Tri-Kunicipal Region ringette players won bronze at the Lions Cup in Europe
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Many Spruce Grove Ringette Association players have won their first international medal.
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This summer, nine ringette players from Tri-Kunicipal represented Team Greater Edmonton Vitesse in the 2022 Finland Lions Ringette Cup in Helsinki. They beat Sweden 9–3 and took home the bronze.
“They did very well. They outplayed themselves, competed hard and followed all systems. The excitement and anticipation of the competition was something they all really enjoyed,” said Paul Bechard, Head Coach of Team Greater Edmonton Vitesse.
Most of the team’s U16 squad came from Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County, while six players hailed from St. Albert and Edmonton. Bechard and his wife Nacy (assistant coach) selected them as the strongest athletes in their age group. Although Bechard has coached ringette in the community for many years through the Cutting Edge Ringette Academy, this was his first attempt with a local team at the Lions Cup.
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The goal of participating in the tournament was to offer the players an opportunity for athletic growth. Most of them had never competed at such a high level on an international scale. However, the trip was also considered a vacation for the players and their families. While in Europe, the group also visited Stockholm, Sweden and Tallinn, Estonia.
“It was an incredible experience that we will never forget. We all got along really well and played as a team because we knew we couldn’t win individually in a one-man show. We had some tough times, but we never gave up,” said Ella Lazarick, captain of Team Greater Edmonton Vitesse.
Ultimately, Bechard attributes his team’s success to the fact that the roster consisted of players from three different ringette communities/organizations. He said that playing with new people introduced players to new styles and techniques and therefore allowed their game to develop in a way they had never experienced before. Throughout the tournament, the team shines especially in its defensive structure, playing a very strong forecheck.
In the future, the goal is to have a local team compete in the tournament twice a year. Bechard said the lessons the players learned about competition, sportsmanship and friendship were invaluable.
“I’m proud of what this team has accomplished. They competed very hard, they were professional and they represented our community very well in good times and bad,” Bechard said.