Emily Williams and Courtney Bacon will be racking up the air miles for a final time this season as they and their ringette team travel to London, Ont. to play in the Canadian Ringette Championships taking place from April 3 to 9.
“I can’t wait to play; it’s going to be exciting to play against the best in Canada,” said Williams, a defender.
The Thompson Okanagan Ringette League (TORL) U16AA Force qualified for the national tournament after lifting the provincial title. The Force is made up of girls from Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm. In the best-of-three provincial finals against the Lower Mainland team, the Force took Game 1 by a score of 5-3. The Lower Mainland rallied back in game two to force overtime and take the game in the extra frame.
A dominating 9-4 performance in Game three by the Force sealed the provincial victory and berth to the national tournament.
The outcome was a well-deserved reward for a season of dedicated preparation. That preparation will continue until the team flies east on April 1 to face their biggest challenge of the season.
“Getting to nationals was our aim all season long,” said head coach Warren Carter. “It will be one heck of an experience for these 14 dedicated individuals.”
In total, 20 teams from across Canada will compete in the highest level of U16 ringette.
“I can’t wait to see the competition; that is my favourite thing about the game. It drives our team,” said Bacon, a forward, about the Force’s opposition.
Both Williams and Bacon have played ringette for more than nine years and they feel confident the camaraderie on the team will carry them through the tournament to a medal position.
