Nationals are next for the Northern Lights ringette team.
The regional Under-16 double-A club -- which has Prince George players Justine Lamothe, Saynia Pickering and Murdine Leboe in its lineup -- skated to a provincial title in Houston on the weekend. The victory qualified the Northern Lights for the national championship tournament, March 27 to April 2 in Cambridge, Ont.
At provincials, a double knockout event, the Northern Lights battled all-star clubs from the Lower Mainland and Thompson-Okanagan regions. In Sunday's title game, the Northern Lights erased a 3-0 deficit against the Lower Mainland and won 6-5 in overtime.
The Northern Lights started the tournament with a 10-6 Saturday victory against Thompson-Okanagan. Later Saturday, Lamothe and company fell 7-6 to the Lower Mainland. The Lower Mainlanders then edged Thompson-Okanagan 8-7, which eliminated the southern interior squad from the tournament.
On Sunday morning, the Northern Lights thumped the Lower Mainland 8-3. With each team now having one loss, Sunday afternoon's winner-take-all contest became necessary.
This is thought to be the first time a northern regional team has earned the right to play as Team B.C. at nationals.
Lamothe is a forward, Pickering plays defence and Leboe is a goaltender. Other team members hail from Houston, Terrace and Quesnel. They are Jamie Beck, Aimee Qualizza, Katie Berg, Ricki Burt, Sidney Kaleta, Jessica MacDonald, Emily McMartin, Cheyann Newman, Rebecca Milligan, Colleen Moorhouse, Erin Wiggins and Hannah Young. Coaches are Don McMartin, Judy Young, Melinda Moorhouse and Art Lamothe.
Justine Lamothe, Pickering and Murdine Leboe will join their P.G. team for the single-A provincials, which run from Thursday to Sunday in Burnaby. The team, sponsored by Ray's Stucco, also includes Caitlyn Zacharias, Stephaney Thompson, Jaden Bester, Melanie Brook, Annissa Webb, Chloe Nakahara, Cody Nichiporik, Sianne Petrisor and Carlee Rerick. The coaching staff is formed by Art Lamothe, Diane Pickering and Darren Brook. The management duties are performed by Sarah Zacharias.
