Rattlers strike provincial gold

By Lethbridge Herald on March 27, 2025.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Lethbridge U19B Rattlers ringette team pose after winning their second consecutive provincial title last weekend

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Rattlers U19B ringette team captured their second consecutive provincial banner this past weekend in Fort McMurray.

“This was definitely a year that we came in as one of the favourites I would say,” said

said Chris McIntyre, Rattlers head coach.

“We went out there and executed our game plan and we had one incredible tournament in provincials this year.”

It was the battle of two undefeated teams in Sunday’s final, as Lethbridge competed against the host  Fort McMurray and hung on for a 5-3 victory.

“I worried early on because I thought that maybe the moment was a little too big for them because we started really slow,” said McIntyre.

“Fort McMurray got off to a 1-0 lead and carried the play through the first 10 minutes or so. That was the first time we had trailed all tournament and after that though we found our legs and we rattled off five goals within just a few short minutes to take a 5-1 lead.”

The Rattlers anticipated Fort McMurray would take a step back and slow down at the intermission.

“But in fact, to their credit, they came on strong in the second period and scored two fairly quick goals to make it a 5-3 game,” said McIntyre.

“At that point, we challenged our players to make a stand and either get us another goal or play some really solid defensive ringette and that’s what they did in the end.”

Defence was key for Lethbridge on route to the win.

“We had only given up 10 goals all tournament long,” said McIntyre.

“So yeah it was definitely a team effort (and) a commitment to defensive play that won us that gold medal.”

Winning a gold medal was not high on the goals list for the Rattlers at any time this season.

“Because you never know about the competition and you don’t want to set yourself up for failure by setting such a lofty standard,” said McIntyre.

“But at the same time, we knew that if we invested heavily in our game plan and in our players that we could come away with a gold.”

The gold medal capped off a season where Lethbridge won 38 games of the 44 they played.