Belle AAA ringette squad hits the ice

MACTIER, ON – In their first outing as a team, the Northeast Region Belle AAA ringette squad started out their season here this past weekend with a pair of exhibition games against AAA teams from Central and Western Regions.

Saturday’s match up between Northeast and Central saw them skate to a 4-4 tie, while Sunday’s contest was a little more lopsided, resulting in a 7-3 win for the Western region powerhouse.

Coach Harry Hirsimaki was pleased with the effort shown by the team.

“I think we got their attention and showed them that we can compete,” said Hirsimaki.

The Northeast’s all-star roster is made up of elite-level players from throughout the region, five of them from the West Ferris ringette association, who will represent Northeastern Ontario in the six team Ontario Under 17 Belle AAA league. Throughout the season, they will compete in three Challenge Cup tournaments in London, Cambridge and Burlington before finishing their season at the Ontario Winter Games in Collingwood in March.

Next weekend, the squad will hold a training camp in Powassan in preparation for the first Challenge Cup tournament in London in November.

Many players from the 2005-06 roster are returning, including locals Alexandra Parker and Amanda Storie. They will be joined by bayites Janelle Martin, Sarah Trottier and Courtney Whitwell. The bench staff consists of Hirsimaki, Jackie Glogger, Lucie Poulin and Luc Delarosbil.

Submitted to BayToday.ca