Chatham Thunder Kick Off Ringette Season

Chatham Thunder kick off 2011-2012 ringette season - Submitted Photo

Chatham Thunder has started their 2011-2012 season with travel practices today at Memorial Arena in Chatham. Ringette is a Canadian game that was first introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario.

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 across Canada and is now played in all ten provinces and the Northwest Territories. Levels of play include AAA, AA(not available in Chatham), A, B, C, recreation and house league divisions.

Over 50 tournaments are held throughout the season, with Regional Championships being the highlight for B and C level teams, while Provincials are the finale for the A level teams that qualify. Provincial Champions in the U16 and U19 AA divisions earn a berth at the Canadian Ringette Championships, and U14 AA champions represent Ontario at Eastern Championships. Ontario teams have won many National Titles.

In Chatham the Thunder offer a terrific Learn to Skate Program for children born in 2007 and earlier. There are also house league and travel divisions from ages 7-77, as well as an Adult Learn to Skate program that is new this season. Also this year Chatham will be hosting a National Ringette Game on Oct 22, 2PM at Thames Campus Arena. For more information or to register for the 2011-2012 season, please go to http://www.chathamringette.com.