Ringette tourney wrap up

Though over 700 registered players on 57 teams played their hearts out in this weekend’s 10th annual Pointe Claire Ringette Association invitational tournament, the numbers don’t really tell the whole story. “What is so wonderful about ringette,” smiled one skating coach as she waited for her icetime to start near the end of last Friday’s opening tournament day, “is that everyone seems to be having so much fun – the girls are singing and cheering as they go on the ice or performing their warm-up exercises outside or in the lower lobby, and the volunteers and parents seem to be all sharing in the organization, the drawings, the contests and games. Everyone is enjoying this event. It makes for a great atmosphere!”

Indeed there were well over 100 volunteers – adults, teenagers and preteen enthusiasts helping run the tournament, headed by tournament president Cindy Sarazen-Fraticelli.

While most games were played in Pointe Claire’s Bob Birnie ice complex, the tournament also used icetime provided by neighbouring Dorval. There was a mid-tournament feature game played by National Ringette League teams from Richmond Hill and the local Lac St. Louis region, and a demonstration event matching the four- to seven-year-olds from Blainville and Pointe Claire/Dorval.

When the final whistle blew Sunday night, championship banners were awarded to teams consisting of players aged from four years old to 40-plus in 11 levels with ability skills ranging from A to C.

Local Lac St. Louis Region teams fared well, reaching nine final games and taking top honours in five contests.

The results of the final games showed the following victors and vanquished:

Novice (under 10) A 4-Cités 5, Pointe-Claire RA 2 B Pierrefonds/DDO 5, Boucherville 2

Petite (under 12) A Pointe-Claire RA 6, Beaconsfield-Kirkland 5 B Pointe-Claire RA (No. 2) 3, Beaconsfield-Kirkland 2 C Ottawa CORA 10, Beaconsfield-Kirkland 1

Tween (under 14) A Blainville 4, Pointe-Claire RA 3 B Boucherville 7, Pointe-Claire RA 2 C L’Ancienne-Lorette 5, Pointe-Claire RA 2

Junior (under 16) B L’Ancienne-Lorette 4, Ottawa 3

Intermediate (19+) B Clarence-Rockland 4, Ottawa GAARA 2 C Beaconsfield-Kirkland 5, Pointe-Claire RA 1