Anyway, in the lead up to Canada Day 2006, I thought I would talk about something Canadian on my blog. The topic I've chosen is ringette.
Ringette is a Canadian game that was first introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario. Developed originally for girls, ringette is a fast-paced team sport on ice in which players use a straight stick to pass, carry, and shoot a rubber ring to score goals.
For ten years, play centered in Ontario and Quebec, however the sport quickly spread accross Canada and is now played in all ten provinces and the Northwest Territories.
In fact, the sport has become one of Canada's favorite activities for females, with over 50,000 participants, including players, coaches, officals and volunteers, across Canada - a remarkable growth rate for such a young sport.
The growth has continued internationally with the formation of associations in the U.S.A., Finland,
Sweden, Russia, and France. In addition, Ringette Canada has been instrumental in demonstrating the game in the Netherlands, Switzerland, West Germany, along with New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Canada vs. someone at the 2002 Worlds.
(Logo, text and photo obtained from www.ringette.ca)
Note that while there has been remarkable growth, it doesn't seem to be as popular as those other Canadian games like basketball and hockey... even lacrosse.
We played ringette in gym in elementary school. That was pretty much the beginning and end of ringette for me. I don't recall any of my friends playing ringette outside of school or there being any ringette teams in Fort Garry.
Anyway, that's it for the Canadian trivia.
3 comments:
Are you sure you didn't know anyone who played? Cuz in my year, I think I was the ONLY one who didn't play ringette. Infact, Neen and Laura still play!
I have given this further thought - because once it's in my head, I'm likely to become obsessed - and I still don't recall any of my Crane friends playing. They were more softball girls. I think the Oakenwald girls were ringette girls.
Fine then... FINE!
Hands up if you *don't* know someone who played ringette.
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