It was their goal all year – getting to the Canadian Ringette Championships and compete with the high level of competition.
The Thompson Okanagan Ringette League (TORL) U16AA Force, now Team B.C., met their goal of reaching nationals, but ran into some tough teams right away, falling twice in London, Ont.
The Force lost 7-3 to Team Manitoba in their first game. Despite outshooting and out-chancing their opponent in the first half, they found themselves tied 2-2 on goals by Delayney Gregory, and Alyssa Racine, on a sick behind the net feed from Emma Carter after being led by linemate Kate Meraw.
But the Bisons pulled away in the second half when the Force got into some penalty trouble. Salmon Arm’s Courteny Bacon tallied for the Force, assisted by Abby Williamson and Emily Elsom. Vernon’s Aly Carter suffered a wrist and thumb injury and will be unfortunately relegated to the cheering squad for the rest of the week.
In their second game, the Force dropped a 3-1 decision to Alberta’s Zone 5 Pack team.
Salmon Arm’s Emily Willams got the lone Force tally, assisted by the Vernon duo of Abby Williamson and Racine.
Kelowna’s Georgia Gregory was particularly strong in goal especially during some sustained second half pressure by the Alberta squad, aided by Vernon’s Evan Koshure and Maddy Fox, and Kelowna’s Hailey McRae and Brooklyn Keller.
Racine, Williams, and Emma Carter turned the momentum with their team down 2-1 by turning in several shifts with continuous pressure but couldn’t mount the equalizer before surrendering a late goal.
Coach Warren Carter of Vernon knew the Force would be in tough all week, and expected them to rebound for their Tuesday matches.
“We’ve played many of these teams and they really are all quite close in calibre,”said Carter> “It’s continuing the work ethic and getting that odd break that will make he difference in the end. I expect that we will rebound.”
The force played twice Tuesday and then all teams will be re-seeded for play further in the week. Gold-medal games go Saturday.
Some of the team will end their season of road tripping by cheering on the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon before their last trip home of the year.