Local ringette performs at provincials

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Twelve of the top U12B ringette programs from around the province converged at the Strathmore Family Centre last weekend, with one local team carrying some momentum into the medal round.
The Rockyford Ringers and Strathmore Ice Beasts put on a great show in front of family and friends, and the provincial champion was crowned March 11 at the Gold Arena.
After ripping through the round robin slate undefeated, the Ringers were positioned well to take a crack at the provincial crown.
Ranked No. 1 after the round robin, the Ringers took on the fourth-seeded Beaumont Rush in the semifinal in the first game of the day March 11.
The time change might have slowed down the local club, as they were edged 2-1 by the Rush, sending them into the consolation round against the Spruce Grove Avalanche.
Playing in their second one-goal game of the weekend, the Ringers again found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard, when they fell 4-3 with the Ice Beasts cheering loudly from the stands.
The Ringers opened the tourney with a bang by picking up a 7-2 decision over the Sherwood Park Rebels and a 6-2 victory over the Northwest Rage.
On Day 2 of competition, the Ringers downed the Edmonton Eclipse 6-1 before handling the local Beast 7-1 in the crossover affair.
The local U12 Strathmore Ice Beasts ran out of gas in front of a home crowd.
“We knew we weren’t going to be competing for a top-four spot, so those first two games were big for us,” said Ice Beasts Head Coach Janique Legace. “We played those teams really well. Where we fell apart was late in the second quarter. We only had 10 skaters and two lines. Other teams skated with at least 15 players and three lines. Once we ran out of gas, we couldn’t claw back into the games.”
The Beasts opened the tourney against the Spruce Grove Ambush March 9. Needing a win to position themselves within the division, the Beasts were involved in the wildest game of the weekend.
“I haven’t seen a game like that all year, including this tournament,” said Legace.
The Beasts led 9-6 in the second period against the Edmonton Bandits. But again, the lactic acid slowed down the Beasts as the Bandits came storming back and out-scored the hosts 6-1 in the back end of the second period.
Rounding out the pool play March 10, the Ice fell to the eventual silver medalist Lethbridge Velocity 7-3.
After meeting up with their zone rival Ringers in the crossover, the Beasts were buzzed by the Northwest Rage 7-6 in the finale March 11.
“We’re all really proud of them,” said Legace. “They played really well, and they were happy to be one of the 12 teams still playing and not one of the 14 teams at home this weekend.”