London, ON - After a convincing 5-3 victory against the Brock Badgers at the end of last year, the Western Mustangs Ringette team won the championship and remained undefeated for their entire 2022-23 season, clinching the Provincial and the National Championships for the first time in the Mustangs team history.
 
"Winning tier one was amazing. We went undefeated during the event to win it all, which is no small feat. Watching our athletes celebrate at the end of the gold medal game was so emotional. They worked so hard for this title, and seeing them celebrate that was wonderful. What it means for the team, and [for] our program is that it's the highest achievement ever attained by any Western [Mustangs] Ringette team in the history of the program", said Head Coach Ellen McClure.
 
As Coach McClure and the team enter the 2023-24 season, her seventh season in charge of the Mustangs Ringette program, she continues to enjoy every minute of it. "We had some adjustments to do in the beginning, as every coach has a different style, but over the years we have created a system that works so well. Seeing the program grow and succeed has been so rewarding. My favourite part has always been the athletes. All loving the same sport but are also individuals who each bring something different to the dynamic", said Coach McClure.
 
Coach McClure's resume boasts numerous podium finishes at Regional and Provincial Championships, and the Mustangs Ringette team is undefeated at 15-0 so far this season once again.
 
"Personally, I think the key to success is teamwork. There's no divide between coaches and players in our system. We discuss after every game, what we all feel needs to be worked on at the next practice. No one takes offence to what's said, we all understand that in order to grow, we need to be transparent together. The athletes have accountability in our successes, as much as our coaches do. It truly is a collaboration of bench staff and athletes, rather than how many systems work, with coaches making every decision and athletes having no input", added Coach McClure.
 
Third-year center and Team Captain, Laura Soper also echoed similar sentiments, "our team's unbeaten streak lies in everyone's strong commitment and discipline. We have stayed dedicated to our training and maintained focus during games, which has been a key to success."
 
This is Soper's second stint with the Mustangs; she joined the team in her first year, before leaving for the National Ringette League for three years where she played for the Waterloo Wildfire. After her acceptance into Teacher's College here at Western, Soper re-joined the Mustangs Ringette program as Captain last fall.


 
"From my previous experience, I think many leadership qualities contribute to a successful team. Clear communication is crucial to foster understanding and unity among teammates. Maintaining a positive attitude, as it impacts team morale. Additionally, mutual respect and leading by example are essential to building a cohesive team", added Soper.
 
Soper talked about the team's continued support for each other, "...I am also extremely proud of the collective drive and commitment to improvement. Everyone shares a dedication to continuously working to get better."
 
The Western Mustangs Ringette team is gearing up for the University Challenge Cup featuring sixteen collegiate teams, which is set to run from December 26-31, 2023 at the Carleton Ice House in Ottawa, Ontario.
 
Both Coach McClure and Captain Soper have their sights set on continuing to work together, demonstrating excellence on and off the ice.
 
"My expectations are quite simple for the upcoming tournament; 100% effort and good sportsmanship from everyone. Regardless of the outcome, as long as the team is committed to giving full effort to showcase their talent and skills while maintaining good sportsmanship, I will be proud of us", said Soper.
 
"We work as a unit, so we don't focus on individual achievements so much, but our bench is solid end to end. Each game we have a different player of the game, and not to 'be fair', it's truly because every athlete on this team has the ability to be the standout at any given game or event. Our skill level is that deep. We have many Athletic Scholars on our team each year, on top of games, practice, workouts, tournaments, championships, clinics in the community, working jobs and family time, many of them maintain top grades. I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far and hope to continue to bring positive accolades to Western within our sport community", added Coach McClure.
 
The Mustangs look forward to the upcoming holiday championship tournament. Watch for more details on all @WesternMustangs social channels and on the website.