The fastest game on ice in Hanover for over 35 years!
Hanover Minor Ringette (HMR) is over 35 years! Invented in 1963 by Sam Jacks of North Bay, Ontario, the game of ringette continues to enjoy increasing popularity provincially, nationally and internationally. Although considered primarily a girls’ sport, there are more than 15,000 young adults and children, both female and male, playing ringette in Ontario alone! Hanover is part of that continued passion for the sport, with the children of past players now playing.
Over the decades, players from our community and the surrounding area have been attracted to ringette because of its uniqueness! In contrast to other ice sports, it is a very different game with different rules, equipment and culture! Ringette is a fast-paced, non-contact sport with emphasis on teamwork, skating and strategy. Viewed as a game of skill and finesse that embodies elements of basketball and lacrosse, ringette uses a tipped stick, a hard rubber ring, zone play, passing over each blue line to advance play, no off-sides and timed possession. Ringette has earned its reputation as the fastest game on ice through the use of a 30-second shot clock to time ring possession for age U12 and up. Move it and shoot it, or lose it!
Ringette fosters an association culture all its own. For Hanover Heat players and their families, this means practical fundraisers, minimal volunteer hours and reasonable registration fees with incentives for early birds and first-time players. Families can choose to participate in the fundraisers or opt out with a fee to cover their profit portion. HMR does not set volunteer hours for player families; instead, we ask that they help on game days to run the score board and shot clock and fill in the game sheet. All coaches, trainers, managers and executive members are volunteers.
Is ringette expensive to play in Hanover? It’s less than other ice sports! Registration fees are very reasonable; in addition, the HMR offers an early bird saving and, with the a new incentive for new members! With a playing season of primarily weekend games that runs from October to March, Hanover Heat teams typically play 20 games in a season - 10 home games and 10 away games - against teams as close as Mount Forest and as far away as London. Families often carpool to games and enjoy the time spent on the road with their children.
Hanover Minor Ringette (HMR) is proud of over 35-years past in our community, and looks to the future with optimism. If you’d like to explore ringette further, type “What is Ringette? - YouTube” into your online search engine, or for a more humourous look, try “RMR: Ringette Night in Canada”.
