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 Kelowna, 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, Kelowna'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. Kelowna's Kate Meraw scored three goals over the two games.
Next up for the Force is the Sweetheart tournament in Kelowna in early February.
TORL will play in the provincials in mid-March, then at the nine-team Canadian championships in April in London, ON.