Three Terrace ringette players came home with gold from Ringette Division B Provincials in Surrey two weekends ago.
Rory Bird, Aimee Qualizza, and Kristen Tooms played for Prince George’s U18+ team and were a definitive force in the team’s gold medal win.
And the three athletes weren’t the only players from Terrace to attend ringette provincials – Jennifer Dahl, Peter Nicholson, and Hannah Resch played for Prince George U16.
The Terrace players joined Prince George teams because Terrace didn’t have enough players to make up its own teams in those divisions – but ringette organizers are hoping that will change in the future as more young players, both girls and boys, get into the fast-growing sport.
And the Terrace players were a strong force on each team. In the U18+ division, Terrace players scored over half of the team’s goals throughout the entire tournament – 24 goals out of the total 42, with Rory Bird scoring 14 of those goals and assisting on six. And in the under 16 division, Terrace players again scored over half of the goals – 15 goals out of the total 26, with Peter Nicholson scoring 10 and assisting on three.
Of the other Terrace players Aimee Qualizzq scored fivegoals and assisted on 12, Kristen Tooms scored five goals and assisted on seven, and Jennifer Dahl scored five and assisted on three. And while the U18+ went on to win Gold, the U16 was not successful enough to make it into the medal finals.
Terrace’s ringette organizers are pushing for the northwest zone’s ringette squad to come out with a strong force for next year’s BC Winter Games.
“It’s not just a game for girls; it’s a game for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced competitive sport,” said organizer Erika Nicholson, noting it is a sport that breeds incredibly strong, fast skaters. “Try-outs will start in the fall for those born in 1999, 2000, or 2001. Terrace has some great athletes, why not give Ringette a try.”