‘We want to grow the sport’: Manitoba Herd ringette team host top talent – Winnipeg | 24CA News
The highest stage of ringette in Canada was showcased in Winnipeg this weekend.
The Manitoba Herd, a part of the National Ringette League (NRL), hosted the three different groups from throughout western Canada, the BC Thunder, Calgary RATH and Saskatchewan Heat.
“We are peaking at the perfect time right now,” Herd captain Raeanne Wysocki mentioned. “Nationals is looking really good for us. We need a couple more wins to put us in a good spot, but I think we are all in good spirits and our game play is amazing.”
Teams within the NRL play in ‘hub style’ tournaments all through the season. This weekend, the Herd hosted its one and solely hub weekend.
Manitoba beat Saskatchewan 7-5 however misplaced 3-2 to Calgary and 7-6 to BC.
“I kind of broke the season down into multiple pieces and I look at this as kind of like the third part,” Herd head coach Andrea Ferguson mentioned.
“The start was good, the middle part we had a lot of things to work and now part three right before nationals we’re really coming together as a team, different systems are starting to work.”
With nationals lower than a month away, Herd assistant captain Sam Heinemann say it was nice motivation to play in entrance of their residence crowd.
“We want to grow the sport,” Heinemann mentioned. “That’s the most important thing, is growing ringette in Manitoba. We want everyone to come out and we want the younger kids to come see us play and watch us and want to be where we are one day.”
Despite the 1-2 weekend document, Ferguson was additionally happy with the fan turnout and the instance her athletes are setting for the following technology.
“When we played Calgary, there were probably 250 people in the stands, which doesn’t sound like a lot but for a ringette game, it is,” Ferguson mentioned. “Maybe a third of those were kids under 16, so for them to be able to see and look up to the athletes, it gives them something to strive for.”
The Herd has another hub-style event this month earlier than heading to Regina for nationals April 9-15.
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