Cheering in the Stands in '19 and Behind the Bench in '23

By Sarah Tone, Communications Coordinator

Ringette coaches Lynn Girardin and Spiros Kavvadas have coached together for over 10 years. Lynne brings over 25 years of ringette coaching experience, and Spiros had 12 years behind the bench in hockey before transitioning to ringette. Both got started in the sport because of their daughters. 

Caro and her older sister Nicole Girardin and Alexsi Kavvadas were all on Team Manitoba’s bronze-medal-winning team at the 2019 Canada Summer Games, in Red Deer, AB. 

“Both our daughters played in the last Canada Games, so sitting there as parents we both looked at each other and said, we want to do this, we want to see the other side of the coin to the Canada Games,” said Lynn. 

Building the Team

Two and a half years ago, they were selected as Team Manitoba’s ringette coaches for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and kicked off their team selection with a camp in September of 2021 that 90 athletes showed up to. 

“There were no releases that weekend. We wanted the girls to get familiar with us. We ran practices with those 90 athletes to give them a sense of what we were looking for, what the expectation was, and show us what kind of intensity they wanted to bring [to the team],” said Lynn. 

Three more camps were held, in November, December and in May of 2022. The team was cut down from 90 to 75, then to 60, then to 31. At that point, the team was split in two, and they travelled to a tournament in New Brunswick in July for a final competition before final selections. 

“We got to coach them and run practices with them. We got to learn personalities and dynamics and things like that. For a team like this, when you’re bringing three-to-four teams together, building that dynamic and seeing the interpersonal skills come through is a huge aspect, so we got that by the way we ran our selection,” said Lynn. 

“We baselined everything, we showed them how to prepare for practices, how to eat, how to focus on recovery, so all those little things we do with our Canada Games team, we brought forward so the whole group of 90 down to 75, down to 60, down to 30, picked up additional segments that they could take forward, and it helps the entire program push forward, because instead of just a few select athletes getting the benefit at the end of the process, it’s everyone,” added Spiros. 

Setting Goals and Expectations

In planning for a competition within the largest multi-sport event in the country, these coaches were also focused on the foundation of the ringette program at home in Manitoba. Specifically for those young athletes that may not yet have the skill to compete at this level, but have the drive and desire to be on this team in 2027. 

“Originally our goal for the overall ringette program in was to raise the bar to a higher level. So having that bulk of athletes come out to these progressive tryouts, we were able to push down the line to our younger athletes, that they can focus on for the next tree-to-four years as they progress. That long-term perspective is something I think we instilled in a lot of those younger players,” said Spiros. 

“A lot of the athletes that went through our selection program are now giving back to the younger age bracket, they’re coaching U10s and U12s, so the things they’re learning with us, they’re translating to the younger kids,” added Lynn. 

It’s Games Time

With the experience and knowledge the athletes gained in the selection process, there’s one thing left that Lynn expects from those that made the final roster, effort.

“The big thing we ask of the athletes is effort. Things may not go right every game. If we see that effort, then as coaches, we’re happy with your performance. The ring doesn’t have to end up in the back of the net for us to give high fives and say great job, if we’re seeing the effort you’re putting in, even though it’s not going well, that’s what matters.”

The bigger plan that builds in physical and mental training ahead of the Games to prepare them to bring the effort when they need to, also includes a strategy to reset, take a day, or spend time with family at Games.

“Every day is a new day. We really stress that with our athletes. Remember the good things that happened and carry those forward, and wipe clean all the issues that didn’t go our way. 

“Reset is going and supporting some of these other athletes to cheer them on too. We might not have had a good game, but being able to take our spirit to another sport and help them keep going, helps reset as well. For these ringette girls, this is their shot at a Canada Games. For lots of other athletes, they can be eligible for other Games, but for ringette, it’s their one shot, so we want them to live every piece of the Games. From the ceremonies, to the other sports, to the entertainment, to everything that’s here for them, we want them to experience it all,” added Lynn.  

Reflecting on her own Games experience as a parent, Lynn doesn’t hesitate to recognize the hard work the host province and community and all its volunteers to do make the Games possible. 

“You are giving the athletes such core memories, and wonderful memories that they’ll carry with them through the rest of their whole life. Canada Games exposed us, ringette families, to other sports – wheelchair basketball was phenomenal, the boxing, speed skating, these are events that you don’t get to watch, and they’re not really publicized in your communities. So for us, as parents, we were able to go and experience those, and bring our loud cheers to those events, and create friendships between the sports.”

“Going to the Games was like going to a mini Olympics for us. We really had no idea as parents, what to expect, or how big the event was. We had one of the best weeks we’ve ever had in terms of celebrating sporting events in Canada together as a family,” added Spiros. 

Cheers, Chants, and Cowbells

Some of the cheers they learned as parents in 2019 are the cheers they’re leading on their bench and in the stands as they support other teams here in PEI. In ringette, you don’t just show up knowing all the cheers. There are parents of older kids who welcome new parents and show them the ways – of losing their voices before the end of the tournament. 

“My first experience was at provincials back in Manitoba. I showed up to the first playoff game and there’s face paint on grown men’s faces, there’s green or red coloured hair, dogs with outfits on. It was an absolute gong show. Horns, drums, bells, sirens – you name it., it all comes out for playoffs. It was an eye-opening experience,” said Spiros. 

“Then you get to bigger events, when you have the pride of wearing the Manitoba colours at a national event, and you get to work on your cheers. You bring the energy and everyone’s expecting a cheer battle – especially with the playoffs coming up here over the next few days. If you thought it was already amped up at ringette you haven’t seen anything yet!” he adds. 

And the athletes love it, in fact, they expect it. If the fans aren’t loud, the athletes often tell their coaches to go out at halftime to get the fans cheering louder. 

“I actually had a grandfather this morning say to me, he was worried it was too loud and we couldn’t communicate to them, and I said don’t you worry about that, you need to cheer louder, we know how to communicate with the girls, you be as loud as you want!” Lynn said with a slight crack in her voice. 

“As you can tell from our raspy voices we do a lot of it too! If we don’t lose our voices by the end of the tournament, it hasn’t been a good tourney.”

There is no consensus on favourite cheers – it’s to each their own. Coach Lynn’s go-to is “ WHEN I SAY MANI, YOU SAY TOBA! MANI – TOBA! MANI – TOBA!” 

Spiros likes the classic “MANI MANI MANI!!! TOBA TOBA TOBA!!”

And the athletes? In case you hadn’t already heard, their favouriete chant is B-U-F-F-A-L-O ALL HAIL THE BUFFALO!