The sport has persevered in Prince George for over two decades. Ringette players found their niche in a winter community where minor hockey dominates the ice between the boards. The Joy Hoffman Memorial Ringette Tournament in Prince George is explanation enough as to why the sport remains popular in Northern BC. League teams from Terrace, Quesnel, Houston and Prince George skate against each other in what is a celebration of ringette.

                               

Keith Sullivan embraced the sport of ringette 21 years ago and still has not let go.

“Look at the end to end action,” said Sullivan, who remains as a coach at the house and rep level of the Prince George Ringette Association.

“I guess the most satisfying part for me is watching the young girl I coached growing up and returning to the sport with her daughter.”

Ages five to adult participated in the Prince George tournament. Quesnel and Prince George ladies ringette teams faced off.

The fast paced game of ringette has been compared to basketball, soccer and lacrosse without the cross checks. One thing is obvious; skating is a skill that can be rapidly developed in ringette. The free flow of the game is attracting more hockey players to the sport known as floor hockey on ice.

 Twelve year-old Joey Matzele is a goalie in Prince George minor hockey and a forward in ringette. He credits the spinning and turning needed to control the ring on the ice to improving his balance and mobility while in the hockey net.

Thirteen year-old Megan Spooner made the transition from ringette to hockey goalie, playing on rep teams in both sports.

“I am much better at skating backwards thanks to ringette,” said Megan Spooner, who admits stopping the ring can be more difficult than the puck.

The Joy Hoffman Memorial Tournament is history for another year, but the sport of ringette will remain very much part of the arena scene.  It’s year number 26 and counting for ringette players to skate onto Prince George ice.