The West Ferris Ringette Association teams were golden in Whitby this weekend with the U12 Regional, U14A and U19A teams coming home with gold medals in that city's 50th Anniversary ringette tournament. The U16A team finished the tournament with a strong third place finish in their division.
The 63s U12R and U14A teams were both undefeated in round robin play, coming up against strong teams from around the province. The U19A team ended up 3-1 after round robin play, their only loss coming to a strong Richmond Hill squad they met again in the gold medal game while the U16s had a 1-1-2 record.
The final games were nailbiters all around! The U19s played first. They were neck and neck with the Richmond Hill Lightning throughout the game with strong goaltending and the 63s defense stopping the Lightning's forward attack at almost every turn. The 63s forward lines were relentless against a talented Richmond Hill goalie, ending regulation time with a 2-2 tie. It only took a few minutes into sudden death overtime before West Ferris scored the winning goal, ending the game and sending the team home with gold medals.
The U12 Regional team, having taken gold at a recent tournament in Sudbury, continued their winning ways into Whitby. With a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of skill, they scored a decisive 7-4 win against West Ottawa.
The U14A team also played against a strong Richmond Hill team in the final game. It was an intense game from the first whistle with both teams skating and checking hard. Some late penalties had West Ferris players on the defensive near the end, but the 63s held on for a 2-1 win and their second gold of the season. With 16 wins and only 1 loss on the season, the team now stands at the top of the U14A standings in the province.
The West Ferris Ringette Association will be hosting the Ringette Ontario Provincial Championships from March 14-17 and WFRA players are looking forward to playing in front of hometown crowds. North Bay will play host to approximately 65 teams and 1000 athletes age 12-19.
