Ringette not just for girls

Belle League boys’ team first in Manitoba

Cheryl Adlard says ringette is “not just for girls,” even though it has been a sport that, at least in Manitoba, has been predominately female.

Now, for the first time ever, a boy’s team is playing in Belles Division (16-19 years old) in the Winnipeg Ringette League.

“It’s the first step on the long road to an all-male league. There are a lot of boys who love playing ringette, and we just want to provide an alternative (to hockey). I am very excited about having an all boys’ team in the league,” said Adlard, executive director of the Manitoba Ringette Association.

She noted that ringette was invented in 1963 by a man, the late Sam Jacks, a recreation director in North Bay, Ont.

“When this sport was conceived, it was seen as an alternative to hockey for female athletes. So, we try not to compare the sports because the philosophies behind them are different,” said Adlard, adding that Jacks also created floor hockey in 1936.

Nancy Dixon, president of the WRL, noted that they were approached last spring during the League’s annual general meeting by the organizers of the boy’s team – including the coach, Jackie Bohemier – about joining the league’s Belles Division.

“We were willing to try it and over the summer, Jackie and her son Eric put together a team, and we granted them permission to come in and play at the Belle ‘A’ level as an exhibition team,” she said, noting that Quebec is the only province with a male ringette league.

“In our age groups, a boy can play on a team in a position other than goalie up to the age of 14, the Tween level. You don’t see it very often. Usually, the boys come as goalies.”

Dixon added that there are 183 teams in the WRL, from Bunnies (ages 4-6) up to Masters (30 and up) – a total of 10 different divisions.

The new boys’ team will play the full 16-game schedule, but they won’t participate in the playoffs or the provincial finals – which are only open to female teams, she said, adding that the numbers of players in the WRL is up this year.

Dixon pointed out that there’s no bodychecking in ringette.

“They have to play our rules. You have to pass over both blue lines in ringette,” she explained, adding that an offside is called when the ring isn’t passed over the blue line.

“I think it’s a good idea if boys are interested in ringette. If they enjoy the game, then it will spread by word of mouth. We may one day see a boys’ league in ringette here. I think because hockey is so popular here you haven’t seen more boys in ringette.”

Adlard added: “One of the benefits for the boys’ team is that hopefully they’ll become ambassadors for the sport to other males. It’s the first step on the long road to an all-male league.”