Strathmore teen represents Alberta in ringette nationals

Times Reporter

 

Patience and perseverance have paid off for one Strathmore teen who successfully made the Calgary Belle AA ringette team.  

“For the past three years I have been trying out for the AA program in Calgary and this year I made it,” said Dakota Gillies, 17. The Calgary Belle AA ringette team is an elite sports program.

Gillies has been playing ringette since she was seven-years-old. Her mom had played ringette when she was younger, and after seeing it on TV, Gillies wanted to play. She said her parents wouldn’t let her play hockey, so they put her into ringette. 

“I love playing ringette I couldn’t imagine playing hockey,” said Gillies. 

Gillies has been goalie for the past five to six years, and loves every minute of it. 

“I always kind of liked a confined space. I never liked being out and playing on the ice and going after the ring,” said Gillies.

“I always liked stopping the ring and being in a net.”

Before making the AA team, Gillies played in Strathmore for six years. She thinks the reason she didn’t make the team previously is because the other goalies had experience playing in the AA program. She also thinks the fact she lives out of town may have been a part of what hindered her acceptance to the team.  

“The coach last year told me to come back. He also invited me out for some of their practices just so I could help out my level, and just practice with the higher league girls,” said Gillies. 

In January the team was in Cambridge, Ont., where they played three games a day. Gillies said it was one of the toughest tournaments they had played in, and having the earliest game times, 6 a.m., which is 4 a.m. Alberta time, was an adjustment.  

In just a few short weeks Gillies and her team, Team Alberta, will be heading to Nationals in Cambridge, Ont. It will be a six-day tournament and they will play each province twice. The tournament takes place from March 28 to April 2. If the team wins they will be known as Team Alberta, but it will be the end of ringette for the year.  Gillies already knows she would like to continue in her ringette career as far as she can. There are a number of university and college teams. There is also the Calgary Rath, a part of the National Ringette League, which Gillies said is similar to the NHL.