Tournament time

Charlottetown area hosting 89 teams, more than 1,100 athletes

The largest ringette tournament on P.E.I. begins Thursday in Charlottetown, attracting 89 teams from P.E.I. and New Brunswick, with more than 1,150 athletes and 320 managers and coaches, to the capital city area.

The CARI Complex, Simmons Sportsplex and Cody Banks Arena in Charlottetown, the APM Centre in Cornwall and the Pownal Sports Centre will host the tournament’s 153-game schedule. Divisions include under-8, -10, -12, -14 and -16/19.

Games start at 5 p.m. Thursday. The championship games go Sunday at CARI.

In addition to the games, which will be webcasted, and live music at the CARI Complex, there will be interactive activities for children and parents, including the bottle cap game and 50-50 draws.

New this year at the CARI Complex will be the penalty box photo booth for players to dress up, have fun and post pictures showing the spirit of ringette with the Twitter tournament hashtag (#CRT2016). There is no admission charge. Ringette P.E.I. has 660 players on 49 teams in programs in Souris, Montague, Charlottetown, Summerside and Rustico.

The team sport is played on ice in which players use a straight stick to pass, carry and shoot a rubber ring to score goals.

Originally designed as a winter team sport for girls, ringette is now an alternative to hockey for girls and boys.

Kendra O’Brien from Souris and Ashley Hollis from Stratford skate in the National Ringette League with the Atlantic Attack based in New Brunswick.

Tournament updates and results at www.charlottetownringette.com.