Ringette making comeback in Prince Albert

Ringette was first introduced to Canada in the 1960s and the city had its own league in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.

MacGregor said it was about 10 years ago when the sport started to take a decline because hockey became popular in the smaller communities, Prince Albert being one of them.

Frances Losier the sports development co-ordinator for Ringette Canada said although there was a decline there’s been steady growth in the sport since 1998, despite the perception that the sport is still in decline.

“Three years ago we achieved the highest registration rate ever and we’re surpassing the 30,000 plateau of players that are playing across the country,” Losier said citing a 5.31 per cent increase in registration in 2008-2009.

This year Ringette Canada saw a 3 per cent increase in registration.

Now MacGregor and Ringette Canada, along with Ringette Saskatchewan, are helping Prince Albert bring back a ringette league.

“There seems to be lots of interest and we thought we’d just introduce it in January of this year, see what kind of numbers we would get. The numbers have been so good we’re going to get the league up and running [in September], and try to have a couple of teams in each of the divisions, explained MacGregor.

He said he was a bit surprised by the amazing response they’ve had since introducing the sport in January and he figures that’s because it’s been absent in the community for so long.

He went on to say that ringette is a great alternative to hockey because it’s a non-contact sport and some people like the idea of that.

In January MacGregor started up a time at Buckland’s arena on Sunday’s for anyone interested in trying ringette to come out and give it a shot.

He said that will run until the end of March, but they’re hoping to set up another program in April, continuing on Sunday nights.

MacGregor is working closely with Ringette Canada to help promote the fact that ringette is making its way back into the city and they will hopefully be holding more promotional events, like “Come try Ringette and Bring a Friend,” to help get the league set up for a September start.

Losier said for Ringette Canada it’s phenomenal to see the sport making its way back into communities like Prince Albert.

“These are the things we like to see for our sport. Either going back to a community where it used to be, or into a new community is something, for us, is a priority,” she said.

She said Ringette Canada will assist any community that’s interested in starting a league in any way they can.

MacGregor said they’ve already held a game at Buckland where he brought in the provincial champions from Saskatoon to battle the more than 18 team.

Saskatoon won 10-4, but MacGregor said it was closer than the score dictate, and the ladies were happy with that.

The 2013-2014 season marks the 50th anniversary of ringette in Canada and Ringette Canada plans to travel across country over the year to promote the sport, holding events at a stop in each province, with an all-star weekend planned in Montreal in 2014.

Anyone interested in registering for ringette can register online.

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid

by Sarah Wallace

Ringette making comeback in Prince Albert

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