It was a battle of Alberta at the Rotary Spirit Centre Oct. 14 as two National Ringette League teams, Edmonton’s Black Gold Rush and the Calgary RATH, duked it out.
Players from the Pembina Ringette Association watched on as Calgary slammed the Black Gold 6-3 as part of regular league play.
Each season the NRL visits smaller community arenas to host games and meet with the local association’s players.
“It’s always nice for the little girls, even our bigger girls, to interact with some of the national players,” said Pembina Ringette Association president Janice Tymkow.
“It gets them excited about it and it’s good to see. I already had one girl up in the stands and she said, ‘My dream is to skate like these girls and play on these teams,’ so it’s kind of nice to see and hear that.
“Especially from our little association that we didn’t know if it would get off the ground, it’s come so far and to hear a kid say something like that and to see the calibre and see what the potential is.”
Pembina Ringette sang the national anthem before the game and did a halftime ring toss with the two teams. Afterwards the Rush and the RATH held an autograph session.
Normally the teams play a double header but couldn’t on Saturday as it conflicted with another league game. However, Tymkow said there is a chance that the NRL will come back later the season.
“It’s nice to get these teams out into our associations, not just small associations, but Edmonton, Spruce Grove, St. Albert because the reality is the girls on these teams, that’s their home base,” she said.
“It’s nice for them to come home and play in a rink they used to play in.”
Black Gold manager Dwayne Girard said the team enjoyed coming out and supporting Pembina Ringette as an association that was still growing.
“We appreciate their support as well, but it’s really good for the younger players to see these girls and the level they can play at because it is the top level of ringette in Canada,” he said.
“This is the league that Team Canada players play in.”
He added that it also allowed the team to be role models for younger girls in the sport.
“It’s good for them to set an example and try to show them that some day they can play at this level,” he said. “It’s hard for some of our girls to visualize that they’re idols for these girls and we really want them to give back to the community, because some where there when they were young and now the young ones look up to them.”
Black Gold captain Kaylin Bechard said it was encouraging that young players are joining the sport and coming to watch the NRL games.
“It’s really rewarding because I know Pembina Ringette has grown a tremendous amount throughout the years and we’ve had games here in the past, so it’s really nice to have the continued support,” she said.
“It’s nice doing NRL showcases for the smaller communities because I feel you get a better turnout and more support from them.
“I hope that the girls that are playing ringette and growing the sport, they can see this and strive to hope they can be there one day.”
