After an off-season of changes, the Fraser Valley Avalanche are set to take to the ice in Langley with a new name, a new owner, new players and a new home. Formerly known as the B.C. Reign, the National Ringette League team was bought by Bill Bettles after last season and will be playing many of their home games in Langley. Goaltender Shannon Anderson said that will be a nice change for the team after their roaming schedule last year.

“Last year, we just got ice wherever we could,” she said.

Anderson said the name change was to make the team feel more local.

“It’s easier to connect with the local community if they have a name they can relate to,” she said.

The changes go beyond the cosmetic, though. The team brought in several new players this summer, including new captain Jennifer Wakefield. Wakefield has played for Team Canada and won national and world championships.

“She’s quite a role model,” Anderson said. “She really improves everyone around her.”

There should be no lack of leadership on this year’s Avalanche team. Wakefield has 23 years of experience playing ringette. She’ll be joined by assistant captain Jill Lange, who has also played for Canada at the world championships and has 19 years of ringette experience. The other assistant captains are Michelle Peters and Kim

Bailey, with 22 and 18 years of experience respectively.

Anderson said it’s a huge advantage to have so much experience on their team.

“They give a calmness to the team, a sense of leadership,” she said.

The team will play around 25 games this year against teams from everywhere from Montreal to Edmonton. They’re also reaching out to try and grow the sport at the grassroots level. Along those lines, they’ve allowed a local youth team to use their name and logo. The Junior Avalanche are an under-12 team of 13 girls and two boys that

competes in the Fraser Valley Ringette Association. On Sunday, the NRL team will be playing two games against the Manitoba Jets at

Langley Twin Rinks Arena at 8:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. After their second game, they’ll be hosting a one-hour training session for Junior Avalanche players and other local U12 players. Anderson said the team’s thrilled to be working with younger players.

“The goal of our team was trying to interest the grassroots community in supporting ringette,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for young women.”

Anderson said people who haven’t seen a ringette game before should come check one out.

“You can really appreciate the skill and the speed,” Anderson said. “I’ve played for 25 years and enjoyed all of it.”

There are plenty of elite players in the league, including the top Canadian talent on the Avalanche and Manitoba’s new Finnish star Saara Lahti. Anderson said having the team based in Langley this year will provide an opportunity for locals to catch some great high-level ringette.

“You’re watching the top players in the world.”