It’s a mini Olympics except they sleep on mats in school rooms and eat bag lunches.
Dayce Knopf of the Thompson Okanagan Zone 2 female ringette team laughs as she talks about bedroom quarters for the B.C. Winter Games.
“I think it will be interesting,” said the Grade 9 VSS student. “We had a mouse in our French class so hopefully we don’t sleep there.”
Knopf, a centre, and Vernon teammates Emily Olds, Maddie Powls and Teigan Moore will likely bring flashlights and a mouse trap just in case as the Games open next Thursday night.
They will feel more comfortable on the ice since all four are basic rink rats who made the Zone team through tireless work, skill and grit.
Moore plays House in Vernon while also skating for the Thompson Okanagan Ringette League (TORL) Junior AA Selects. The 14-year-old centre will skate miles through the triangle at Civic Arena.
“The coaches say they like my skating,” said the smiling Moore. “We do hardcore training with the TORL team and we have lots of tough games. We played Calgary and Edmonton and there was a fight.”
Said Kelowna’s Wayne Oye, who co-coaches the Zone entry with Ken Pak: “Teigan is a quiet leader with a very good touch around the net who gets her share of goals. She’s a strong two-way centre.”
Moore and Knopf battle boys in the Whitecaps soccer academy every week so will be hard to knock off the ring.
Oye, who coaches Moore with the TORL team, says there are six players from that group so he expects the Games entry to be close, on and off the ice.
Olds, who moved to the North Okanagan from Regina last year, is one of two goalies on the Zone 2 roster. She also snowboards and plays soccer.
“I started out playing dee and then moved to goalie for the excitement,” said Olds, who attends Grade 9 at Pleasant Valley Secondary in Armstrong. “I love the pressure and the fun. It’s a difficult challenge.”
Said Oye of Olds: “She’s got a real positive attitude, is a really good team player and is a very strong goalie.”
Knopf, who plays Rep soccer and high school volleyball and hoops, will also be counted on for a skate-till-ya-drop showing.
“I’m a strong skater,” she said when asked about her top qualities. “I was in the hockey academy last year and Aaron Hoffman (head instructor) made me a better skater. I actually got a new stick and my shot is better, too.”
Said Oye of Knopf: “She is a very strong player with very strong offensive skills. She works hard both ways.”
Powls, who turned 14 on Feb. 9, is the youngest of the four local products. She gets her wheels from her father, Bob, and older sister, Paige.
“I guess I’m good at picking up my passes and I’m pretty fast,” said the Grade 8 VSS student. “I’m more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. We’re fast as a team and we can get the ring.”
Powls plays midfield and striker in soccer and setter in volleyball.
“She’s got a good shot and is a good team player who is fairly skilled,” said Oye, of Powls.
Powls is actually looking forward to grabbing a sleeping bag and hitting a mat.
“I’m excited. Each teams gets their own classroom so it should be fun.”
The Zone girls face the North West in their opener next Friday (7:30 a.m.), followed by a noon encounter with Vancouver-Squamish.
