For what it would cost for a large coffee and a muffin, your child can play the fastest game on ice. While the Olympic speed skaters might try and lay claim to that title, it goes to the sport of ringette, which stresses speed and fast-paced play.
And the Wellington North Ringette Association has introduced a first-year rate of $125 for any player new to the sport, regardless of age. So, based on an average of 20 games and as many of 28 practices, the average cost of each ice time works out to just $2.75.
Ringette was first introduced to the world in 1963 in North Bay, and is now played in all provinces. One of the fastest growing women's sports in Europe and Asia, it was originally developed for girls and is now played by boys and girls who are looking for a cheaper and more fast-paced alternative to hockey.
The sport doesn't focus only on size and stickhandling skills, but instead emphasizes skating, agility, and hand-eye coordination. Ringette has attracted a lot of interest across the country, with more than 50,000 players, coaches, officials and volunteers taking part in what is often called hockey's little sister.
The object in both is simple, to score goals, but in ringette the players have sticks without blades and use them to stab a rubber ring. There are no offsides or icings to slow down the play, and no faceoffs. Instead, a goalie has five seconds to throw the ring to a teammate.
After goals, the victimized team gets the ring at centre ice. Players can't go coast-to-coast with the ring, and must pass it across both bluelines to encourage team play and get everyone involved. Goalies wear the same equipment as in hockey, but often use a glove on their catching hand instead of a trapper.
Ringette games are two periods long, with each roughly 20 minutes in length depending on the age level. Play is non-contact though the occasional collision does take place.
Many players start in ringette and then eventually move on to girl's hockey, such as former Harvard University sniper Brita Lind, who played ringette growing up in Regina and made the switch to join Harvard's hockey team. Olympic gold medalist Catriona Lemay-Doan started in ringette before switching to the longer blades of speed skating.
In Wellington North, age divisions begin with Under-7 Bunnies and go up to Under-19. Teams in this area compete in the Western Region Ringette Association, and road trips include Guelph, Elora/Fergus, Owen Sound, Tara, Hanover, St. Jacobs, Waterloo and Kitchener.
Home games and practices are in either Mount Forest or Arthur. The Wellington North Ringette Association is holding a free Come Try Ringette night this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Forest Sports Complex.
All participants must have a helmet, skates and heavy mitts or gloves. Sticks will be provided, and registration forms will be available that night. For more information contact Christine or Bill at 519-323-9409.