By Pablo Medina
The tournament that’s been eight years in the making will finally get underway on Sunday when the nation’s capital welcomes over 800 players from 49 teams for the 2025 Canadian Ringette Championships.
Ottawa had initially bid for the right to host the 2020 ringette nationals back in 2018 and they were all set to host that edition until COVID swept in.
“We were raring to go. Then we had a dead halt,” tournament co-chair Phyllis Bergmans recalled in an interview with High Achievers columnist Martin Cleary last year when Ottawa was awarded the 2025 tournament.
“There was elation, excitement and trepidation,” added Bergmans, whose group received a big cheer from the 2024 nationals crowd in Dieppe, N.B. when they were told the next Canadians would be in Ottawa. “It really was invigorating.”
Read More: Ottawa gets second chance to host ringette nationals, after COVID cancellation
The Richcraft Sensplex, the Ray Friel Arena and the medal round site at Gatineau’s Centre Slush Puppie will host a total of 150 games across the under-16, U19 and National Ringette League divisions.
There will be several local teams looking to shine on the national stage, fronted by the West Ottawa Wild U16s.
The Wild will be wearing the coveted Team Ontario jerseys thanks to their recent dramatic overtime victory in the final of the provincials, which they hosted in Kanata.
“We’re trying to keep them kind of level-headed and just continue on all the stuff that we’ve been working on this year, trying to keep them focused and not get too excited at the moment,” Wild head coach Barry Gorham said of the nationals in an interview with Ottawa Sports Pages reporter Isabella Disley earlier this month.
Read More: West Ottawa Wild win home ringette provincials in OT thriller, advance to nationals in town
The Nepean Ravens will have two teams competing in the nationals. The U16 Ravens qualified as one the top four teams from provincials as well, while Nepean will also compete in the NRL division alongside the Gatineau Fusion. And the U19 provincial bronze-medallist Eastern Ontario Force round out the local entries.
But the chase for the podium is just one aspect of the tournament, which are scheduled to officially open on Sunday at Lansdowne Park with a community event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aberdeen Plaza and then ceremonies followed by a skills competition inside the Arena at TD Place from 2 to 6 p.m.
There will be an adult showcase and school ringette tournaments taking place alongside the championships, plus free “come try ringette” sessions on Friday night at Ray Friel.
A showcase for the inclusive Ringette for All program is part of the championship day programme on the big stage at Centre Slush Puppie, and there will be theme days recognizing first responders, women and Indigenous, diverse and Francophone groups.
“This championship is more than just a competition; it’s about celebrating women in sport and inspiring the next generation of athletes,” organizers said in a media release.
Over 300 volunteers are set to help out throughout the championships. More information and schedules are available via CRC-CCR.ca.