In the early 1970's the game of Ringette moved its way into Alberta (specifically Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Lacombe, Leduc, Edmonton). Ringette didn't filter to Calgary through our northern neighbours, rather it seems to have been introduced through 3 separate individuals who organized Calgary's first ringette teams in 1977
- Don Henderson attended a business conference in Montreal and while there stumbled upon someone who was involved in Ringette. Don decided he would get more information and start up a team with his 13 year old daughter and some of her friends. Don acquired a rulebook, and in the fall of 1977 organized and coached a team in Thorncliffe.
- Frances Willis also heard about ringette and sent away to Ringette Canada for a rulebook. She organized and coached a team in University Heights which included her daughter and friends.
- Bud Cadman moved to west to Calgary and found that there was no ringette in their new community of Lake Bonavista. He told his neighbour (Shawn Curran) about this great game that his daughter had played and convinced him to help form a team.
There is no record that these three teams played each other in their first season - from research it appears as though they didn't know each other existed!
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