Top ringette teams from across Western Canada will be making Vernon their home for the final weekend in October, as the annual Autumn Blast Tournament returns.
Hosted by the Greater Vernon Ringette Association (GVRA), 32 teams will be competing at the three-day event to kick off the ringette season for teams U12 to U19.
Both Kal Tire Place rinks and Priest Valley Arena will be venues for the 75 games, free to attend for fans.
“It’s a great opportunity for our athletes to compete against teams from the Lower Mainland, Northern B.C. and Alberta that we don’t see through league play during the season,” said GVRA president Wayne Robert, as there are seven teams from the association competing.
“It’s another fantastic opportunity to showcase this great sport locally and develop our athletes while making friends across Western Canada.”
Games start at 7 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 and run all the way through 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29.
For those intrigued and uninitiated with the playing of ringette, there will be an opportunity to try the sport out for free at the Priest Valley Arena Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 5-6 p.m. No experience is required, just skates and a helmet. Register at cometryringette.ca.
The fast-paced hockey-like sport was invented in 1963 in North Bay, Ont. and is now played by over 50,000 participants in the country.
For a full schedule of the tournament games, visit vernonringette.ca.
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