Ringette Canada

Last updated

Ringette Canada
Sport Ringette
Membership31,168 registered players (2017–18)
Founded1974;50 years ago (1974)
Headquarters Ottawa
PresidentFirst: June Tiessen Current: Angie Milbury
Coach
  • Team Canada Sr. (2023)

Julie Blanchette

  • Team Canada Jr. U21 (2023)

Andrea Ferguson

Official website
ringette.ca
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg

Ringette Canada [1] is the national governing body for the sport of ringette in Canada. It was established in 1974 with June Tiessen as its first President and has its current headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. [2] It is responsible for the organization and promotion of ringette on a nationwide basis and organizes Canada's semi-professional ringette league, the National Ringette League (NRL) which was established in 2004, with the league functioning as a committee under Ringette Canada.

Contents

In 1986, Ringette Canada became a member of the International Ringette Federation which at the time was known as the "World Ringette Council". Its national hall of fame, the Ringette Canada Hall of Fame, was established in 1988. [3] [4] The first time a Canadian ringette team traveled overseas to Europe (Finland) was in 1979. [2]

With the help of Ringette Canada, the sport of ringette was first introduced as part of the Canada Winter Games program in 1991, when the games took place in Prince Edward Island. The sport has been a prominent part of this multi-sport national event ever since. [5]

Ringette Canada is also responsible for scouting ringette talent in Canada in order to create the Canadian national ringette teams for both Team Canada Senior and Team Canada Junior who then compete at the World Ringette Championships. National team players are selected from the National Ringette League.

History

Formation

While Ringette Canada was formed in 1974, [2] ringette began in Canada as an established sport in 1963 due to the efforts of its two founders, Sam Jacks and Red McCarthy, and two primary organizations in Ontario, the Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario (SDMRO), [6] and the Northern Ontario Recreation Directors Association (NORDA) in particular.

In 1983, Ringette Canada acquired the copyright to the official Ringette rules and Ringette rulebook from the Ontario Ringette Association [7] [2] (now known as Ringette Ontario) which had the copyright transferred to it from the SDMRO in 1973.[ citation needed ]

Despite its importance to the Canadian sporting community, Ringette Canada initially received little financial support and no funding from the federal government. In order to hold their meetings, the Toronto Pearson International Airport generously donated a basement room which was used as a gathering space for the organization. [8]

Ringette Canada Presidents

June Tiessen from Waterloo, Ontario, became the first President of Ringette Canada in 1974. [2]

#YearPresidentCity/Province
1November 1974–75June Tiessen [2]
Ringette Canada Hall of Fame Inductee 		Waterloo, Ontario
21975–76Howard Pierce Kingston, Ontario
31976–77June Tiessen Waterloo, Ontario
41977–80Barry Mattern Manitoba
51981–83Terry Youngman
Ringette Canada Hall of Fame Inductee 		Saskatchewan
61983 Betty Shields [9] Ottawa, Ontario
CurrentAngie Milbury

Sam Jacks Trophy

The original Sam Jacks Trophy for the World Ringette Championships was first awarded at the inaugural 1990 World Ringette Championships but was replaced with a new design at the 1996 World Ringette Championships. The original trophy is now kept in the Ringette Canada office.

Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup

The Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup was established by Ringette Canada President, Betty Shields in December 1984 and named after Jeanne Sauvé, Canada's first female Governor General. [10] Originally called the "Jeanne Sauvé Cup", it was first presented at the 1985 Canadian Ringette Championships in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Québec. [11] It has since been renamed the, "Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup".

Cyber attack

Non-profit, grassroots organizations in sport became increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks after the creation of the internet. In 2019, Ringette Canada became the target of a ransomware attack. [12]

Development

YearActionOrganization, Event, or League
1973Copyright to the official Ringette rules and Ringette rulebook transferred to the Ontario Ringette Association [7] (now known as Ringette Ontario) from the Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario (SDMRO)
  • - Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario (SDMRO)
  • - Ontario Ringette Association (now Ringette Ontario)
November 1974Established national ringette organization [2]
Quebec 1978Federation Sportive de Ringuette du Quebec withdraws from Ringette Canada but returns in 1981. Federation Sportive de Ringuette du Quebec
Winnipeg 1979Established elite national ringette championships Canadian Ringette Championships
1983Acquired copyright to ringette's official rules from the Ontario Ringette Association (now "Ringette Ontario") [2] Ontario Ringette Association
(now "Ringette Ontario")
1986Canada becomes a member of the "World Ringette Council", now known as the International Ringette Federation (IRF) International Ringette Federation
(formerly the "World Ringette Council")
1988Established national hall of fame for ringette [3] [4] Ringette Canada Hall of Fame
1990Canada makes its world debut in ringette sending 6 separate regional teams to the inaugural World Ringette Championships 1990 World Ringette Championships
1996 Team Canada (now Team Canada Senior) makes its world debut at the World Ringette Championships having previously sent separate regional teams 1996 World Ringette Championships
2004Established semi-professional league National Ringette League
2009Canada makes its world junior debut
sending 2 separate regional teams to the inaugural World Junior Ringette Championships 		2009 World Junior Ringette Championships
2013 Team Canada Junior makes its world debut at the World Ringette Championships having previously sent separate regional teams 2013 World Ringette Championships

Provincial and Territorial associations

Beginning in 1969 with the Ontario Ringette Association (now called Ringette Ontario), provincial ringette associations continued to develop across Canada. See the table below for development. [2] [13]

AssociationFoundedHistory and notes
Ringette Ontario1969In 1969, the Ontario Ringette Association (now Ringette Ontario) was established as the first provincial sport governing body in Canada devoted to the advancement of Ringette. Dave Bass was its first President. It had 1,500 players in 14 communities and was founded with a government grant of $229.27. [14]
Ringette Manitoba1972In 1972, Barry Mattern founded the Manitoba Ringette Association (now Ringette Manitoba) who later went on to become a President of Ringette Canada.
Ringuette Québec1973Originally called the Quebec Ringette Association, this organization was formed in 1973 with Pierrefonds' Lois Logan as its first President. In 1978, the Federation Sportive de Ringuette du Quebec withdrew from Ringette Canada. The association returned in 1981.
Ringette Nova Scotia1974Initially called the Nova Scotia Ringette Association, this organization was formed under the leadership of Herm Wills who became its first President in 1974.
BC Ringette19741974 British Columbia became Canada's fifth province to form a provincial ringette association in 1974.
Ringette Alberta1976In 1976, Alberta joined the growing number of provinces embracing ringette, forming its own provincial association under Nelson Ball's guidance.
Ringette Saskatchewan1976Initially called the Saskatchewan Ringette Association, this organization became Canada's seventh provincial sport governing body for ringette under Bob Gotts in 1976.
Ringette New Brunswick
(Ringuette NB Ringette)		1981New Brunswick formed Canada's eighth provincial ringette association with Gilles Laplante as first President in 1981.
Newfoundland and
Labrador Ringette [15] 		1982Newfoundland formed its provincial ringette association in 1982. Francis Walsh was its first President.
P.E.I. Ringette1985Prince Edward Island formed Canada's tenth provincial ringette member in 1985 with Vimmy Gregory as its first President.
Northwest Territories
Ringette		1986The Northwest Territories became Canada's 11th provincial member in ringette in 1986. Denis Fedun was its first president.

National championships

The Canadian Ringette Championships (French: Championnats Canadien d'Ringuette) which is abbreviated CRC in english, is the annual premiere national ringette tournament for the best ringette players and teams in Canada and consists of three groups: the Under-16 (U16), the Under-19 (U19), and the elite ringette players in the National Ringette League (NRL) for which the CRC's serve as the league's seasonal championship. The first tournament was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1979.

Semi-professional league

Canada's semi-professional ringette league is the National Ringette League (NRL) which was established in 2004. The majority of Canada's national ringette team players compete in the NRL.

National teams

The Canadian national ringette team includes two separate teams: Team Canada Senior and Team Canada Junior, with both teams now competing at the World Ringette Championships. Canada has competed in all of the World Ringette Championships since the sport's inaugural world competition in 1990, but it has only been since the 2013 World Ringette Championships that both national teams have competed in the World Ringette Championships together since both age divisions initially held their world championship tournaments separately.

Senior national team

Canada's first appearance in international competition for the sport of ringette took place at the inaugural World Ringette Championships in 1990. At the time, the country sent six separate regional teams as its national representative: Team Alberta (Calgary Debs), Team Ontario, Team Quebec, Team Saskatchewan, and Team Manitoba. Another team, Team Gloucester, also competed since the first tournament was hosted in Gloucester, Ontario. It wasn't until the 1996 World Ringette Championships that Canada officially finally sent its first, single and exclusive national ringette team.

Junior national team

Until the 2009 World Junior Ringette Championships, Canada only had national representation at the adult level (now known as Team Canada Senior) since the World Ringette Championships were specifically reserved for elite women athletes. Canada didn't have any Team Canada Junior representation of any kind until the inaugural 2009 World Junior Ringette Championships, but at that time sent two separate regional teams: U19 Canada East (Under-29) and U19 Canada West (Under-19). Team Canada Junior has periodically alternated between the age groups of U19 and U21 since 2009.

Until the 2013 World Ringette Championships, the junior tournament was held as a separate event. Junior national teams competed at the World Junior Ringette Championships in 2009 and 2012, while the senior national teams competed at the World Ringette Championships. In 2013 the senior and junior tournaments merged into a single one, the World Ringette Championships, where Canada's first single and exclusive national junior ringette team made its world debut. Team Canada Junior has competed in every world junior event.

University and college ringette

Ringette is played at a number of Canadian universities and colleges who abide by rules and regulations organized by Ringette Canada. An national tournament called the, "University Challenge Cup" is played annually.

Ringette is not recognized by U Sports, the national sport governing body of university sport in Canada, however each institution establishes its own relationship with the ringette program associated with their respective campuses. Some institutions allow the ringette program to wear the varsity uniforms and use the team nickname while others have no relationship with the ringette program at all.

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

Samuel Perry Jacks more commonly known as, "Sam Jacks," was a Canadian soldier in World War II, inventor, military and civic recreation director, sports coach, creator of the Canadian sport of ringette for girls and the creator and codifier of the first set of rules for floor hockey in 1936. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1915 and became a Canadian citizen after his parents had immigrated to Canada in 1920. Jacks died from cancer in 1975, at the age of 60.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Canada</span> Overview of sports within Canada

Sports in Canada consist of a wide variety of games. The roots of organized sports in Canada date back to the 1770s, culminating in the development and popularization of the major professional games of ice hockey, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, soccer, football and cricket. Canada's official national sports are ice hockey and lacrosse. Golf, baseball, tennis, skiing, ringette, badminton, cricket, volleyball, cycling, swimming, bowling, rugby union, canoeing, curling, squash, and the study of martial arts are widely enjoyed at the youth and amateur levels. Great achievements in Canadian sports are recognized by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, while the Lou Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete by a panel of journalists. There are numerous other Sports Halls of Fame in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringette</span> Team sport played on ice

Ringette is a non-contact winter team sport played on an ice rink using ice hockey skates, straight sticks with drag-tips, and a blue, rubber, pneumatic ring designed for use on ice surfaces. While the sport was originally created exclusively for female competitors, it has expanded to now include participants of all gender identities. Although ringette looks ice hockey-like and is played on ice hockey rinks, the sport has its own lines and markings, and its offensive and defensive play bear a closer resemblance to lacrosse or basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Ringette League</span> Semi-professional ringette league in Canada

The National Ringette League (NRL) (French: Ligue Nationale de Ringuette, LNR) is the premier league for the sport of ringette in North America and Canada's national league for elite ringette players aged 18 and up. The NRL is not a women's variant of a more well-known men's league or sport like professional women's ice hockey or bandy; one of ringette's distinctive features is that all of its players are girls and women. As such, the NRL is the continent's first and only winter team sports league whose entire athlete roster is made up of women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montréal Mission</span> National Ringette League ringette team based in Montreal, Quebec

The Montréal Mission is a ringette team in the National Ringette League (NRL), competing in the White Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 2004. The team gathers its players from the region of Montréal, Québec, and plays its home games at Centre Étienne Desmarteau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge Turbos</span> National Ringette League team in Cambridge, Ontario

The Cambridge Turbos is a ringette team in the National Ringette League (NRL) competing in the Eastern Conference's Red Division. Founded in 2003, the is team based in Cambridge, Ontario. The Turbos home arena is the Hespeler Memorial Arena, a facility which is a twin sheet arena with two Olympic-sized sheets of ice.

Julie Blanchette is an elite level Canadian ringette player who has also worked as a trainer and coach and served as the captain of several ringette teams including Team Canada. Blanchette plays for the Montreal Mission of the National Ringette League and has also been a member of the Canadian national ringette team as both player and coach.

The World Ringette Championships (WRC) is the premier international competition in ringette and is governed by the International Ringette Federation (IRF). Unlike most international competitions, all of the WRC's elite athletes are female rather than male, one of the sport's distinctive features. Competing nations include: Canada, Finland, United States, Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with Team Canada and Team Finland having emerged as the sport's top two competing nations. The 2023 World Ringette Championships will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and will be the sport's 60th anniversary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 World Ringette Championships</span> 2013 edition of the World Ringette Championships

The 2013 World Ringette Championships was an international ringette tournament and the 10th (X) World Ringette Championships. The tournament was organized by the International Ringette Federation (IRF)and was contested in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, between December 31, 2013, and January 4, 2014. The main competition took place at the North Bay Memorial Gardens.

The 2016 World Ringette Championships was an international ringette tournament and the 11th (XI) World Ringette Championships. The tournament was organized by the International Ringette Federation (IRF) and was contested in Helsinki, Finland between December 27, 2015, and January 3, 2016. The main competition took place at the Helsinki Ice Hall. It was the first time the Team Slovakia and the Team Czech appeared at the international tournament. This was also the first year Sweden formed the Sweden national junior ringette team (U19).

Canadian Ringette Championships, (French: Championnats Canadien d'Ringuette), sometimes abbreviated CRC, is Canada's annual premiere national ringette tournament for the best ringette players and teams in the country. It encompasses three age/class divisions: Under-16 (U16), Under-19 (U19) and the seasonal championship for Canada's National Ringette League (NRL). The competition is usually held in the month of April. The first CRC was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1979. The National Ringette League playoffs are the knockout match, round robin and tournament for determining the champion for National Ringette League.

The International Ringette Federation (IRF) is a non-profit amateur sports organization and the highest governing body for the sport of ringette. Today the member countries of the IRF Board includes four member nations: Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. Initially the organization was called the "World Ringette Council" (WRC), but was changed to the "International Ringette Federation" in 1991. The change is believed to have been made to avoid confusion with the organizing body and the new World Ringette Championships tournament which shared the same acronym, WRC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada national ringette team</span> Girls and womens national ringette teams representing Canada

The Canada national ringette team is the ringette team representing Canada internationally. Canada has both a senior national team, Team Canada Senior, and a junior national team, Team Canada Junior. Both national teams compete in the World Ringette Championships (WRC) and are overseen by Ringette Canada which is a member of the International Ringette Federation (IRF). Some team members are selected from the National Ringette League. Team Canada and Team Finland have emerged as ringette's major international rivals at both the senior and junior level. Some of Canada's national teams have been inducted into the Ringette Canada Hall of Fame.

The 2019 World Ringette Championships was an international ringette tournament and the 13th (XIII) World Ringette Championships. The tournament was organized by the International Ringette Federation (IRF) and was contested in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, from November 25 - December 1, 2019. The main competition took place at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

The 1990 World Ringette Championship was an international ringette tournament and the first World Ringette Championship in history. Three countries took part: Canada, Finland, and the United States. The tournament was organized by the World Ringette Council, the precursor to the International Ringette Federation (IRF). The event was held in the Canadian city of Gloucester, Ontario from January 29 to February 3, 1990, with eight competing teams at Earl Armstrong Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finland national ringette team</span> Girls and womens national ringette teams representing Finland

The Finland national ringette team,, more commonly known as "Team Finland", is the ringette team representing Finland internationally. Finland has both a senior national team, Team Finland Senior, and a junior national team, Team Finland Junior. Both national teams compete in the World Ringette Championships (WRC) and are overseen by Ringette Finland, which is a member of the International Ringette Federation (IRF). Finland's first appearance in international ringette took place at the first World Ringette Championships in 1990.

The 2012 World Junior Ringette Championships, also known as the U19 2012 World Championships, was an international ringette tournament and the 2nd edition of the World Junior Ringette Championships organized by the International Ringette Federation (IRF). It was contested in London, Ontario, Canada, between December 29, 2012, and January 3, 2013. The junior tournament was organized exclusively for elite junior national ringette teams. Venues included the Western Fair Sports Centre. This was the last year the event was held separately from the World Ringette Championships. Afterwards a new U19 division was created at the 2013 World Ringette Championships and the junior tournament merged with the larger international program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringette in Canada</span> Nation-based article dealing with the team sport of ringette

Ringette in Canada began in 1963 when it was first conceptualized by Sam Jacks of North Bay, Ontario, in West Ferris. The sport of ringette is played in all 10 Canadian provinces and the Northwest Territories and involves an average of over 31,000 registered players every year. Canada is the location of ringette's origin where it is also recognized as a national heritage sport. The sport is governed nationally by Ringette Canada. Canadian provinces and territories have their own individual governing bodies in their respective jurisdictions.

Keely Brown is a former Canadian national level athlete who played ringette, roller in-line hockey, and ice hockey as a goaltender. She played for the Canadian Senior National Ringette Team and was also a goalie on the Canadian Women's National Inline Hockey team. Brown also played semi-professional ringette in Canada's National Ringette League and in semi-pro women's ice hockey. Brown currently works for the National Hockey League's, Edmonton Oilers as a Senior Legal Counsel, and works for the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton WAM!</span> National Ringette League team in Edmonton, Alberta

The Edmonton WAM! is a ringette team in the National Ringette League's (NRL) Western Conference. The team is one of two NRL teams based in Edmonton, Alberta, with the other being the Edmonton Black Gold Rush. Their other provincial rival is the Calgary RATH.

References

  1. ↑ "Ringette Canada". Ringette Canada. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The History of Ringette". ringette.ca. Ringette Canada. 2000. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Ringette Canada Hall of Fame". Ringette Canada. 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Ringette History – National Ringette School". nationalringetteschool.com. National Ringette School. 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 1991 | LEGACY STORY | Welcome Home Canada!". canadagames.ca. Canada Games Council. 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Act to Incorporate the Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario | Lakehead University Archives". archives.lakehead.ca. Lakehead University Library. 1958. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Ringette (A Game on Skates for Girls) Rules 1965–66". Ringette Calgary. Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario/Ringette Canada.
  8. ↑ Jim Timlick (March 17, 1991). "The Godfather of ringette". Winnipeg Free Press Weekly. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame | Betty Shields | Biography". ottawasporthalloffame.ca. Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. 2018. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2022. It was Shields who established the Jeanne Sauvé Cup in 1985
  10. ↑ "Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame | Betty Shields | Biography". ottawasporthalloffame.ca. Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. 2018. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2022. It was Shields who established the Jeanne Sauvé Cup in 1985
  11. ↑ "Canadian Ringette Championships Trophies" (PDF). ringette.ca. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  12. ↑ Natasha Johnston (September 18, 2019). "Are Your Files Safe? Reflections from Ringette Canada on a Ransomware Attack". sirc.ca. Sport and Information Resource Centre. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Our Sport | History of Ringette". ringette.ca. Ringette Canada. 2010. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ Allison Lawlor (April 19, 2005). "Obituaries, AGNES JACKS, RINGETTE PROMOTER 1923-2005". ringettemanitoba.ca. The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ Dave Kearsey (September 30, 2017). "Mom committed to bringing ringette to city for her daughter to enjoy". saltwire.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.