Despite not having regular practices, the Carleton Ravens women’s ringette team placed third in tier 2 in the Canadian University Challenge Cup in London, Ont. Dec. 29-Jan. 1.
The team won every game in the tournament until the semifinal against Guelph. But they ended on a winning note with a 3-1 win over Nipissing in the bronze medal game.
“We were a little disappointed not to bring home the gold medal, but we know what we need to do for next year, and we’re happy with the bronze,” said team manager Allison Nadeley.
Playing in the bronze medal game was a challenge for the team, Nadeley said.
“We played [Nipissing] after having played six games in only four days, so the team was definitely very tired, and it was at 8:30 in the morning on New Year’s Day,” she said.
A notable player in the tournament was first-year goalie Leah Morrell, who Nadeley said made many saves of the spectacular variety.
“I think our entire coaching staff would agree she was our MVP in the tournament,” Nadeley said.
The Ravens played well considering the amount of practice they get, Nadeley said. Carleton doesn’t fund the women’s ringette team so without the funds or space, they cannot practice regularly. Most of the team’s practice comes from the regular weekly games they play in the Gloucester and Area Adult Ringette Association.
“We kind of consider our league games as practice for the Challenge Cup,” Nadeley said, adding the university did provide the team with the gym before Christmas, which they used for non-ice practice.
The lack of practice also meant the team wasn’t used to playing many games in the same day, Nadeley said.
“The first day we played three games in one day which is a lot, and the second game they played two, so by the third and fourth day the girls were very tired and you could definitely see it on the ice,” she said. “Not having the practices, we kind of lost steam near the end.”
Ringette, according to Nadeley, poses some unique challenges.
“There’s a lot of skill that’s required for the sport of ringette, as well as strategy,” she said, adding that even though the game usually gets compared to other ice sports such as hockey, there’s more thinking and strategy involved.
“There is definitely more skill and finesse [in ringette],” she said.
Coming off an impressive bronze medal showing, the Ravens are now looking forward to the playoffs in their adult league, where they hope to win it all. After that, the team will participate in a tournament in Quebec in March.
