For the first time in 20 years, the Lower Mainland is hosting the Canadian National Ringette Championships.
All games take place in Burnaby and New Westminster from April 9 to 14. The three venues are Bill Copeland Arena at 3676 Kensington Ave., 8Rinks at 850 Sprott St. and Moody Park at 768 Princess St. in New Westminster, right beside the high school.
There will be more than 200 games in six days featuring local u-16AA, u-19AA and 18+AA teams.
One of the featured teams is the Lower Mainland Thunder, who are led by six-year National Ringette League veteran Julia Scigliano of Burnaby.
The 27-year-old Thunder forward would like nothing better than to win a national title at home before friends and family.
The Thunder is the third go-around for a B.C. team in the national elite league and Scigliano is the only remaining member to have played in all six seasons.
But after 20 years in the game, Scigliano is still looking for her first ever gold medal.
The Lower Mainland club has been bolstered by the addition of Ontario veteran Jennifer Wakefield and two top Finnish stars.
Defender Heidi Petrell came to Canada with her brother Lennart, who plays in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers.
Salla Kyhala, the West's first-ever league scoring champion with 69 goals and 120 points, was also the runner-up at the recent Red Bull Crushed Ice women's race in Quebec City.
There are also many ticket specials for fans who want to see this fast-growing sport.
Weekday passes start as low as $5 and weekend passes, which include the championship final on Saturday are $20 for two (B.C. resident's rate).
For more info, go to www.ringette.ca/crc.
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