Burnaby-New Westminster’s u12 ringette team proved they belong in the top tier of their division on Saturday after beating PoCo Ridge Meadows 11-3 on home ice.
Saturday’s game marked the midway point of the season, and head coach Murray Dore, has seen a noticeable improvement in the girls’ play.
“They’re a u12 team so for ringette this is sort of their early developmental years,” Dore told the NOW.
“We’ve been really encouraged by their play this year.”
Dore said he’s particularly impressed with the girls’ skating and transitioning skills, which is especially important in ringette with rules that limit how many players can be in each zone at a time.
Out of the 15 girls on the team this year, 12 of them will be moving to u14 next season, which means tougher competition and more strategic play, Dore said.
The Rebels’ head coach is confident, however, that after this season, the girls won’t have any trouble in the older division. The girls have been showing promise when it comes to some of the finer points of ringette, especially knowing where each other are on the ice, he said.
“(Ringette) is more based on basketball, where like in basketball you have to pass over centre. Same thing with ringette, you have to … pass the ring over the blue lines,” Dore said.
The Rebels have grasped this concept well, he added.
With the first half of the season behind them, the Rebels have secured their spot in the u12 ‘A’ conference. The second half of the season begins after the new year, and already, Dore is looking ahead to ensure the girls keep advancing.
“We’re holding our own,” he said. “We’re having fun, and they’re learning and progressing.”
