Fifteen-year-old Airdrie ringette player Arawynn Berger is ranked fourth in her group as of Aug. 8 in a national contest to be named Youth Athlete of the Year, appear in a 3BRAND advertisement in Sports Illustrated and win $25,000.
The competition is presented in partnership with Sports Illustrated, The V Foundation, 3BRAND and the Why Not You Foundation. Votes can be cast for free or by donation, with proceeds supporting the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Why Not You Foundation, according to the contest website.
Berger plays for the Zone 2 AA Blaze. Voting for the top 15 in her group closes at 7 p.m. PDT on Aug. 14. Berger and her mother, Alanna, shared their story in email responses to DiscoverAirdrie.
Berger began playing ringette in Airdrie when she was six.
“I love that it’s so fast! You’re always moving and thinking. There’s no standing still in ringette,” she said.
“But honestly, what I love most is the team. Some of my very best friends play with me. It’s like a second family, every season I get to add to my family,” she said.
She recalled early seasons filled with face paint, cheering with the girls to the fans in the stands, and “even singing between periods.” As she moved into Zone 2 AA, she said she made friends from all over Alberta and Canada.
“That connection is really special,” she added.
Stepping onto the ice, Berger said she feels a mix of excitement and focus.
“It’s kind of like everything else disappears, and I’m just in the moment with my team,” she said. “I love the sound of my skates on the ice and the energy of the rink, my mom in the stands ringing her bell.”
“It’s the best feeling,” she added.
People describe Berger as a leader, a role she said means more than the scoreboard.
“It’s about encouraging others, setting a good example, and helping everyone feel like they matter,” she said. “Because in ringette, there’s no one superstar. It’s all about the team working together.”
“I am so proud of all my friends. I love to celebrate everyone’s victory! We all work so hard, it is incredible to see the success of our sport,” she added.
One of her proudest moments came at Provincials in Calgary this year.
“We were fighting for a spot at Nationals—only the top 4 teams would move on,” she said. “By game 3 of Provincials, we were down 2 games, we were in a must-win situation.”
She said the team’s energy surged when they saw “the stands glowing in orange” and heard parents banging drums.
“We ended up winning that game against a really strong team, the same team that eventually became Team Alberta at Nationals,” she said.
“They ended up winning silver at Nationals. We ended up placing 5th in Provincials. That game showed what we were made of. I’ve never felt more proud to be part of my team.”
According to her contest bio, in the 2023–24 season Berger’s U14AA team advanced to the Western Canadian Championships in Calgary, winning bronze in double overtime.
Berger also spends time coaching younger players, including her two sisters.
“I always try to make it fun first, because that’s what got me hooked when I was little,” she said.
“It’s okay to make mistakes—it’s how we learn,” she said, adding she tries to help them “see how awesome it feels to work as a team.”
She credits local athletes Tessa Glandy and Madi Rice as inspirations.
“Tessa’s game sense and intensity on the ice are next-level, but it was her role as an assistant coach that really stood out,” she said.
“Madi, being from Airdrie like me, showed me that someone from home could make it to the AA level,” she added.
Berger said she hopes people remember her as “someone who gave it my all, someone who showed up with heart, hustle and grit, and made others feel like they mattered.”
Her mother said she realized her daughter’s potential when Arawynn decided to try out for AA at age 12.
“She mapped out a plan, laced up her runners, and started training every single day. No one was pushing her,” Alanna said.
She recalled a tryout when she accidentally left Arawynn’s gear bag in Airdrie.
“She skated 2 shifts and left everything on the ice, she couldn’t have tried harder,” she said. “In those moments, I could see that she had something special.”
Alanna said she is most proud of her daughter’s grit.
“No matter what, she shows up with the same fire. She never complains, never backs down, and always finds a way to lift others up,” she said.
Behind the scenes, she said, her daughter’s leadership and energy stand out.
“Even when she’s not the one getting the ice time, you’ll catch her on the bench with the biggest smile, encouraging her teammates, staying upbeat, and keeping the energy high,” she added.
The deadline for voting in Berger’s group is 7 p.m. PDT on Aug. 14. The contest winner will be named Youth Athlete of the Year, appear in a 3BRAND advertisement in Sports Illustrated and receive $25,000.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM.
DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.