6 local teams soaking up supportive spirit at hometown Canadian Ringette Championships

By Dan Plouffe

There is a certain cohesion and supportive spirit that permeates throughout the Canadian Ringette Championships, a feeling of unity that isn’t always at the forefront of every sport.

Take, for example, the Eastern Ontario Impact, who last year missed out on the chance at play at a home nationals when their Eastern Ontario under-19 counterparts knocked them out of the provincials in devastating come-from-behind fashion.

This year, it wasn’t all about vengeance for the Impact, and the best-case scenario in their minds came to fruition when the Force and Impact each grabbed two of the four available Ontario berths for the 2026 nationals from March 29 to April 4 in Ottawa.

“I love it. I’m so happy,” underlines Impact coach Alyssa Mainwood. “Both teams work so hard. It’s really encouraging that we both got to be here.”

Last year was the first season for the Eastern Ontario ‘AA’ Ringette Association, which was formed to bring together the top players from the region’s many clubs.

The Force and Impact lineups are chosen collaboratively between evaluators and coaching staffs of both teams, and the result this year was a pair of very strong sides, with the Force winning a silver medal at provincials and the Impact a bronze.

The squads share a practice ice time once a week, and they do the same dryland training and power skating, while cooperating on drills and game strategies.

“It’s just really being a full community, not just two separate teams,” Mainwood signals. “It really helps to have that friendly competition, because we’re all friends, but obviously we’re competing against each other too.”

The Eastern Ontario environment has produced a very strong work ethic, as the region’s most dedicated players congregate in pursuit of excellence.

“I’ve coached over 40 years, and it’s the truly the first year that I can say every single player gives 100% effort at every event that we do, whether it’s a team-building activity, a practice, a game, they’re always working their hardest,” highlights Force coach Céline Leduc. “It doesn’t mean they get the results that they always want, but they’re always, always working hard. The dedication on this team is incredible.”

Leduc feels a big part of her team’s determination is a product of the tough road they faced last year, when their all-new team lost every game of their first tournament, but ultimately pulled their way to the nationals.

“What they experienced last year, I think it just has shown them what determination and perseverance can do for you,” she explains.

For new players who stepped into their first year at the U19 level, the program’s elevated commitment level was immediately evident.

“I feel like the difference on this team is everyone shows up to every practice and everyone really wants to work,” notes Olivia Binder, who was the leading scorer for her West Ottawa Wild U16 team at last year’s nationals. “It’s been really fun. It’s a new experience, because everyone came from different associations, so I’ve played against people on this team, but I haven’t played with them.”

The nationals are an entirely new experience for the Force’s Bettina Utano, who never previously qualified with her Gloucester-Cumberland Devils.

“I’m more excited than I think anyone being my first nationals,” smiles Utano. “It’s just so exciting to be here. I’m so grateful.”

Binder scored a goal, while Utano setup Aurélie Lacourcière for the first goal of the Force’s tournament en route to a hard-fought 2-2 tie with Alberta’s Sherwood Park Power, which scored the equalizer with 30 seconds left. Goaltender Cassidy Marchment was “outstanding” in stopping 29 of 31 shots.

“Last year, we were kind of just happy to make it to nationals because we had worked so hard. But this year, I think we really have a team that can compete out here,” adds Leduc, who has a young squad with only one third-year U19 player.

The Impact took one on the chin in their nationals debut as Team Alberta overpowered them with seven unanswered goals in the second half to blow open a 3-3 tie game.

The defeat wasn’t about to stop the Impact from enjoying their nationals experience however.

“These girls are very talented, but the reason that we were able to make it to nationals was because they truly play as a full team,” Mainwood reflects. “The support they give each other on and off the ice is just unlike anything I’ve ever coached before.”

The Impact rented an Airbnb country property in Mississippi Mills so that everyone could hang out together and enjoy the best parts of an away tournament experience while also savouring a home event at the Bell Sensplex, Tony Graham Recreation Complex – Kanata and Nepean Sportsplex.

“It’s just a big fun time to be here. You can definitely feel the excitement with everybody in the building and in the city,” Mainwood says of the tournament that opened Sunday with opening ceremonies and a skills competition, and will feature “Fabulous Friday” events including a free Come Try Ringette opportunity, a Ringette For All Showcase, a Media/Celebrity Game and participants attending the Ottawa Charge Professional Women’s Hockey League game in the evening at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Eastern Ontario Capitals make nationals debut

This season, a third team under the Eastern Ontario umbrella also made its debut.

The Eastern Ontario Capitals took the place of the Nepean Ravens in the National Ringette League, and they are competing in the NRL’s B pool at the Canadian Championships.

On Monday afternoon, Alyssa Perreault’s hat trick propelled the Capitals to a 5-4 lead, but Manitoba closed the game with the last four goals to deliver Eastern Ontario its second defeat following an earlier 11-4 blasting from the Rocky Mountain Rage.

Mainwood was eager to also watch the Capitals, a team with which she shares endless connections, including the head coach (her sister Jessica Boisvert) and assistant (her father Dave Mainwood, who is nearing the completion of his 49th season coaching ringette).

“I’m excited to see them and I’m going to go see their games whenever I can that it works for our schedule,” indicates Mainwood, whose team could play up to 10 games at the tournament.

Nepean Ravens proud to wear Team Ontario jerseys

There is one local team that earned an extra special distinction for the nationals. The Nepean Ravens U16 team is all dressed in red in Team Ontario colours, having topped the West Ottawa Wild in the provincial championship game.

“It was one of their goals going into the season to wear the red jersey, so they’re all very excited,” highlights Nepean/Ontario coach Emily Price, noting that getting their Team O jerseys was a big moment of pride for her as a coach, along with the players and their families.

“It’s a very rare thing to do in your ringette career,” she adds. “Not a lot of girls get to do it, so it’s very special for them. Some girls cried. It’s something that they strive towards and work towards their whole season, and it coming together at the end can be emotional.”

The Ravens are returning to nationals after qualifying somewhat unexpectedly last season and getting the chance to learn and grow throughout the event. Last year, Nepean started 0-3 before rallying for a playoff berth, but this time the Ravens blasted out of the gate with an 8-2 win over Nova Scotia, with Mikaela Carbonette scoring five goals. Edmonton Edge provided a tougher challenge in the afternoon as the westerners topped Ontario 5-1.

“There’s more experience, more knowledge, and they’re excited for the week to come,” Price says of her players. “We want to go, obviously, as far as possible. The first step is to get out of this pool and then make it to the championship round and then go from there, game by game.”

West Ottawa Wild ready to roar in nationals return

The West Ottawa Wild have the same idea in mind as their fellow nationals returnees from Nepean – they’ve got their eye on making it to the medal round. Last year the Wild made it deepest out of local teams at the nationals before bowing out in the quarterfinals after playing their third match in 24 hours.

The Wild opened the 2026 tournament with a pair of very close games – a 6-5 victory over Team British Columbia and an 8-5 defeat to the Spruce Grove Riot.

“Everybody’s here for the same reason – top athletes trying to get that end goal,” smiles West Ottawa coach Barry Gorman. “Everybody’s battling hard and to go home 1-1 after day one is not a loss. It’s a step forward.”

The Wild rallied from a 3-0 deficit with three goals in a row, but Spruce Grove got a few more late to take the afternoon contest. Rachel Macdonald scored her second hat trick in as many games for the Wild in the loss, with her third marker of the first contest standing as the game winner.

“Rachel’s a very committed player,” Gorman highlights. “They look for her on the post all the time because she’s got such a quick release, on and off the stick, and it makes it really hard for goalies to defend against that.”

Gorman says his team has been pushing forward really well since early in 2026 after a letdown at a tournament in Waterloo.

“They came home and they decided to go back to work and start over,” he outlines. “And they won their spot at provincials, and then they made themselves the end goal to be in here on Sunday or Saturday for the finals.”

Gatineau Fusion a tight group with shared love for sport

The Gatineau Fusion also opened with a pair of extremely tight contests on the first day of the nationals in the NRL division.

The Fusion’s comeback effort from a 4-1 hole against the Calgary Rath fell just short in the 4-3 opener and then they prevailed 7-6 over the B.C. Thunder. Chantal St-Laurent scored both the tying goal and the overtime winner after Emily Chénier scored a pair for the second game in a row.

“We really pushed to get into the top four (standing) in the east, and now we’re exactly where we want to be – we want every game to be tooth and nail like that,” says Gatineau’s Colleen Hagan, who is in her first year as head coach after previously serving as an assistant behind Martin Chénier.

Previously a long-time player for the Gloucester Devils in the NRL and a national team coaching staff member, Hagan is always keen to soak up the excitement of nationals.

“The players, the coaches, we work our tails off, but it’s not just us, it’s everybody, the management staff, the officials, the volunteers, and the rest of Canada, we all put a lot of work in through the year, and this is the culminating moment, so there’s just naturally a lot of energy,” highlights Hagan, who thanked the referees and scorekeepers after congratulating her opponents at the conclusion of her team’s games.

“And then the competition, it’s the playoffs, so everybody rises just that little bit more,” she adds. “It’s exciting to be a part of on either side.”

For the tight-knit Fusion, team spirit is augmented by three sets of sisters on the team who have united to play together in the open age group – Taylor and Morgan Forrest, Emily and Sophie Chénier, and Amanda and Maxim Moisan.

“When we say we’re a family, we mean it,” Hagan smiles. “It automatically creates a natural bond, that connection and trust and reliability.

“There’s a love there, and the team becomes more than just something that you’re a part of, it’s a lot closer than that. You’re sharing something you love with someone you love. And then you add in other people who have the same passion, who put in all the hours of work, and it filters out to everybody else. It’s a really cool feeling.”

The Fusion are also carrying on the spirit of one of their sisters at the tournament. Last summer, the team lost forward Julia Wilson, who died from a food allergy reaction.

Wilson was a teammate of many current Fusion players while growing up with the Gloucester-Cumberland Devils – she scored the overtime championship-winning goal for the Devils at the 2022 U19 provincials and the bronze-medal OT winner in 2023 – and played with several others on Team Ontario at 2023 Canada Winter Games.

Hagan notes that there is a big banner of Wilson on the boards at their home Centre Slush Puppie rink and that they all wear her #11 on the front of their jerseys over their hearts.

“A player like Jules doesn’t leave here, even though they’re not physically here,” Hagan underlines, before pausing with emotion. “She’s got a lot of really good memories with people. She’s just always been a great example of team leadership and passion and drive. Once that culture is built, it’s now in others.

“I think maybe that’s one of the best parts of her legacy, it’s what she’s shared. And we honour her by doing the best we can, doing the thing she loved.”