Ringette team wins Kelly Award

The West Ferris ringette junior ‘A’ team has been named the 2004 winner of the James Kelly Memorial Award for the sports team of the year.

They captured three gold medals in the past three years at the Ontario provincial championships in London.

This same team also won gold in the junior ‘A’ category in 2002 and captured gold in 2001 in the tween ‘A’ category.

During those three years, the team put together an amazing won-loss record of 71-9-2 and also reached the finals in 15 consecutive tournaments, taking 12 gold medals including the three provincial championships and three silver medals.

In the 2001 season, they only lost one game, which came in the round robin of the provincial championship.

In 2002 and 2003, the team had four losses in each year and won five tournaments on the road to their provincial title.

Nine players were on all three provincial championship clubs including Sara Lutecki, who amassed a total of 76 points at the three provincials, Alyssa Lamers, Chantal Duplessis, Jana Burgess, Andrea Francom, Brianna Kellar, Katie Carmichael, Julia Knox and Kelsey Lecappelain.

Three players were with the team for two of the championships — Tara Roy, Jessica Trottier and Leanne Lajoie.

Alexandra Lamers was with the 2003 team, Natasha Kellar, Jessica Beanish, Amy Cook and Aimee Laronde were with the 2002 team and Cindy Collins and Ashley Handley were with the 2002 tween ‘A’ championship club.

The staff for the 2003 champions were Kaz Lutecki, coach, Chris Francom, manager and Bruce Lecappelain, trainer. The 2002 team was coached by Karen Cook with Paul Cook as manager and Kaz Lutecki, trainer. The 2001 tween ‘A’ staff was made up of Dave Duplessis, coach; Chris Francom, manager and Kaz Lutecki, trainer.

The team will be presented with the award at the annual North Bay Sports Hall of Fame induction and awards dinner April 17 at the Best Western.