The Eastman U16A ringette team came home from the Western Canada Ringette Championships with a bronze medal.

Head Coach Michelle Friesen says this is the first year that the Eastman Ringette Board has put together a U16A ringette team. She notes most of the players were from the Eastman region, with a few from north Winnipeg and the Transcona area.

"We started off with the goal to make it to the westerns and we had to place in the medals at provincials in order to qualify to make it to westerns so we did that. We came in second at provincials and then at westerns we came home with the bronze so I think for the first year Eastman hosting a U16A team we managed to meet our goals, so that was really great."

Friesen says they are hoping to put together another U16A team next year and this bronze medal may help with that goal. She says the team was committed and driven all year long.

"I think we had a really good year, our coaching staff worked together really well, the girls were super excited to be on an 'A' team and they all were like-minded, wanted to go out there, do their best, play some good ringette, and come back and meet their goals, so we had a great year."

Friesen says her proudest moment was the dramatic 8-7 overtime loss that got them the bronze medal.

"At the end of the first period we were down six nothing and by the end of the second period, we had come back to tie seven all. Then what happens is you are forced into a period of overtime, we played 15 minutes there and then the Saskatchewan team scored. I think any sports team, to keep fighting regardless of how far behind you are, to maintain that focus and win that mental game is so important in sport and also in life."

Friesen says they came away from the tournament feeling positive.