The Force was, well, a force at the B.C. U16 AA provincial ringette finals in Kelowna.
The Thompson Okanagan Ringette League (TORL) Force, made up of players from Vernon, Salmon Arm and Kelowna, won the B.C. title, defeating the Lower Mainland two games to one to earn a trip to the Canadian championships, April 3-9, in London, Ont.
“Getting to nationals was our aim all season long,” said Force head coach Warren Carter of Vernon.
“It will be one heck of an experience for these 14 dedicated individuals. We know several of the teams that we’ll face and they are very strong; we should be in the hunt to compete and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
The Force took Game 1 of the B.C. finals on Saturday morning, 5-3, with Alyssa Racine of Vernon scoring once.
Consummate teammate and tricky playmaker Emma Carter (Vernon) set up two of the Force’s tallies; other assists were supplied by Racine, the Salmon Arm duo of Emily Williams and Courtney Bacon (former Vernon player) and speed demon Evan Koshure (Vernon).
Vernon’s Aly Carter was denied by literally a save of the season by the coastal keeper after she tried her patented forehand fake, backhand roof’er move.
The Lower Mainland pushed back in Game 2 Saturday afternoon, winning 5-4 in overtime.
Racine led the Force with 1+2, while Abby Williamson (Vernon), the Force’s hustle queen, chipped in with an assist.
The deciding game was all Force as they scored a 9-4 decision.
The line of Emma Carter, Kayt Meraw (Kelowna) and Racine put on a clinic, contributing six of the Force’s nine goals.
Carter scored two goals, Meraw added 2+2, and Racine finished with 2+1.
Koshure added 1+1 and Bacon and Brooklyn Keller (Kelowna) each scored once.
Madi Fox (Vernon) added an assist and, along with Aly Carter, was particularly effective and pesky, contributing to the Force’s offensive juggernaut and snuffing out any attack that the coastal girls could muster.
Georgia Gregory, the Force’s keeper, made quality and timely saves to keep the game out of reach throughout.
“The outcome was a well-deserved reward for a season of dedicated preparation by all,” said Warren Carter.
Greater Vernon Ringette hosted a five-team tournament at Kal Tire Place that included two teams with players selected from a GVRA U12 development program.
“GVRA hopes to see this tournament grow in size next year,” said Vernon coach Darcy Quiring.
“Organizers thank all volunteers that helped to make this weekend such a success.”
The two Vernon teams matched up against players from Salmon Arm, West Kelowna and Port Coquitlam.
Vernon One went 3-1 on the weekend, only losing to the defensively-minded Vernon Too squad, who went 4-0 in the tournament.
Vernon One – who proved to be a very strong offensive crew – took the Port Coquitlam Bears in a 10-9 battle on Friday night, then scored 13 goals Saturday morning to down the Westside Wild Fire 13-6.
Vernon Too won their Friday afternoon game against the Shuswap Flames, 4-0, and then finished with a 6-1 victory over the Bears.
