‘Between the gamers, coaches, coaching workers, volunteers and oldsters, the season was unbelievable’
![U19AA Calgary Combat ringette](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/53653530965_7a878ea4de_c-copy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=Crg5gxOgVcipAXg-0SDS9Q)
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It was every week to recollect for the Underneath-19 AA Calgary Fight on the 2024 Canadian Ringette Championships.
Representing Workforce Alberta, the ringette staff was topped the U19 nationwide champion after a 3-0 victory over host Workforce New Brunswick to say the title this previous weekend.
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“I couldn’t imagine it was actual,” stated Fight captain Sydnie Rock. “I truly needed to lookup on the scoreboard to ensure the sport was truly over — simply because we’ve been working for it for the entire week, and like, impulsively, it was over.
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“But it surely was actually thrilling.”
Rock says her Fight teammates are actually happy with themselves for the accomplishment, including the squad knew going into the ultimate sport they had been going to work nicely collectively as a staff.
Gwenyth Walker was regular for the squad from Alberta, stopping all 21 pictures she confronted to earn the shutout within the ultimate sport. Ashley Anderson had two objectives to assist seal the victory.
The victory was the second consecutive shutout for Walker, who anchored the staff to a 3-0 win over the Alberta Zone 2 — a Calgary surrounding space staff — within the semifinals the day earlier than.
“Our goaltending was wonderful,” Rock stated. “The semifinal and the ultimate video games had been each shutouts for our goalie, which was actually wonderful for her.”
The captain additionally complimented the staff’s general defence all through the event, saying the staff improved in that division because the week went on.
The Fight had been constant all through the season, competing within the gold-medal sport of each event by which they competed. Earlier than nationals, head coach Caley Mineault acknowledged the most important turning level of the season was their gold-medal victory within the Esso Golden Ring in January. The Fight then carried the momentum to assist propel them to a provincial championship and onward to nationals.
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“We’re very happy with all the women for such an incredible 12 months,” stated Mike Dunn, father of Fight’s Hailey and Kim Dunn. “Between the gamers, coaches, coaching workers, volunteers and oldsters, the season was unbelievable.”
The U19 squad is peppered with expertise, because the staff boasts six third-year gamers, with many bringing Workforce Canada, Canada Winter Video games and different expertise.
![U16AA Calgary Strike ringette](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/53653418469_7f26b63c69_o-copy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&sig=Ywzfvh98OJAH5i1j5AXXzg)
Workforce Alberta was not the one Calgary staff enjoying within the U19 Canadian Ringette Championships, because the Calgary Crew completed fourth within the event after a 3-1 defeat to the Alberta Zone 2 Blaze within the bronze-medal sport.
The U16 bracket additionally noticed a neighborhood staff obtain a medal, as Workforce Alberta — represented by the U16AA Calgary Strike — obtained the silver medal after a troublesome 1-0 loss to the Cyclones de Quebec.
“Each the U19 and U16 ‘Workforce Alberta’ groups carried out extremely nicely,” stated Tim Coli, father of Strike goaltender Sophia Coli. “And we couldn’t be extra happy with the trouble and dedication that these ladies have placed on show.”
The Strike’s journey to the gold-medal sport was a powerful one, because the staff defeated the Calgary Assault 9-3 within the quarter-finals and the Alberta Zone 2 Blaze 6-1 to make it to the finals.
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“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment what this staff of younger athletes was capable of obtain this 12 months,” stated Strike head coach Invoice Blackwell. “The gamers labored onerous all 12 months, requested questions, realized, centered and made themselves the most effective model of themselves that they may.”
Blackwell says he’s happy with how the staff represented themselves and Alberta. The coach is aware of the expertise might be invaluable for these younger gamers.
“We talked about private development with the gamers and challenged all of them to work onerous with their future groups to get again to this degree and lead by instance now that they’ve all been via it,” Blackwell stated.
![Calgary RATH ringette](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/53653287538_3905b01535_o-copy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&sig=jcUYidqVaBuctH_w15RdqA)
There have been two different groups from Calgary within the U16 bracket, because the Calgary Peak got here up wanting the bronze medal after a 7-6 loss to the Zone 2 Blaze and the Assault had been eradicated after the beforehand talked about loss to Workforce Alberta.
Within the Nationwide Ringette League, the Calgary Rath additionally competed within the finals, arising quick with a 10-3 loss to the Edmonton WAM!
“Calgary Ringette had a staff in all three finals,” Dunn stated. “A tremendous expertise all the best way round.”
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Rock believes there’s a robust tradition for AA ringette in Calgary as she applauds how this system develops its gamers and coaches, and loves how a lot all of the groups cheer one another on.
“I feel since I’ve been within the Calgary AA program for some time, I’ve been capable of see how a lot the groups help each other,” stated Rock. “It was actually thrilling to be at nationals and to have the ability to cheer on our different Calgary groups, like the opposite U19 staff and the youthful groups.”
mkaake@postmedia.com
NATIONAL ALL-STARS
U16 All-stars
Sophia Coli, Workforce Alberta
Jadee Patel, Workforce Alberta
Tasha Blackwell, Workforce Alberta
Brooke Rolles, Calgary Peak
Brooklyn Munro, Zone 2 Blaze
Jocelyne Galbraith, Calgary Assault
Kyle Koester, Zone 2 Blaze
U19 All-stars
Raegan Hatch, Calgary Crew
Sage Snethun, Workforce Alberta
Ashley Anderson, Workforce Alberta
Kaylee Armstrong, Workforce Alberta
Tessa Galandy, Zone 2 Blaze
Lauren Schoenhofen, Calgary Crew
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