Elm Creek will be the site of a special ringette homecoming later this month as the South Winnipeg U14B Fury bring an exhibition game to town to celebrate local athletes, community support and the sport’s rural roots.
The Fury will face the U12A Macdonald Wildfire on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Elm Creek rink, marking the first ringette exhibition game played on the community’s new artificial ice surface.
For Fury head coach Melissa Funke, the event carries personal significance.
A former Carman resident and longtime ringette player, Funke grew up in the Pembina Valley, where her father, Michael Funke, was among the co-founders of Carman’s ringette program and coached his daughters throughout their minor sports careers.
“Ringette was always my favourite sport,” Funke said. “With two older sisters who played and parents involved in coaching, our household revolved around it in the winter. Being able to play again and to coach — especially with my own daughter on the team — is a real joy. It feels very special to continue that legacy of sport back in my home community.”
The Fury roster includes Elm Creek’s Josie Lacoste, who travels to Winnipeg several times a week to compete at the U14B level, as well as Madelyn McKay of Sanford, adding a strong Pembina Valley presence to the team.
Funke said the exhibition game is meant to recognize the commitment those families make, while also introducing ringette to new audiences.
“We would love to see lots of family and friends in the stands, but more importantly, lots of girls who might not have seen a ringette game before,” she said. “We hope to showcase the speed, strategy and teamwork of ringette — but most of all, the way this sport makes girls feel powerful on and off the ice.”
She said the new artificial ice surface in Elm Creek plays a key role in making that possible.
“Artificial ice extends the season and gives kids more opportunity to get on the ice,” Funke said. “Skating is so fundamental to ringette and hockey that more ice time equals better players. In the city, we have access to ice year-round, so it’s great to see a community like Elm Creek ensuring young athletes can get that same opportunity at home.”
Ringette previously had a presence in the community, with former player and organizer Erin Pethybridge having helped run a local program in past years. Funke hopes the exhibition can help spark renewed interest.
“It’s a great sport for finesse, strategy and teamwork,” she said. “We call it the fastest sport on ice because of the playmaking it requires, and it was designed to be inclusive. Players of all abilities and experience levels are welcome.”
Admission to the exhibition is free, and spectators unfamiliar with the sport will have access to a basic rules flyer to help them follow the action. Young players and prospective athletes are also invited to meet the teams and coaches following the game.
The event brings together the Macdonald Ringette Association Wildfire and the Southwest Winnipeg Ringette Fury, two associations that often share players depending on registration numbers.
“We hope this helps spark something — even informally,” Funke said. “Seeing kids at the rink with sticks and rings would be a win for us.”
