AMHERST – Like hockey, ringette is played on ice. Unlike hockey, you have to make passes.
“It’s a true team sport because you have to make a pass,” said Chelsea Baird. “In hockey, you don’t have to make a pass but in ringette you have to make a pass before you go over the blue line.
Baird is an employee with the Town of Amherst who, along with Tamara Porter, the Town of Amherst active living co-ordinator, is helping introduce ringette to Amherst.
“It’s more like basketball and lacrosse. There’s a lot of passing,” added Baird.
Ringette will be showcased next Saturday when Ringette Nova Scotia brings ‘Come Try Ringette’ to Amherst Stadium.
“We don’t have a program here in Amherst yet, so we’re introducing the sport,” said Porter.
Registration is open to youth of all ages, both boys and girls, at 3:30 p.m., and the on-ice learning session runs from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
“What they need to bring skates, gloves and a CSA approved helmet,” said Porter. “We’ll provide the sticks, the rings and the fun.”
The town recently bought sticks and rings and have run an after-school ringette program Wednesday afternoons since the beginning of January.
“It’s part of our free After the Bell Skating program where kids can skate and play shinny ringette,” said Porter.
Ringette Nova Scotia is bringing more than Come Try Ringette to Amherst next Saturday.
They are also bringing two exhibition games between the Ringette NS and Ringette NB U14 AA teams to Amherst Stadium.
The first game starts at 6 p.m., the second at 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.
“People can come and watch,” said Porter.
twitter: @ADNdave
