A Chilliwack Ringette Association team made history last weekend.
Chilliwack’s 18+B team brought home the club’s first-ever tournament banner after a hard fought match against Port Coquitlam. Chilliwack won 7-3 in the final game of Richmond Ringette’s West Coast Classic.
The team advanced directly to the final after earning the most points in their division during round robin play. Outstanding goaltending from Abbotsford’s Naomi Fishbein and Chilliwack’s Julie Bauer backstopped the team to wins against Kelowna, Westside, Fraser Valley (Langley). They earned a draw against Port Coquitlam.
Game MVP’s included Fishbein, Bauer, Christine McPhee and Dyan Kinar. Leading the scoreboards were Erin Berkowski, Jocelyn Mccomb and Meghan Jansons.
“The tournament win was a true team effort,” said head coach Shannon Bettles. “This group has a special camaraderie. Many of the athletes have played together since they were kids.
“We have an inside joke that we are just ‘lucky,’ but really the team is composed of skilled athletes with many years of ringette experience at the provincial and national level.”
Captain Laurie Benton said that the best part of the win was having some of Chilliwack’s U10, U12 and U14 players and families in attendance, cheering the team on.
“The next generation of ringette players are watching their coaches play and opening their imaginations to the lifelong sport possibilities and friendships ringette can bring,” she said. “Now we just have to find a spot to hang our first banner at the Sardis Sports Complex.”
Formed three years ago, the Chilliwack 18+ team is composed of 19 players over the age of 18 from around the Fraser Valley, representing communities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and Langley.
Launched in 2016, the Chilliwack Ringette Association is competing in its fourth season, with five teams representing over 80 athletes, coaches and officials.
For more information see chilliwackringette.ca.