Thank You, Jody Simms, Melinda Stewart, and Christine Beland - True Champions of Sault Ringette

Thank You, Jody Simms, Melinda Stewart, and Christine Beland - True Champions of Sault Ringette

The Sault Ringette Club would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jody Simms,  Melinda Stewart, and Christine Beland. Jody is stepping away from his role as Ice Coordinator, a position he has faithfully held for the past 7-8 years; Melinda is stepping down from her role as Registrar, a position she’s proudly held these past 7 years; and Christine is stepping down from her role as HR Officer, a position she’s given her heart and time towards since 2023.

Jody's journey with our club began as a U10 coach, where his passion for the game quickly became evident. Not long after, he took on the role of ringette referee, dedicating the last six years to supporting the sport from every angle. His love for ringette and his commitment to ensuring a positive experience for players, coaches, and families alike has made a lasting impact.

As Ice Coordinator, Jody took on one of the most demanding and behind-the-scenes roles in the club. His meticulous work in creating, managing, and updating both house league and rep team ice times helped keep the season running year after year. Anyone who's been involved in scheduling knows it's no small task — yet Jody handled it with patience, precision, and a deep understanding of what our players and teams needed.

For the past seven years, Melinda has been a cornerstone of our club operations as Registrar. She managed one of the most essential — and often overlooked — roles in any sport organization: ensuring players were registered, rosters were in order, and maintaining the registration system. Her accuracy, organization, and dependability helped hundreds of athletes get on the ice season after season.

In addition to her work as Registrar, Melinda has taken on volunteer roles including team manager, House League Convenor, shot clock operator and event supporter (Come Try Ringette, summer camp, street parties, and parades). She’s been the steady hand in the background and the person who made sure no detail — big or small — was ever overlooked.

Melinda’s time, energy, and love for the sport of ringette have left an indelible mark on our club. Her commitment, both in administration and at the team level, has helped build a stronger, more connected, and more successful ringette community in the Sault.

Christine held many roles within the Sault Ringette Club, both as support for house league and Ice Hawks teams, and in various roles within the board. Her enigmatic personality made her an ideal fit for the role of Human Resources officer. Through her dedication and passion for the sport of ringette, Christine helped organize and manage the Club’s structure through policy revision and internal recruitment.

During her time as HR Officer, Christine helped fill several qualified and passionate individuals into roles required to support the activities of the Club and our strategic direction. She made recommendations to the board regarding operating procedures, ensuring compliance with Ringette Canada and Ringette Ontario policies and procedures.

Jody, Melinda, and Christine’s dedication, time, and care have not gone unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they have done to support our club. While we’ll miss their presence at the board, we know they’ll both continue to be valued members of our ringette community.

Thank you, Jody, Melinda, and Christine for all you've given to Sault Ringette. You've helped shape this club for the better, and your legacies will be felt for years to come.

With appreciation,
Sault Ringette Club