They are young. And, compared to most of the players they'll be skating against, they don't have much game experience.
That doesn't mean members of the Zone 8 ringette team won't have high expectations when they compete at the B.C. Winter Games, which run Thursday through Sunday in Vernon.
"I think it's going to be really exciting, and as long as we work hard and work as a team we're going to come out really good," said Madison Landry, a Prince George resident and one of the team captains. "I think a couple of us have been to some provincials and stuff like that but this is the highest level that most of us have been competing at."
All of the Zone 8 (Cariboo-North East) players hail from Prince George or Quesnel. All are 13-year-olds and, at the Games, will have to contend with clubs that feature high numbers of 14-year-olds.
To add to the challenge of trying to win games in Vernon, the Cariboo-North East squad hasn't had much time to gel as a group. The team was supposed to be assembled in August or September but, because of low numbers of available players, wasn't formed until December. As a result, the Zone 8 all-stars have played only a couple exhibition games against a local Under-19 club. They lost the first game 12-2 but, in a positive sign, showed great improvement and fell only 8-4 in the rematch.
"We're just learning as we go," said Zone 8 head coach Bill Engler, a P.G. resident who is being assisted by fellow locals Janine Gervais and Madeleine Crandell. "They get better every time they're on the ice so what I'm looking for [at the B.C. Winter Games] is to keep the games close."
Landry and fellow captain Jaime Bell will likely provide the Zone 8 all-stars with offensive punch in Vernon. Landry has size, skill and smarts while Bell, a Quesnel product, creates her success through sheer desire.
"Jaime is the hardest worker you'll ever see," Engler said. "No matter where she is on the ice she's hustling, whether it's getting the ring or driving to the net."
On defence, Prince George players Lindsay Gervais and Alicia Nicklen are expected to be key personnel.
"Lindsay is very solid [in the defensive zone] and she can jump up in the play and score a goal when we need it," Engler said. "Alicia is another one. She's small in size but she can battle with anybody out there and she can also jump up and help us out offensively."
The Zone 8 reps have just one goaltender, P.G.'s Landon Altmeyer. Engler joked that if something happens to Altmeyer during the tournament, "somebody's going to be putting the pads on." Laughs aside, Engler has great confidence in Altmeyer.
"Landon is a smaller goalie so when he's playing well he stands up and comes out and cuts off the angles," Engler said. "And he's got a pretty quick glove. When he's standing up, he can pick [shots] off."
Other team members from Prince George are Chantal Graves, Caylee Lazar, Rachael Nicklen, Sydney Paschal and Tess Tuininga. Other Quesnel skaters are Olivia Belcher, Shawna Gagnon and co-captain Casey Richert. Karen Nicklen is the team manager.
The first game for Cariboo-North East is Friday at 9 a.m. against Fraser Valley. On Friday afternoon, the northern squad will be back on the ice for a game against Fraser River-Delta. Preliminary contests will continue on Saturday and medal games will be held on Sunday morning.
These B.C. Games will be used to judge talent for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, which will be held in Prince George. So, standout performances by Zone 8 players could result in jobs with Team B.C. three years from now.
