach Michael Beland
Describe your team’s season so far?
“Calgary Crew is a very special team, built of 17 players and four coaches. We had a strong start to the season and have worked incredibly hard to improve and learn from our amazing coaching staff. Our season record so far is 32-16-4. We won silver at provincials, silver at the Richmond Hill, Ont., tournament and gold at the Woods tournament in Edmonton. We’ve had a solid and fun year with very competitive games, including the ones we have lost.”
What is your team’s X-factor?
“Our teams X-factor is our ability to play as a team. Everyone on the team plays an important role and all are critical for our success. We have a strong veteran leadership group and everyone plays with skill, energy, passion and determination. Our goaltending is a huge factor in our success and our goalie rises to the challenge in literally every game.”
What does your team need to do to win the national championship?
“We need to play like we can, trust ourselves and each other and be prepared for every team that comes our way. During the season, we came up with a few sayings that we can resort back to during games. They include: ‘be where your feet are’ and ‘fall back on what you know’. If we consistently execute the little things, everything else will fall into place. We have a very close group of girls and the chemistry on and off the ice is evident. We support one another. Every single person on our team is a piece of the puzzle and if we execute with speed, play with purpose and strive to win every moment, we have no limits.”
mkaake@postmedia.com
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