The Medicine Hat U16 Matrix attack the Pembina net in the opening game of U16B Ringette Provincials on March 17, 2023 at the Kinplex. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Chris Brown

U16 Matrix have home-ice advantage for provincials

Mar 17, 2023 | 1:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A championship title is sweet and the only thing that makes it sweeter is winning at home. That’s could be a reality this weekend for a Medicine Hat ringette team.

The U16 Matrix is hosting provincials, battling 11 other teams from across Alberta for the title.

“They’re so excited to be able to play at home, all their friends, all their family can come and watch, they’re working so hard to try and get to the finals because they really want to be able to medal in front of everybody,” says Elisha Ammann, whose daughter Grace plays on the team.

“Our team has been very strong this year the U16s are a very strong team. Every tournament they’ve been at they’ve won and they’ve done really well in the league finishing first in the league. So they have high hopes for this weekend and I hope that they can work hard and make it happen.”

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The Matrix scored a 4-0 win over Pembina in the opening game this morning and followed that with a 5-1 drubbing of Strathmore. They’ll wrap up round-robin play on Saturday morning against Fort Saskatchewan before playoffs begin in the afternoon.

Ammann is also the tournament coordinator and says hosting provincials showcases the community to the province and is a great way to show that a little association can host a big provincial event.

“So we’re not a very big association compared to Calgary or Edmonton or some of the bigger centres, but we can pull off a fantastic event just as well as any place else,” she says.

She also notes the economic spinoffs of hosting, as 11 out-of-town teams are here staying in hotels, eating in restaurants and otherwise spending money in the community.

Most of the tournament games will be played at the Kinplex with a few at the Hockey Hounds Arena. The gold medal game is at the Kinplex at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Ammann invites everyone to watch the weekend action and see the strength of ringette in Medicine Hat.

“We’re not a very big city so it’s not going to be a huge association but we have strong teams at every level and we have lots of kids coming up in the junior level. she says. “So we hope to see multiple teams at every level as we move forward in the next few years.”

For full tournament details visit rabprovincials.com.