As hockey season kicks off, a Newmarket sports association is inviting players to try another ice sport: ringette.
On Sunday, Oct. 3, the Newmarket and District Ringette Association is holding a free Come Try Ringette event at the Magna Centre at 800 Mulock Dr. for new players to come see what the sport is all about.
“Ringette is not the same as hockey. People know about hockey and they know if they want their kid to play hockey they can google where’s the closest hockey team,” said Alyssia Byers, vice president of the association. “A lot of people don’t really know that ringette is an option, so we wanted to give people a chance to try a new sport that they haven't maybe heard of it or know what it is just to give a bit more exposure, especially at the younger groups.”
She said the sport has some similarities to hockey as they’re both played on the ice, with five on five, and score the same way but there are a lot of differences too.
Instead of a puck, ringette is played with a rubber ring and sticks that don’t have a blade on the end as do hockey sticks.
Byers said it also takes more strategy and teamwork as the ring can’t be carried across the blue lines and has to be passed and there’s a shot clock, similar to basketball.
According to Byer, a lot of the players in the Newmarket association play hockey as well as ringette.
“It’s a good chance to get more ice time, get on the ice more and develop their skating skills,” she said. “It’s an alternative to hockey but it’s also another option to add on top of hockey as well.”
The association has a number of teams divided by age, plus a co-ed recreation league for people 18 and older.
“It’s a game for ages four to 99, anybody can play,” Byers said.
They also have a learn-to-play program for young kids that teaches a lot of the basics of skating and an equipment lending program for players in their first year.
“Instead of having to spend all this money when you don’t really know if your kid is going to enjoy the sport and want to continue it, we have this program where you can borrow the equipment for the first year. So that’s a little bit unique with ringette,” the vice-president said.
At the event on Oct. 3, they will have sticks available, but participants have to bring their own skates, helmets and mittens.
Anyone over the age of four is invited and coaches and current players will be available to answer questions.
They will be accepting new registrations to the association at the event but there’s no pressure to join and you can take time and think about it.
The ringette season will begin in the middle of October and run until April.
The event starts at 2:15 p.m. but participants are asked to arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and to get their skates on. Participants can sign up for the event online.
