Locals make worlds
By Melissa Piche Times Contributor
Strathmore’s own Karley Clark and Tessa Galandy have been selected to represent Canada at the 2023 World Ringette Championship (WRC) at the junior level in Calgary on Oct. 26-Nov. 4.
The players were selected from a group of Top 40 players in Canada for a spot in the U18 age division. The weeklong tryout took place at Calgary WinSport in August. The eager players were hoping for one of 34 spots that would make up two teams, one for Western Canada and one for Eastern Canada.
Grade 12 students Clark and Galandy were chosen to be a part of the Western Canada team (Team White), which includes players from B.C, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Both players are members of the U19AA Zone 2 team, which is comprised of athletes from Calgary, Strathmore, Standard, Langdon, Chestermere, Cochrane, Airdrie and Red Deer.
Two years ago, Clark and Galandy made it onto the Alberta Elite U16 Ringette team, where they played in Finland and won The Lions Cup.
“We beat the other Alberta team in the final,” said Galandy.
The WRC is held every two years and gives players a chance to compete at an international level. Other countries that will be represented at the WRC are Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, USA and the Czech Republic.
“The scouts came to provincials and Nationals and RAB cup a little bit too,” said Galandy.
She also stated that players have to identify prior to the tryouts that they are trying out for the WRC team, which is all a part of this elite level of team selection.
“There are four girls from our (U19AA) team on (the WRC U18 team),” said Galandy, adding that having some familiar faces, and having played together previously, will help with team development.
“We have action plans on how to improve individually,” said Galandy.
The practicality of flying everyone to practices together before the event is an unrealistic expectation, so this independent work before the event is imperative to a successful team.
The girls explained that the WRC at the junior level is looked at as a developmental festival; they play to win of course, but the goal is to improve player development.
“We still want to win all of our games,” said Clark.
The junior level is a new program that has just been implemented this year.
“We’re really lucky to have this first opportunity,” emphasized Galandy. “To play for Calgary RATH, which is one of the best NRL teams in the country, you have to finish out your third year of U19AA.”
Both Clark and Galandy have their eyes set on playing ringette long-term. The next WRC event will be in 2025 and they would be at the senior level by then – meaning more scouting, more selection camps and more work that they are both eager to tackle.
Clark is hopeful to perhaps play for the Calgary RATH in University. However, that is a decision for another day.
“I’m not going to base my entire decision on that (RATH team) because I do want to think about my career,” she said. “I’m willing to go anywhere, but I’d definitely still try to keep ringette in mind when thinking of where I want to go.”
The girls’ first game of the WRC is Saturday, Oct. 28, when Canada West (Team White) face Canada East (Team Black). The rest of the schedule can be found online (worldringettechampionship.com).