Cochrane will be brimming with visitors this weekend as ringette teams from Western Canada participate in the Fourth Annual Cochrane Classic ringette tournament Dec. 7-9.
Approximately 400 athletes aged 4-15 will skate in the 29-team tournament taking place at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre and Cochrane Arena. Nine teams are from Cochrane with the other 20 coming from across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Tournament organizers are expecting 1,500 visitors over the course of the tourney, injecting $250,000 into the local economy.
“We want to provide a first-class tournament that will attract teams from across Western Canada,” said Leanne McFadden, tournament communications and sponsorship coordinator. “And we want to promote and support local businesses, raise awareness of the sport of ringette and raise funds to improve the ringette program.”
McFadden said funds raised during the tournament will go towards technical sessions, goalie clinics, coaching development and reduced fees for the girls who play the hockey-like game with a ring instead of a puck.
There will be tables at SLSFSC loaded with baskets up for grabs in raffle draws, and programs available at all rinks with the teams and tourney sponsors listed in it.
McFadden said the tournament would not happen without the hard work of dedicated volunteers supporting the ringette effort.
“If we didn’t have the volunteers, we couldn’t do everything we’re doing,” McFadden insisted. “We wouldn’t be able to get all the baskets. We wouldn’t be able to support our girls and raise money.
“It takes a lot of volunteers.”
