My name is Jenna McDonnell. I am 18 years old and this is my 14th year playing ringette. With the love I have for the game now, it might be hard to believe that I didn’t want to play when my mom suggested it years ago.
In the fall of 2005, shortly after my fifth birthday, my mom approached me with the idea of playing ringette. Like most people around the world, and even in Canada at the time, I had no idea what she was talking about. She proceeded to explain what a ring was — a blue, rubber circle that slides on the ice — and the straight stick the players use to stab a ring.
I was still confused and struggling to picture it. Regardless of whether I understood or not, I refused to go because I was shy and didn’t like trying new things. However, moms must know best because my mom took me to a try ringette event and I loved it. I spent the next 13 years building some of the best friendships I have to this date and learning life lessons such as leadership and hard work.
Having the opportunity to be a captain on multiple teams, I learned what it meant to be a leader at a young age. I realized, especially in the years that my teammates voted for a captain, that people looked up to me and saw a potential in me to be a leader. Being the shy, socially awkward kid I was, I thought a leader had to be someone who was outspoken and vocal, and I knew that wasn’t me. I learned that this was not the case, however. My dad always taught me to lead by example, because bossing everyone around doesn’t get you very far. He was right. Some of the best leaders may hardly speak at all. It’s the effort you put into your game, the respect you show for coaches and officials and the way you treat your teammates, that makes you a leader. Now I definitely wasn’t a perfect leader, but having the opportunity to lead my teammates taught me many life lessons that I carry with me to this day.
The other important life lesson I learned is the importance of hard work. I admit that I have been blessed beyond all measure when it comes to opportunities I have been given in ringette. Without the support of my parents and coaches over the years, especially my mom who has been my coach for many seasons, I would not have had the opportunities that I’ve been given.
However, there is also a certain extent to which hard work is a factor in earning these opportunities as well. All of these people supporting me saw a potential in me to succeed in the sport and they knew that I would do my best improve my game, given the chance.
Because of their continuous support, I have had the privilege to compete in the Alberta Winter Games in 2016 and to travel to Europe with my teammates, competing in Sweden and Finland in 2017. Without hard work and support from the people around me, I would’ve never had these opportunities. The crazy part is, if my mom hadn’t taken me to the try ringette event, even though I didn’t want to go, I wouldn’t have gained any of these experiences, life lessons or amazing friendships that I’ve had over the years.
Today, I play for the Medicine Hat Force team and I still love the sport like I did when I first started playing. Many of my teammates are girls that I have played with since we were in elementary school and we still enjoy the friendships we have made on and off the ice. The life lessons learned don’t only apply to ringette, these are lessons that have helped me through school and continue to help me in post-secondary education as I strive to become a teacher. Given the opportunity to do it all over again, I definitely would choose to go to that try-it event. Taking me there was one of the best things my mom ever did for me.
If you have a daughter that you are thinking of putting in the sport but are unsure about it, take her to a try ringette event. Ringette can make a life-long impact on girls and build some of the best friendships a girl can have. If you are interested in the sport, you can keep updated on the Medicine Hat Ringette Association website at mhringette.com for any upcoming events and any future ice times. The Females in Action Moving and Empowering committee also offers “Girls on the Move” in which the program’s sole purpose is to provide a free opportunity for young girls ages seven and up to take part in as many different physical activity experiences as possible. The fall 2018 session begins Sept. 19 on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Family Leisure Centre. For more information and to register Kayla at krepas@mhc.ab.ca.
Jenna McDonnell is a first year Education student at the Medicine Hat College and is a volunteer with the FAME committee.
