National Ringette League

Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup

The final competition for the National Ringette League is held annually at the Canadian Ringette Championships. The winning team in the NRL division is awarded the Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup named after the late Governor General of Canada, Jeanne Sauvé. Initially coined the Jeanne Sauvé Cup, and initiated in December of 1984, it was first presented at the 1985 Canadian Ringette Championships in Dollard des Ormeaux, Québec. It is now entitled the Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup, in memory of the late Governor General of Canada.

NRL general regulation

Characteristic of North American sports, the NRL is a closed league with no relegation. There is an annual draft in between seasons, which is the main entry for new players in the league. The NRL runs four regional drafts; in 2011, there was one for the region of Ottawa and Gatineau, another one for Manitoba, another for Southern Ontario, and another for the Montreal region. Trading among teams is also common.

History

Ringette is a Canadian sport that was first introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario. For ten years, play was confined to Ontario and Quebec, however the sport spread quickly and is now played by 50,000 girls across Canada.

However, it took the success of the 2002 Ringette world championships at Edmonton, where Canada took the golden medal, to spur the creation of the National Ringette League. The first NRL season began in November 2004 with 17 teams. There was no championship match after the first NRL season.

Season 2005-2006

In 2005-2006, the National Ringuette League, for its second season, competed with 19 teams (two new teams joined the league). These teams are now distributed in four conferences: the West Conference – five teams, Central Conference – five teams, Ontario Conference – five teams and Quebec Conference – four teams. The dominant teams were the Cambridge Turbos in the Ontario Conference, Montreal Mission in the Quebec Conference, in the Western Division the Edmonton WAM! and the champions of the Central Division, the APFG Sixers. At the end of the regular season were qualifying rounds: eight teams participate in the NRL Playoffs which crown the team champion of the league. The championship match of the LNR took place in the Centre Étienne Desmarteau in Montreal, on April 1, 2006 and Cambridge Turbos won. During the off season three teams folded, citing low attendance revenue.

Season 2006-2007

In its third season (2006–2007), the NRL consisted of 16 teams distributed in three conferences: the West Conference – seven teams, Ontario Conference – five teams, all in Ontario, and Quebec Conference – four teams. The Championship finale match took place in Halifax, on April 10, 2007, won by the Edmonton WAM!.

Season 2007-2008

In 2007-2008, 17 teams competed in two conferences, the Western Conference including seven teams, and East Conference including ten teams. The Cambridge Turbos won the NRL Championship by beating the Montreal Mission 2-1 in extra time.

Season 2008-2009

In 2008-2009, the NRL contained 18 teams grouped in a Western Conference with six teams and an East Conference with twelve teams. The NRL Championship Game took place in Charlottetown, PEI, and the Cambridge Turbos won again Also in 2008, the first World Club Ringuette Championship was held in Sault-Sainte-Marie, Ontario. Four NRL teams faced two teams from the Professional Ringette Elite League of Finland, the Ringeten SM-Sarja. The Cambridge Turbos won the world title having overcome in finale the Finnish champion team, LuKi-82 Luvia.

Season 2009-2010

In the 2009-10 season, the National Ringuette League wasx for its sixth season comprised 18 teams grouped together in a Western Conference with six teams and an East Conference with twelve teams there. The competition remained very intense and marked the return of the ascendancy of different west teams: Edmonton Wam! became again the NRL Championship after an eclipse of two years at the hands of the Cambridge Turbos. Edmonton beats Cambridge 2-0 in National Finals.

Season 2011-2012

From March 27 till April 2, 2011, the NRL Championship Tournament took place in Cambridge, Ontario. In the Final game, the Edmonton WAM! triumphed over the Cambridge Turbos

In the 2011-12 season, the NRL entered its eighth season with 19 teams playing in two conferences. The NRL knows a new expansion, with the creation of two new teams: Atlantic Attack (of Moncton in New Brunswick) and Lower Mainland Ringette League (LMRL Thunder of British Columbia).

The 2011-12 regular season began on October 15, 2011 and concluded on March 18, 2012. All in all, thirty matches are competed by each of the teams during the regular season. Each of the teams faces only teams of his conference. This structure allows to reduce the costs of transport given the size of the Canadian territory covered by the league. At the end of the regular season, there is a break of a week when the various individual distinctions are awarded, then a NRL Championship Tournament.

NRL National Champions

In 2010-11 season, new fact, a NRL Championship Tournament replaces the Championship qualifying rounds, this tournament takes place in just one city. This allows to create a media event and to hold attention. Ten better teams in the regular season of the league, participate in this tournament which crowns the team champion of the league. The championship final game is broadcast on Rogers TV.

Starting in 2011-12, eight teams are playing a full round robin to determine the champion which is also called Elite Eight.

List of NRL champions season by season

Awards and honours

At the end of each season (at the end of March) the League quotes its annuals awards during the week of break pre-tournament eliminating playoffs. The annual NRL honors reward the athletes having obtained excellent performances during the regular season. Each of 2 conference presents one athlete and a coach as finalist in every category, and the National Championship Tournament are chosen among these finalists.

Income and payment for the ringette players

In 2008, the budget of each NRL team of the oscillates between $15 000 and $20 000. The teams and the league contribute to cover all the transport spending, accommodation and rent of arenas. The players however have to find their own financiers to pay for their equipment and their personal spending and aren't paid for play. The audience in the matches for several NRL teams is limited to some supporters' hundreds.

Development of young players

The NRL maintains a collaboration with the lower Ringette leagues as regards the development of the young girls players: So several teams of the NRL have affiliated development's teams Under 19 years old and Under 16 years old. The Canadians Championship U16 and U19 (usually in April) take place in the same place as the NRL playoff tournament elimination. What allows the tracers of the teams NRL to identify the young talented players.

Regular season team record