Shelly-Ann Canares – Contributor

You’ve heard about the hockey club and the figure skating club, but what other Bishop’s club is played on ice? First created last winter by two dedicated players from Quebec and B.C., Shelly and Abigale decided it was time to bring their favourite sport to Bishop’s.  

If you’ve never heard of ringette, you’re not alone! The sport shares many similarities to hockey: the equipment, the fast-paced skating, the team structure and the excitement of chasing a goal. The differences are what make the sport so unique, some might even argue that it makes it more exciting than hockey! Instead of a puck, ringette players use a rubber ring, making it more demanding for people to play with accuracy. Instead of a hockey stick, a straight stick is used to control and pass the ring… once again, making it more demanding for accuracy! Unlike hockey, it is mandatory to pass the ring at each blue line to make it to the offensive zone… making teamwork highly essential. 

Image courtesy of Ringette Club

When created in 1963, the founders wanted girls and women to have their own competitive, dedicated and non-contact winter sport, where they would distinct themselves from hockey. While ringette’s roots are proudly female, our club is open to boys, girls and skaters of all levels. Whether you can skate or not, it’s the perfect opportunity for students to add competition and fun in their busy lives. 

With great ambitions for next year, including enrolling in the University Challenge Cup (UCC) in Guelph, we want to introduce this ever-growing sport to the Bishop’s community, and eventually, to the Sherbrooke community. With professional ringette leagues in B.C, Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick, we’re hoping that Bishop’s develops its own varsity team in the near future. Apart from competition, we want to share the joy and thrill of ringette with Bishop’s. If you’re a hockey player or figure skater looking to try something new on ice, or someone who wants to stay active during the school year and meet amazing people – then ringette is for you.  

As our club continues to grow, we hope to inspire a new generation of ringette players, and to spark the beginning of a professional league in Sherbrooke someday.