Holland College to have women's ringette team

Holland Collegeplans to have its own ringette team this fall.

The college sent out an initial email to students to gauge interestand will soon be looking at player profiles to see who could come to team tryouts.

"We've been looking at ringette for a number of years, it's a strong sport in the province, " said Albert Roche, Director of Athletics and Recreation for the College.

Twenty-two-year oldHolland College student Isabelle Saunders has played ringettesince she was five and is now part of a P.E.I rec league but explained she's looking forward to playing on a more competitive level.

"I'm very excited, I really hope it goes through," said Saunders.

"To have a college league is going to be really great," she said.

Twenty-year old Ashley Hollis is also glad to hear the news. She's played ringette for a more than decade and is now considering Holland College.

"The pace of the game would be great for sure," said Hollis.

"I do know a lot of the girls after high school, they're kind of looking for something more competitive," said Hollis.

During ringetteseason,Hollisdrives to New Brunswick every week to be part of a more competitive national ringette league.

Roche said the college is very happy with the response it's received from more than a dozen young women looking to play.

In the initial year the college may also use players from UPEIand the community to help round out the team.

"That certainly told us there's a great deal of potential here," said Roche.

"P.E.I.'s got a great identity when it comes to ringette and competing nationally."

Team likely be part of bigger college league

The college said the team could play against high performance teams locally as well as a collegiate league based out of Nova Scotia.

"In Nova Scotia they have four university teams, as well as an under-19 provincial team, and another senior team active in a league setting over there," said Roche.

Roche explained in the initial year Holland college ringette would likely see a variety of exhibition,league and tournament play.

Cost is expected to be minimal, anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. The College already has jerseys that could work from the men's hockey team which no longer exists.

May help recruit students

"It's a good tool for recruitment," said Roche.

He said student athletes will go to colleges where they can play the sport they love.

"It could be the difference between choosing an institution with a similar program,"said Roche.

"I think it's a really big asset for Holland College to have a ringette team," agreed Saunders.

The college plans to hold tryouts in early September.

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