Ice U14A’s provincial experience

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Ice U14A ringette team lost 5-2 to Bow View in the bronze medal game, leaving the hosts of provincials without a medal last weekend.
Head coach Randal Praeker said, regardless, the girls were excited to play in the environment the provincials provided.
“Overall it was pretty much what we expected,” said Praeker. “The games were close. There were overtimes and shootouts; every team seemed to have a chance. It went really well. It was eight good teams vying for one thing and we’re all pretty close.”
The girls appeared to be nervous to start the games because of the loud atmosphere and with friends in the stands. However, once they got a few shifts under their belts they were able to shake it off and feed off the energy.
Praeker said he was very proud of the girls for battling through injuries and adversity by having the whole team together.
“It was the process and not the results,” he said. “We wanted to bring our best to the ice at the end of the year and we really did that. They battled hard this weekend together.”
He added that if they were to play the bronze medal game over again, he would’ve liked to see the girls handle their possession better.
The team opened up with a 3-2 loss to the eventual silver medalist Medicine Hat Machine on March 11. Game 2 saw the Ice beating the Lacombe Edge 4-3 and Game 3 was a 5-2 Ice win over the Red Deer Ricochet on March 12.
They lost 4-3 to the eventual champion Spruce Grove Renegades in the semi-finals on March 13.