Ringette Alberta Scholarship Winners

Meet the 2025 Ringette Alberta Scholarship Recipients

Each year, Ringette Alberta is proud to recognize athletes who embody the spirit of our sport, dedication, leadership, and community. These four incredible young women are not only standout athletes, but also students, leaders, and role models.

Claire Kusler

Clair has been on the ice for as long as she can remember, following in the footsteps of her mom who also played ringette. With 13 years as a player, three as a referee, and one as a coach, she has lived nearly every side of the game. After tearing her ACL last season, it was the friendships she built through ringette that carried her through recovery. Now cleared to play again, Claire is excited to return to the ice while she pursues her Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Calgary. Whether playing, reffing, or coaching, Claire plans to stay connected to ringette for life.

Saige Kleinmann

Saige’s love for ringette began years ago and has only grown stronger through every opportunity. Now in her third season with U19AA, she has represented the sport at both the provincial and national level. From attending La Relève to competing with Team Canada West U18, Saige has learned the true meaning of connection, within her team, her province, and across the country. For her, ringette is about belonging and the lifelong friendships that form on and off the ice.

Danae Funnell

For Danae, ringette has been more than a sport, it’s been a teacher of discipline, leadership, and teamwork. While competing at the U19AA level, she also excelled academically, earning the AP Scholar with Honour award and graduating as her class Valedictorian. Beyond her own success, Danae has given back through school leadership roles and junior coaching for younger athletes. This fall, she is studying Neuroscience at the University of Alberta while continuing her ringette career as both a player and coach.

Kailey Piercy

Kailey’s ringette journey highlights her resilience and passion for both sport and academics. She has excelled at the U19AA level, showing leadership on the ice while balancing high-level studies. Her dedication extends beyond competition, Kailey has been involved in coaching and mentoring younger players, helping to grow the sport in her community. This fall, she is pursuing studies in Kinesiology, combining her athletic experience with an academic path that keeps her connected to sport. Kailey looks forward to continuing her ringette career and inspiring the next generation of athletes.

? These athletes represent the heart of our sport, resilience, passion, and community. Ringette Alberta congratulates Claire, Saige, Danae, and Kailey on earning this year’s scholarships and thanks them for inspiring the next generation of players.

For Full profiles on these athletes please see our Social Media Posts.