Gopher athletes try ringette for the first time
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This article was published 01/05/2017 (3298 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Some brave Garden City Collegiate girls took on an exciting and fun on-ice challenge last month.
Drew Kennedy, a Grade 11 Gophers soccer player, took her friends’ advice, put on some skates and joined the school’s ringette team for the North Winnipeg Ringette Association’s annual Manitoba High Schools Ringette championship at Seven Oaks Arena (745 Kingsbury Ave.) from April 18 to April 23.
Because of her soccer commitments, Kennedy wasn’t able to join the ringette Gophers for a single practice before their first game — it was the first time she put on equipment and played the sport.
“I was so nervous, and I wasn’t sure where to go but people were cheering me on, so that was good. My friends convinced me that I would have a good time if I played so I was ‘Sure, why not?’,” she said.
This year marked the third time the Gophers have entered a team in the event. Coach Jacqueline McDonald said it was an opportunity to expose girls to the sport and a chance for them to try it without any competitive pressure.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for these guys to play for their school,” she continued. “It’s a good opportunity for girls like Kennedy and some of our hockey players to get out and skate and be a part of a school sport and try something new.
“I think it’s important that the grassroots are coming up and these girls are playing it and getting exposed to it.”
Despite all the challenges of having a team with all skill levels, Garden City was able to win games against Stonewall Collegiate and Transcona Collegiate Institute, respectively. Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School beat the Gophers 4-3 in the team’s first game.
Ringette and hockey player Taylor Herold said the tournament gave them a chance to teach the sport to other athletes and have fun.
“(Ringette) is really fast and you have to have a lot of co-ordination, but this is a tournament that is just for fun,” Herold said. “You get to play with different people that have never played. You get to teach them about the game.”