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

From CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, originally published January 4, 2026:

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

Born profoundly deaf, Wilfrid Laurier ringette player Leah Partridge relies on visual cues to play

By: Diego Pizarro

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 fun to watch,” she said. “I knew that I wanted to play [in] university.”

Abby Breckles, head coach of the Golden Hawks, says Partridge quickly found a spot on the team and that her hearing impairment initially went unnoticed.

“I don’t even know if we realized in tryouts that she was hearing impaired,” she said. “I think she made the team and then someone said something to us.”

Upon finding out, Breckles and the rest of the team began working with Partridge to adapt their style of play.

The team has many simple techniques to help Partridge stay engaged in the game. This includes talking to her face to face and up close so she can read lips. If a longer conversation is required, coaches will also try to speak to her in a quiet space.

However, if they do need to get her attention while out on the ice, Partridge says her team is always free to yell.

“If you watch our games you’ll notice we’re very loud. So my teammates know to be extra loud to get my attention,” Partridge said.

Partridge also tries to put herself in positions where she can see everyone on the ice.

“When I’m defence, I usually cover the high forward so I can see everyone in front of me and I know I’m not missing anything behind me,” she said.

When Partridge first joined the Golden Hawks, she didn’t want referees to know about her hearing impairment. On one occasion, this led to unsportsmanlike call, as Partridge did not realize that a play had ended.

But Breckles says that for the most part, there have not been many problems.

“We’ve never told any referees and she’s never had an issue,” she said.

‘Positive person on and off the ice’

Even with her success on the ice, Partridge admits she sometimes runs into challenges.

“It can be frustrating when maybe I don’t hear a player behind me,” she said. “So there’s definitely been some frustration for me to overcome.”

But her confidence remains high after years of experience.

“I’ve been playing since I was four,” Partridge said. “I think I’ve come to learn and really pay attention to my surroundings.”

Partridge also credits her team with helping her get past any challenges her hearing impairment can present.

“All the girls on my team are really supportive,” she said. “They never get down on me. They know everyone is trying their hardest.”

In her final year, Partridge has taken on a leadership role as an assistant team captain. Breckles says her leadership has greatly helped the team.

“She is such a positive person on and off the ice, boosting her teammates up every chance she gets,” she said.

After university, Partridge says she hopes to find a way to keep playing ringette. She says she could possibly join other leagues including the National Ringette League.

“There’s definitely a couple of paths I could take if I continue to play ringette,” she said.

The Golden Hawks ended up competing for the bronze title in the consolation final at the Canadian University Ringette Challenge Cup, which was held by the University of Guelph and included some games in Cambridge. The team ultimately fell short, losing 4-2 to the University of Western Ontario’s Mustangs.