Ringette School Challenge

The first every Ringette School Challenge finished off in exciting form on Tuesday.

The Ringette players were divided into teams based on the secondary school they either currently attend or the secondary school that their current elementary/primary school feeds. Since the East/West format is familiar to our families, we called the two sides East and West, although the split was not the same as the high school hockey event of the same name. The East side was comprised of Algonquin, Scollard and Odyssee students and students whose schools feed these three schools. The West side had students from West Ferris, Widdifield, Chippewa and Northern and the schools that feed these high schools.

Points were awarded for each one-period game played. A win was worth 1 point and a tie was worth 1/2 point. As well, there was a loudest cheer contest between the two sides, which was also worth one point.

In the first match, the Novice East team #1 tied the West team #1 by a score of 1-1. Scoring for the East was Alyssa Thibeault while Melanie Latour replied for the West.

The second Novice match saw the East win a close affair by a score of 3-2. East scorers were Julianne Sevigny (2 goals) and Jessica Paquin. The West goals were scored by Samantha Delamere and Breanna Mirtl.

Following the Novice games, the cheering competition raised the roof. Smiles were everywhere as the players from ages 7 through 18 all took part together as one giant voice. In the end, the East was loudest and earned another point.

The first Petite game contained the highlight of the night. With the West leading by 1 goal and time winding down, East player Olivia Parker was set loose on a breakaway. With only seconds left, she fired a wrist shot to the top shelf with only 10 seconds left to play, giving the East a tie and robbing the West of a full point. Other scorers in this match were Camille Grandmont for the East, with Siobhan Pitz and an unidentified second player scoring for the West.

The second Petite game was a 2-1 victory for the West. Scorers for the West were Courtney McColeman and Amber McQuoid. Replying for the East was Ryan Russell. This gave the East a 3-2 edge in points towards the trophy.

Going into the Tween game, the West needed a victory or a tie to keep their chances to win the Ringette School Challenge Cup alive. Sadly for them, the East sealed the victory by winning 4-1. Goalscorers for the East were Carly Charman, Lindsay Leboeuf, Renee Laronde and Samantha Odorizzi. The lone West goal was from the stick of Brittany Topham.

With the East leading 4-2 in points, the high school players took to the ice to put on a show for the younger players. The East put an exclamation mark on their victory by winning 3-0, with solid shutout goaltending from Tanesha Hamelin of Scollard, 2 goals from Janelle Martin of Algonquin and a laser beam wrist shot goal from the stick of Alexandra Parker of Algonquin - older sister of Olivia, who had the earlier highlight-reel goal. This victory gave the East a 5-2 win in points and the Ringette School Challenge Cup. The trophy was awarded on the ice to Martin, who lead the East team and their fans in a cheer of 'East beats West'.

Of course, there will be another event next year and the West players are looking forward to it.

Submitted to BayToday.ca