SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The P.E.I. Wave under-16 team is off to a .500 start at the 2019 Credit Union Canadian ringette championships.
After dropping a 6-3 decision to Alberta Three in an early-morning game, the Wave bounced back to register a 2-1 win over Ontario One in the afternoon. Both games were played at Credit Union Place’s Ice Pad.
“Every game does matter because in a pool of seven the top four get to move onto the championship round,” said Caron. “That is the goal we have set for ourselves.”
Sophia Jeffery scored both goals for the Wave against Ontario.
“We played with a whole lot more confidence and intelligence in this game,” said Caron. “We really controlled the ring and weren’t chasing it the whole game.
“It really makes a big difference when you are passing the ring to the right spaces, the girls are picking up the passes and you can control the play a little bit more.
“The girls did a much better job of that and we defended really well. Sarah Bain, who started the game in nets for us, played very well. She stopped the ones she could see and the other ones the defence took care of.”
First game
Caron felt the Wave did not play as well they could have against Alberta Three. Wave player Alexa Carpenter of Montague agreed with her coach’s assessment.
“In our own heads, we didn’t really play up to our level,” said Carpenter. “We have one down, so we will improve as we go.”
P.E.I. plays Alberta Six in Summerside on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
“It’s a long week,” noted Wave player Andrea Caron of Summerside. “We play six games in the round robin and possibly four after that.
“We have to be physically ready and prepared for that.”
The game between Alberta Three and P.E.I. featured a lively atmosphere inside the cozy confines of the Ice Pad as fans of both teams offered their support.
“We have to adjust playing so many games in so little time, and it’s obviously a faster pace game with all this competition,” said Carpenter. “Even the rinks, all the fans is something we have to adjust to.”
Caron noted it is a very special opportunity to play in a national championship in her hometown.
“I play in this rink all year round, so I know the ice surfaces and a lot of my friends are going to be out supporting me after school,” said the 15-year-old Caron, who, along with Tori Jayne Chapman and Sophia Jeffery, scored for the Wave against Alberta Three.
Under-19
In under-19 play, the P.E.I. Wave dropped a 7-3 decision to Ontario One at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown.
Natalie Caron scored two goals and Robyn Power added a single marker to account for P.E.I.’s scoring.
P.E.I. plays Alberta Four later Monday.
P.E.I. has two games scheduled for the Bell Aliant Centre on Tuesday. The first is against Manitoba One at 1:45 p.m., and then British Columbia One at 7:30 p.m.
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