NEWS PHOTO
U16 Goal Digger net minder Kyree Stern-Rebmann sets up for a point blank save in the Digger's 12-2 win Sunday afternoon.
The Medicine Hat U16 Goal Diggers have their sights set high this weekend.
Starting Friday night is the return of the annual Ed Horvath Interprovincial Ringette tournament. The tournament took a hiatus last year due to COVID-19 shutdowns but is returning and has games scheduled for 35 teams at the three rinks across Medicine Hat.
Goal Diggers assistant coach Jason Tindall says it’s very exciting for the Ed Horvath tournament to get underway this weekend. He says he and his coaching staff are in it for the girls and are happy to see them playing again.
“It’s nice to see the girls back on the ice because it puts smiles back on our face,” Tindall said. “We’re just a bunch of volunteers looking at trying to let these girls have fun and that’s what it’s all about for us. Just make sure that there’s always a smile on their face.”
The Goal Diggers sit in first place of the U16 Chinook league standings with a record of 7-1. Tindall says the U16 girls are very confident and have high expectations of themselves this year. He added he doesn’t want to say they’ll win but believes in the group.
“We’re a fast, exciting team and we’re looking to finish strong here. I’m not going to toot our own horn and say that we will win the tournament,” Tindall said. “We really want to, I think there’s a strong chance, but we have some good competition coming at us.
“We know that there is some competition that we have already played this year that is coming down that always creates good games for us. So, it’ll be a nice challenge, hopefully by Sunday, we’re holding the gold medals and a banner.”
The Medicine Hat Ringette Association said in a media release Tuesday that the tournament is run solely by volunteers and is supported by sponsors and fundraising. There will be souvenirs for sale, raffle tables and an online 50/50 (rafflebox.ca/raffle/mhra) throughout the weekend. All funds raised go back into improving the tournament and ringette for local athletes.
“We are so excited to host our annual tournament again,” said MHRA’S public relations director Elisha Ammann in Tuesday’s media release. “This event is a great way for our teams to enjoy fun competition and for us to showcase our community.”
“We’d love to see people come out and see us at the Family Leisure Centre, the Kinplex and the Hockey Hounds arena,” Tindall said. “Support the really good game and sport of ringette.”
Tindall says his team has many strengths, and as long as they remain out of the penalty box and play within their structure, he expects them to be playing for gold on Sunday.
“When we start looking back at how our game works it really comes down to our defensive core,” Tindall said. “We have a group of six, seven girls there that really start our play off and get us moving in the right direction.”
Ringette Roundup
The U16 Goal Diggers were in action on Sunday hosting the Cochrane Rockies, winning 10-3 and 12-2.
The Rockies came out quickly in the opening game and scored early before the Goal Diggers settled down and scored seven unanswered, led by Avery Weisgerber with three in the half. Hanna Thompson had two goals and Brooklyn Schlenker, Kasey Martin, Pacie Harper, Maia Petersen and Jordan Weisgerber each had a goal in the win. Linsey Bechtold got with victory in net with 13 saves.
The Goal Diggers jumped ahead early in game two to a 4-0 lead en route to a 12-2 win.
Mackenzie Tindall led the Goal Diggers with five goals. Rileigh Tabor and Harper had two goals each while Jordan Weisgerber, Avery Weisgerber, and Brooklyn Schlenker each had a goal in the blowout.
Kryee Stern-Rebmann stood tall in net stopping 15 shots and grabbing the win. The Goal Diggers now sit atop the Chinook League standings at 7-1.
The Goal Diggers kick off the Ed Horvath Interprovincial Ringette Tournament here in Medicine Hat on Friday morning at the FLC.U19
The U19 A Gators had a tough weekend ahead of the Ed Horvath tournament as they dropped both of their contests Sunday on the road.
In the first game, the Gators lost 14-5 at the hands of the Calgary NW Titans. Amanda Robinson had two goals and Ryan Sweet, Kylie Kallenberger and Jaelyn Siewert each had one in the loss.
The Gators had a closer match in their second game of the day, losing 7-5 to the South Calgary Wild. Just like the first game, Robinson had two goals and Kallenberger and Siewert had one apiece.
Rheagyn Heinrichs was in net for the Gators in both games.
Editors note: An earlier version of the story stated that Jason Tindall is the head coach of the U16 Goal Diggers. He is an assistant coach and Kendra Stern is the head coach of the Goal Diggers.
