Deaf Laurier ringette player Leah Partridge thrives on ice with support of her team

Ringette player Leah Partridge moves across the ice with speed and awareness, tracking the ring, her teammates and the play unfolding ahead, often without hearing the players behind her.

Partridge is a fourth-year psychology student and assistant team captain of the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks.

She was born profoundly deaf in both ears, but has been playing ringette since she was just four years old. Last week, she and the Golden Hawks competed in the Canadian University Ringette Challenge Cup, a national tournament for university teams.

"I really like the high intensity and the speed," she said. "I think it's just exciting and it's always different every game."

Being profoundly deaf means Partridge has very little functional hearing. Even with the help of hearing aids, it is difficult for Partridge to hear all the action going on around her during a game. Her hearing aids often break down during games as sweat can damage them quickly.

"I'm not sure if hearing aids are meant for athletes and younger people," she said. "They're pretty delicate."

As a result of this Partridge has had to adapt her playing style, relying on visual cues to follow the game and communicate with her teammates. She says being forced to adapt has made her a better player.

"I think I'm pretty good reading plays and getting the ring out," she said.

Partridge is from Londesborough, Ont., and when she started at Wilfrid Laurier University, she was eager to begin playing ringette at the university level and tried out for the Golden Hawks on her second day of school.

Partridge says her sister's time playing ringette at Brock University in St. Catharines inspired her.

"For four years I got to watch her play with them and it was really