There's a ringette revival going on in Prince George.
With the city playing host to the 2015 Canada Winter Games 460 days from now, membership has swelled in the Prince George Ringette Association's youngest age group, the under-9 bunnies, and more boys are playing, which bodes well for the future of sport in the city.
"We have a strong bunny division across the North, which is really great to see because those are the kids that will hopefully stay and play," said Janine Gervais, president of the 133-player Prince George Minor Ringette Association.
"Our registration numbers are up 10 per cent and we also have a very strong volunteer base and strong sponsors this year which is good because we're hosting provincials this year, March 6-9, 2014, and we're applying for that to be a test event for the Canada Winter Games."
The PGMRA has more than 20 boys playing this season, following a trend that started last year.
"It is a co-ed sport and most of them have heard about it through school and their friends have played," said Gervais. "It's less pressure on them than hockey and most of our boys have started skating later in life. They can increase their skating ability without the pressure of other boys judging them."
The two-day Joy Hoffman tournament today and Sunday at the Kin Centre includes 20 teams -- six in the under-9 division, four in U-10, five in U-12, three in U-14 and two in U-16. The tournament is named after the former PGMRA board member and ringette mom, who died in 1992.
Visiting teams are from Terrace, Houston and Quesnel, which join Prince George in the Northern League. Because of the distances that separate the four cities, all league games are played in weekend tournaments. Terrace hosted the first tournament of the season, Oct. 18-19. Quesnel will have its Gold Pan tournament in January and Kelowna hosts its Sweetheart tournament in February.
The PGMRA has benefited from its Come Try Ringette event on Sept. 15, which attracted more than 80 players who were able to play the game free of charge. Another Try Ringette event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at Duchess Park secondary school and ending with an on-ice session later in the day at the Coliseum. The Coliseum will be the venue for ringette for the Canada Winter Games.
