“Playing that high level of Ringette was nothing like I ever dreamed!” exclaimed Steinbach's Belle Paisley after Team Manitoba won a bronze medal at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.
Paisely, Milica Oravec of Oakbank and Josee Roy of Ste. Agathe play for the Eastman Flames and competed in Alberta.
Team Toba defeated British Columbia 6-4 in the bronze medal game last Friday.
“It was so much fun,” said Paisley. “There aren’t that many athletes out there that get a medal at the Canada Winter Games and we are very lucky to have won that.”
Team Toba won preliminary round games over New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Alberta.
Alana Lesperance, who was our province's flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies, scored four times including the winner in double overtime as Team Toba edged the host province 8-7 in their last preliminary round game.
Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan 5-4 in the quarterfinals and then suffered a 7-5 loss to Quebec in the semifinals.
Still, for Paisley, the whole event was a highlight of her athletic career.
“It was intense, there were lots of fans, it was super loud and everyone was nervous and excited at the same time.”
Paisley says the process of playing this high level of ringette started long before the Canada Winter Games began on February 13. Tryouts initially began in May of 2018 where 150 athletes were slowly whittled down to a team of 18. This small group of 16-19-year-old players have been practicing together ever since, and for Paisley, the bronze medal is a nice reminder of their hard work.
Paisley thanks the many family members who supported her with their presence at the Alberta games.
“It was just so awesome to have my family there cheering me on all week,” she says.
The Canada Winter Games only happen once every four years and Paisley counts herself quite fortunate for being the right age, with the right skills, at the right time in order to achieve this honor.
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