Ringette offers an environment in which girls can build strong relationships by playing with a dozen other players, a few times a week. They are encouraged to develop core values such as collective respect and collaboration, all while aspiring to surpass their individual limits.
Being a sport destined for girls, ringette is about participation and fairplay. No one plays ringette with the intent of making it their career and this recreational spirit is reflected at all levels in the sport. It is embraced by the players, the coaching staff and the parents.
Les équipes sont divisées selon les groupes d’âges suivants. L’âge de la joueuse au 31 décembre est considéré.
- Bunnies: 7 years and under
- Novice: 8 and 9 years
- Atom: 10 and 11 years
- Benjamin: 12 and 13 years
- Junior: 14 and 15 years
- Cadet: 16 to 18 years
- Intermediate: 21 years and over
How a Season Runs
The ringette season starts in September and ends at the end of March for teams participating in the playoff series.
The girls get the opportunity to play about twenty matches in the course of a season. Half of these matches are held at the Raymond-Bourque arena and the other half, in arenas belonging to other cities in the region of Lac Saint-Louis: Pierrefonds/DDO, Beaconsfield/Kirkland, Pointe-Claire, Vaudreuil, NDG, and Montreal.
Including practices, there are 2 to 3 ice times per week, which are mainly on weekends. Practices are mostly at the Raymond-Bourque arena and occasionally at the arena of Cegep Saint-Laurent.
Development Program to Learn How to Skate and Play Ringette
To start playing ringette, children are not required to know how to skate. Our program allows them to learn to skate while having fun with a ring and a stick. For someone who wants to learn how to skate and play, the Bunnies program starts in September and runs for one hour every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The first months are focused on learning to skate while playing games and gradually, ringette notions are introduced.
In January, February and March, the new skaters will have the opportunity to play their first ringette matches against beginner players from surrounding cities. Each year, we manage to organize between 6 and 8 friendly games for the beginner ringette players.
When there are sufficient players aged 7 and under who can skate well, we organize matches against other Lac Saint-Louis teams as early as November.
What are the Differences between Hockey and Ringette?
Ringette equipment is very similar to hockey; only the visor, the pants and the stick are different. For more details on equipment, see this image from Ringuette Canada.
As for the rules of the game, it's totally different! It's faster than hockey, because players have to make a pass at each blue line. This makes for a very quick transition, and it's even possible to make a pass from the middle of the rink to a player directly in front of the goal. Some say ringette players are better skaters than hockey players, because the game is all about moving fast and pivoting with the ring to break through the defense. You be the judge!
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us by email at: [email protected]