Forget the NHL and all its superstars for a weekend, because the town is soon hosting its annual tournament for hockey players whose love for the great game can never be questioned.
The annual Innisfail Adult Recreational Hockey League tournament, featuring up to 200 players between the ages of 18 and over 50, will be played out at the Innisfail Arena's red ice surface from Friday evening Feb. 24 to the evening of Feb. 26.
The tournament will feature 12 teams, four from the local league and eight from out of town, including those from Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary.
On Feb. 13 Innisfail town council officially gave its blessing for the annual event, which has been held annually for at least the past two decades, by approving a special event application for a beer gardens.
Innisfail's Ramsey Ehret, an event organizer and player for the local league's ProForm Panthers, who have been tasked this year to organize the tourney, said optimism is high that this year's event will be another success.
"Everybody loves playing in the tournament. We all chip in and bring players to the events and everybody pulls together for it," said Ehret, a 12-year veteran of the league, who noted while there is no trophy for the tourney winner there is plenty of "bragging rights. There are not a lot of rec tournaments in this area, and so I know everybody in our league really enjoys this tournament. It is near the end of the year and so it is one of our last weekends to play together."
He said his own league, which wraps up this season's action on March 12, has been a big inspiration for everyone involved, and while the number of teams have dropped over the years from 12 to four, it gives many, no matter what age, a chance to keep playing the game they love. Ehret noted his league is now starting to see female players, and that one out-of-town squad is expected to bring a couple of women players who adore the game.
As well, the tournament is also a boost for the local economy.
"It looks like we are getting five teams from Edmonton and Calgary and they will be staying at hotels. It is a weekend event when everyone who is coming from out of town stays in town for the weekend," said Ehret, emphasizing the adult recreational league is not just a fun event but highly competitive. "An Innisfail team has won it the last couple of years I believe. We ran two years ago. The Innisfail Indians baseball team, they put in an alumni team every year and they typically have a pretty good run of luck of winning it or being pretty close."
In the meantime, anyone who wants to check out the action this weekend can do so free of charge. As well, they can bring their children, as organizers will be setting up events for kids.
Ramsey Ehret, event organizer and player
"Everybody loves playing in the tournament. We all chip in and bring players to the events and everybody pulls together for it."
