WATER VALLEY - Water Valley’s Dylan Pighin is playing at the World Ringette Championships tournament at the WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary Oct. 28 to Nov. 4.
Dylan, 17, is a member of the U18 Team Canada following try-outs in August. Her team will play in the International Development Festival tournament, with players from the U.S., Finland and elsewhere in Europe scheduled to play.
“The festival tournament is to celebrate the 60th year of the sport of ringette. They’ve brought in this new festival for my age group,” Dylan said, noting a training camp session will be held before the tournament itself.
More than 350 players in several age categories will hit the ice in the tournament, presented by Ringette Canada and the International Ringette Federation.
Ringette is played on the same ice surface as hockey, with three forwards, two defence and one goalie on each shift.
Dylan plays centre on her Calgary-based Blaze team.
Asked how she thinks her team will do in the tournament, she said, “I’m super excited. It’s been a long wait since tryouts and the work we’ve put in. Everyone is waiting for it. I hope we do well. Finland has a very good team.”
She said she has already played against many of the players in this tournament.
The U21 Junior World Ringette Championships will also be played Oct. 29-Nov. 4. Pighin says she hopes to make Canada’s U21 team starting in 2025.
Dylan explained that ringette is increasing popular in Alberta and across Canada, with many young people joining teams.
“There is a great number of new girls playing ringette and there are actually quite a few guys that are now in it,” she said. “Having Worlds in Calgary is really helping that.”
Ringette was first played in Espanola, Ontario in 1963.
