***Important Updates***

It is my unfortunate duty once again, to inform you that our season has come to a premature conclusion.  Your HRA board and volunteers have put incredible efforts into this season to ensure that your children had the opportunity to participate safely, in the game we all love.  With the current state of the pandemic and the estimated projections, the extremely difficult decision has been made to cancel the remainder of the 2020/21 schedule.  

We are now in the process of completing the necessary accounting for the season.  Once that process has been finalized, the executive will reconvene to discuss the allocation of the remaining funds, including the appropriate refunds that will be given back to you, the membership.  We ask for your patience while we finish this task as it may take a few weeks to get all of the necessary information together, but please be reassured we will have this done as quickly as possible.

Families who took advantage of the equipment lending program this season will be contacted by our equipment manager, Carmelle Gardiner, to arrange for a safe drop off of the equipment borrowed.  This will allow for sufficient cleaning time to take place so that we can continue to offer the program once again next season.

Further, nominations are now open for the 2021 Hamilton Ringette Award for Excellence in Volunteering.  This yearly award goes to a volunteer that has repeatedly goes above and beyond for the betterment of the HRA.  Given the state of our season in 2020, this award was presented over the holiday break, and we are happy to announce that Stephanie Parker was this year’s extremely deserving recipient.  Stephanie is in her 10th year volunteering with the association, giving countless hours of her time to all areas of the program.  Stephanie is currently the head coach of one of our U12 teams as well as the secretary for the board.  In past years she has taken on several roles on the board including being the SRRL representative, Vice President and the lead for the Come Try Ringette initiative, all while excelling in her yearly head coaching duties.  Stephanie was instrumental in the development of our FUNdamentals program, helping to create our partnership with N’Ice Stix while fostering a fun, family friendly atmosphere for all of our young athletes.  The results of her efforts can be seen throughout the HRA, by the current success in all levels of the association.  Thank you Stephanie, and CONGRATULATIONS! Nominations for the 2021 award can be submitted to secretary@hamiltonringette.ca.

Lastly, should the opportunity present itself if/when current restrictions are lifted, it is our hope to offer on ice drop-in training sessions.  More information will be provided on this once we have received updates from our governing bodies. In addition, we have taken steps to secure ice for this coming summer and it is our intention to run 3 on 3 programming as a tune up for the 2021/22 season.  While still in the beginning stages of planning, we are hopeful the restrictions will be lifted sufficiently to allow us to move forward by the time warm weather rolls around.  Keep an eye on the Hamilton Ringette website for all updates regarding the coming season.

Better days are coming and we hope that the many happy memories you have made with your loved ones softens some of the frustration of 2020. As we navigate through this pandemic, we look forward to a day when we can all be together again.  Please remember to wear you mask and be safe if you have to go out it public. Only together can we get through this and move on to brighter days.