The TORL U16 AA Force ringette team shook off the jet lag from a trip to Finland with a strong performance at the 2016 Esso Golden Ring tournament last weekend in Calgary.
The Force reached the semifinals before losing to the eventual tournament champs, Calgary Blue, by a score of 8-4. Vernon's Alyssa Racine led the offense with two goals and an assist.
The Force, made up of Â鶹¾«Ñ¡, Vernon and Shuswap players, were up against some of the best competition in the nation, finishing third in their pool with a 1-2 record.
The TORL girls advanced to the quarterfinals where they overcame a late two-goal deficit to defeat a team from Edmonton 6-5 in overtime.
Coach Warren Carter led one of the best showings by a TORL AA team at this tournament in years.
In the opening game, a 9-4 win over Zone 4 Sting, Â鶹¾«Ñ¡'s Delainey Gregory led the way with three goals and two assists.
TORL then lost 6-3 to St. Albert and 7-3 to Calgary Apex. Â鶹¾«Ñ¡'s Kate Meraw scored three goals over the two games.
Next up for the Force is the Sweetheart tournament in Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ in early February.
TORL will play in the provincials in mid-March, then at the nine-team Canadian championships in April in London, ON.