The journey of the Eastern Ontario Force began long before they hit the ice together. It started with a group of athletes from across the Ottawa region, including five Ottawa Gloucester Devil players – Sasha Power, Tia Flynn-Mantyla, Danie Muller and Maya Howard – all of whom have one thing in common, an unwavering passion for ringette.

But the road to greatness wasn’t going to be easy. In fact, it started with struggles, uncertainty, and a lot of hard lessons.

At first, the team was a mix of different personalities and skills, gathered from various parts of the Ottawa area, and joined in our new Association. Each player had their own style, their own rhythm, and their own strengths. But they were brought together by one common goal – to become the best version of themselves, not just as individuals, but as a team.

The beginning was rocky. The players had to figure out how to balance their school work, their social lives, and the demanding schedule of ringette. There were days when exhaustion made the thought of practice feel like a mountain to climb. Some players struggled to connect with each other, and others wrestled with the pressure of constantly needing to be at their best. In their first tournament, they faced defeat after defeat, leaving them wondering if they had what it took to ever be successful. But they didn’t give up.

Every loss was met with resilience. The coaching staff didn’t sugarcoat the hard truths, but they never stopped believing in the potential of the team. Slowly but surely, the players began to understand each other. They found ways to communicate more effectively on and off the ice, learning that success wasn’t just about individual talent—it was about trusting each other, working as a unified unit, and never letting the fear of failure hold them back.

Their breakthrough came at the Ontario provincial championships. The Force had worked tirelessly to improve their skills, their chemistry, and their understanding of the game. When the competition grew fierce, they rose to the challenge. They fought harder than ever, pushing through fatigue and frustration. They played as one, no longer a group of individuals, but a team bound together by their shared determination.

The result? A well-earned bronze medal. It wasn’t just a piece of hardware, it was a symbol of everything they had overcome. It was a testament to their dedication, their perseverance, and their unshakable belief in each other. But even more exciting was the reward that came with it: a spot at the

Canadian Ringette Championships, being played this week in the Nation’s Capital.

Now, as Ontario Team 3, they are ready to play against the best in the country.
From where they had started to where they are now, the growth of the team is remarkable. Each player had blossomed, pushing themselves to be better, faster, and more determined. They know that the Canadian championships will be their biggest test yet, but they are no longer the team that had struggled to find its footing. They are the Force, a team that had learned how to battle through adversity, and they were ready to prove it.

No matter what the tournament has in store, they know they have already won. They have earned their place. They have become a team.

And when they step onto the ice they won’t just be competing. They’ll be showing everyone who the Force is, and how far they’ve come. Ontario 3, the team that never gave up, the team that believed, and the team that will continue to inspire.

We are so incredibly proud of them, and we can’t wait to see what they bring on the ice. No matter the outcome, the journey they’ve taken is one to be celebrated.