U14 AA Ringette takes silver at provincial championship
By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Jody Nouwen
Strathmore’s U14 AA Ringette team has claimed silver at their provincial championships, earning them a spot at the Western Canadian Championships later this month.
Jody Nouwen, coach for the U14 AA team, said it was close to what one might call a “Cinderella story”, as the team went into provincials standing fifth place in the league.
“We went into the round robin and played four games and we were undefeated. Some would say we were kind of the underdogs going in, who peaked at the right time,” said Nouwen describing her girls as the underdogs of the tournament.
“We ended up in a fairly tough pool, playing the top place team and then … the third-place team … there were some teams we’ve had close matches with before but never (quite) pulled the win out.”
In the gold medal game, Strathmore’s representing team lost to another team who they had previously defeated in the proceeding round robin.
Nouwen said the tournament was a very close set, with any of the top six teams having the potential to win it all.
“With the play in provincials, it could be anybody’s game. The teams are really close. Any one of us could have been seeded one-through-six quite easily,” said Nouwen. “On the Sunday, it wasn’t our day, but we definitely have another crack at them, likely at the Western Canadian Championships down in Regina (Sask.) at the end of March.”
Nouwen praised her team for their hard work over the course of the season and ensuring that their goal of, at a minimum, standing on the podium of every tournament, didn’t go unmet.
In the tournaments prior to provincials, the team managed to take home one bronze, two silver and one gold medal.
For some of the girls, she added, it was their first time taking to the ice on a provincial stage.
“For them to go there and do as well as they did … it really helped them believe in the process and believe in the spirit of the game and believe in themselves as a team,” said Nouwen. “We don’t have as many kids trying out for our AA program. So, when you’re able to pull those athletes out and then be able to compete against some of the teams that have way more kids in their community trying out, that just goes to show the quality of program that we have.”
Nouwen firmly believes her defence-oriented team has a good shot to bring home the gold from the Western Canadian Championships in Regina Sask. set to take place from March 31 to April 3.