The Brantford Minor Hockey Association is ready to host the 51st annual hockey player International Hockey Tournament, the primary time the event can crop up since 2019.
After the past 2 tournaments were off thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, BMHA director of tournaments David Fielding aforesaid the organization is ready for the Dec. 27-30 event.
“I assume most are wanting forward to obtaining back to enjoying hockey, enjoying some groups they’re not wont to enjoying and competitive for the medals and banners,” aforesaid Fielding, UN agency is additionally tournament chair.
“Hopefully, most are excited. I’m wanting forward to that. We’re able to go.”
After the tournament was shelved in 2020 due to the pandemic, it appeared that the 2021 event would crop up. However, a number of days before the gap games, the tournament was off as COVID-19 cases rose.
A year ago, one hundred thirty groups registered for the tournament. That’s above usual.
This time, 104 groups square measure returning to play.
Fielding aforesaid organizers assume the lower variety could also be the results of a few of things.
“No. 1, the tournament this year is all weekdays. It’s Tuesday, Wednesday, Th and Friday,” he said. “People could be operating.
“Also, i feel … there square measure some groups that have set to pay Christmas taking an occasion from hockey.”
Still, he aforesaid he’s pleased with the registration, adding that 104 groups could be a manageable variety.
“We have sixteen divisions, that is perhaps one in all the very best variety of divisions we’ve had,” aforesaid Fielding, noting that BMHA top dog Kevin Murray, and Murray’s female offspring, Ashley, square measure key members of the tournament committee.
Games can crop up in Brantford at the hockey player Sports Centre, civic centre and Lions Park and in brent goose County at the brent goose Sports advanced in Paris, Burford Community Centre in Burford and Gaukel Memorial Community Centre in St. George.
In the past, the tournament has featured international groups from countries like Scandinavian nation and Finland.
Fielding aforesaid a global team was set to form the trip to Brantford however the plans fell through. There also are no U.S. groups this year.
“The challenges of travel and uncertainty within the world has light-emitting diode to not having international groups.”
Fielding aforesaid he hopes the event will draw groups from round the world within the future.
One acquainted face that won’t be around for the primary time in tournament history is Walter Wayne Gretzky, UN agency was gift at the building virtually non-stop throughout previous tournaments that’s named in honour of his son. Walter kicked the bucket in March of 2021
“I simply talked to someone the opposite day concerning however it’s reaching to vary while not him,” aforesaid Fielding,
He aforesaid the gap ceremony can embody AN acknowledgement of Walter “because he was such a supporter of the tournament.”
The gap ceremony game are going to be Wed at 7:30 p.m. on building one at the Wayne Gretzky centre. it’ll feature the Brantford 99ers under-16 A team enjoying Sudbury’s Copper drop-off.
There won’t be abundant rest for volunteers inside the BMHA as a result of they’ll have another major tournament to host, Jan. 6-8, once the twenty third annual Walter Wayne Gretzky Recreational House League Tournament takes place.