FOR the first time in three years, a Manitoba ringette team in the National Ringette League has beaten the perennial powerhouse Edmonton WAM.
Carrie Nash of Winnipeg scored the winning goal at 5:44 of the second period for the Manitoba Jets, who beat the Edmonton WAM Jan. 3 in the St. Norbert Arena.
WAM includes national team veteran players Megan Todd, Barb Bautista and Keely Brown and national team newcomer Ashley Peters, all of whom played against the Jets.
Jets coach Brian Timmerman said his team was looking for redemption after losing 10-1 to the WAM at last year's national championship.
"This was, from the goalie out, one of our team's best efforts. Our defence played outstanding, our forwards checked very well and we skated with them," Timmerman said.
"We had such a desire to show them that we can compete with the top teams in the league, this was our first time playing them this season after losing to them at nationals, it was talked about that we wanted to show the WAM that wasn't our team (at the nationals)."
The WAM came from behind to tie the game three times but never could get ahead in the game.
Unfortunately for the Jets, the team wasn't able to repeat the result in the rematch later that day dropping a 5-1 decision with Nash scoring the Jets' only goal.
The NRL plays blocks of games on the weekends and will have completed a 20-game schedule by the end of March.
