WHITE CITY, Saskatchewan — The 2020-2021 Buffalo Plains Ringette season was one filled with every emotion and definitely one we will never forget! Our board met at least two times a month, often weekly, from the end of 2019-20 season right to the beginning of the 2020-21 to stay on track with the planning for what we expected to be a full return to play by early season. Our registration numbers stayed on track and we were able to create sixteen teams.

The season started with full team practices only, by November the Public Health order lifted some COVID-19 restrictions which allowed for games to be played. Unfortunately, this only lasted long enough for teams to play between five and seven games. BPRA decided to shut down for two weeks to process the changes that were required for our sport to continue for the duration of the season. After the two-week hiatus, and all our Public Health order ducks in a row, players and coaches returned to ice in groups of eight to full ice, a mandatory mask rule, and only practices while keeping three meters between all on ice participants. Despite these harsh, but necessary rules all teams forged ahead with positive attitudes with the coaches making it their mission to finish the season with development and fun at the forefront of their plans.

A huge thank you goes out to Regina Ringette who put together a skills competition that gave all teams in BPRA the opportunity for a little friendly competition this season. BPRA ended up with many individual and team victories, which proves that given the chance, we would have had a fantastic & competitive season.

The BPRA Marketing sub-committee will be focusing on setting up two or three Come Try Ringette events through the off-season (Summer and early Fall) in hopes of driving the Children’s Ringette participant numbers up for the coming season.

On behalf of Buffalo Plains ringette, we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all the volunteers who dedicated so much of their time to making this season as enjoyable as possible for all the players. This includes, but is not limited to Board members, coaches, families, officials, rink staff, and lastly the players who all stayed dedicated to the sport they have grown up playing and continue to LOVE! Whatever the 2021-22 season looks like, we have the utmost confidence that Buffalo Plains ringette will continue to thrive!

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