Innisfail Minor Hockey will once again be hosting the Tournament of Champions this month.
The 20th annual event, which features atom and novice hockey players, takes place March 25 to 27 in three host cities – Ponoka, Lacombe and Innisfail.
“Innisfail will be all atoms, Lacombe is a mix of atom and novice and Ponoka is all novice,” said Tom McKinlay, event organizer. “There's different levels in the tournament but it includes all the kids. We think all the kids are champions,” he added.
The annual tournament welcomes atom and novice hockey players from across the province, including Fort McMurray, Cold Lake, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. Each town hosts an equal number of teams, noted McKinlay.
“They all come together for a weekend roundup in Central Alberta,” he said. “For years and years after our tournament is over Innisfail shuts the plant off and takes the ice out. That signals the end of the (hockey) season.”
Close to 100 minor hockey teams from across Alberta register for the event every year, but with Easter long weekend and spring break at that time, numbers are a little less this year.
“It'll be a lower number of teams this year because of spring break. We're looking at about 80 teams this year,” said McKinlay.
Players on the winning division team each receive a championship medallion, while all other players receive a participation medallion, he added.
“We're encouraged from the people that come to it and how much they love it,” he said. “We get a ton of feedback from the teams as well. That encourages us to keep going at it.
“It's great for Central Alberta. Everybody comes together at the end of the year,” said Mackinley. “It'll be a great way to wrap up the hockey season.”
For more information on the event visit the tournament's website at www.albertatournamentofchampions.ca
Tom McKinlay
"There's different levels in the tournament but it includes all the kids. We think all the kids are champions."
