Ringette Team headed to Alberta Winter Games
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
They’ve needed to pick up a few players to have a full team, but the Rockyford Ringette Junior A team is now ready for the Alberta Winter Games with a full roster.
The team will represent Zone 2 in Cold Lake, Feb. 4 to 7.
“Our core team is very open to accepting other players and as soon as they come in they will develop into a team,” said Norman Nelson, head coach.
Brooke Kalbhen and Paige Nelson have been brought up from the Tween division to play with the junior’s for the Alberta Winter Games.
“It’s a really nice feeling to go with an older team, especially to the Winter Games,” said Kalbhen.
Two players from Strathmore have been added to the roster, including Dakota Gillies as the second goalie.
“Our team didn’t make it, so I’m happy I got picked to come help them and play with them,” said Gillies.
The Rockyford team actually beat Strathmore in a three-game play-off to advance to the Alberta Winter Games.
Nelson said it was a tough battle and that both teams didn’t give up.
“It was nice to have a series like that. The third game could have gone either way,” Nelson said.
The final pick up was Lindsay Snelgrove from the Airdrie Junior B team.
“I don’t know all of them, but they’re really nice,” said Snelgrove. “I’m extremely excited, but extremely nervous because my team’s a B team and they’re not.”
Nelson picked the “new players” not because their skill level, but because of they would fit in well with the rest of the team.
He said that each girl on the entire team has skill they bring and all those different skills make the team.
The team doesn’t have a lot of time to practice, but when they do it will be about going over the basics and team spirit.
“They’re just a wonderful bunch of girls. They come here to play a game that they love to play. I believe that’s what makes this special,” said Nelson.
“They are doing this because they enjoy doing it and it’s fun. When they go out on the ice to have fun, good things happen.”
At the Winter Games, the team will play a minimum of three games and a maximum of five.
“This is going to be a fabulous experience for the girls. It’s going to be so fun,” Nelson said.
It will even be special for Nelson, who said that his goal since he started coaching was to get to the Winter Games. He said it’s a wonderful feeling to finally get there.
The overall goal is to have fun and have a “fabulous experience”.
“If we come away with a win, that will be the topping on the cake,” said Nelson.
amy@strathmoretimes.com