Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Ice Sports

Ringuette

Ringuette, more commonly spelled **ringette**, is a Canadian winter team ice sport played with skates, straight sticks, and a rubber ring instead of a puck.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Ringette is a Canadian winter team ice sport played with skates, straight sticks, and a rubber ring instead of a puck. It emphasizes passing, skating, and team play, and is played mainly by girls and women, though it is open to all genders.

What it is

Ringette was created in Canada in 1963 by Sam Jacks, with North Bay, Ontario identified as its place of origin. Each team has six players on the ice: two forwards, two defenders, one centre, and one goaltender. The sport uses a hollow rubber ring and a straight stick, and body checking is not allowed.

Key details

A defining rule is that players must pass the ring over blue lines rather than carry it across them, which shapes game strategy. Ringette is a no-contact sport, so checking, hitting, and tripping are prohibited. Only three skaters per team plus the goaltender may be in the end zones at a time.

Why it matters

Ringette is a distinctly Canadian sport, created in Canada and especially popular across its provinces and territories. It offers a fast-paced, team-oriented alternative to hockey, and is often described as a sport that depends heavily on teamwork.

In short

  • Ringette is a Canadian winter sport played on ice with a rubber ring and straight stick.
  • It was invented in Canada in 1963 by Sam Jacks.
  • Body checking is not allowed; passing over blue lines is required.
  • Each team has six players on the ice at once.
Canadian angle

Ringette is a distinctly Canadian sport: it was created in Canada in 1963 and remains especially popular across Canadian provinces and territories.[2][9][12]

Quick questions

What is ringette?
Ringette is a Canadian winter team sport played on ice with skates, straight sticks, and a rubber ring. The aim is to score by shooting the ring into the opponent’s net.
How do you play ringette?
Players pass and skate the ring up the ice, then shoot it into the other team’s goal. A key feature is that the ring must be passed over the blue lines rather than carried across them.
Is ringette like hockey?
Yes, it is similar in that both are played on ice with skates and sticks and involve scoring in a net. It differs because ringette uses a ring instead of a puck, has a straight stick, and does not allow body contact.

Sources

  1. Ringette Canada — https://www.ringette.ca/our-sport/what-is-ringette/
    Supports: Origin in Canada, objective of the game, and six players per team on the ice
  2. Ringette Canada — https://www.ringette.ca/kids/how-to-play-ringette/
    Supports: How to play, blue-line passing rule, non-contact rules, and six-player on-ice lineup
  3. Ringette BC — https://www.ringettebc.ca/come-play/what-is-ringette/what-is-ringette-overview/
    Supports: Non-contact nature, blue-line passing rule, and Canadian participation
  4. Team USA Ringette — https://teamusaringette.com/whats-ringette.php
    Supports: Invented in Canada in 1963 by Sam Jacks, six players on the ice, and basic gameplay
  5. World Ringette Championships — https://worldringette.com/en/irf-eng/about-ringette/
    Supports: Six players on the ice, no contact, blue-line passing rule, and sport description
  6. Comox Valley Ringette — https://www.comoxvalleyringette.com/the-game.html
    Supports: Origin in North Bay, Ontario and team composition
  7. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringette
    Supports: Standard positions and on-ice team composition