By Mark Janzen /
Picture this: your ten-years-old and it’s summer vacation. But instead of letting your skates dry during those sun-soaked, schools-out months, you’re playing in a hockey tournament in Edmonton.
But not just any tournament. You’re playing your games on the ice in West Edmonton Mall.
Thousands of people will see you play. And you’re playing against the best hockey players your age in North America.
But when you’re not on the ice, there’s a beach party at the water park where you and your teammates are sure to wreak havoc on some innocent lifeguards.
At ten-years-old, the Super Novice Hockey Tournament might be the best thing ever.
“The Brick tournament…was one of those tournaments where it was the first real going away tournaments,” said Chicago Blackhawks forward Troy Brouwer in an interview with CBC. “It was the first time we jumped on a plane and went to a tournament, I guess. You don’t go for pre-game naps. You go to the water park and wear yourself out.”
But when the skates are on, the Brick tournament is some kind of special. The litany of current NHLers who played in this tournament is a who’s-who of hockey stardom including players like Dany Heatley, Jonathan Toews, Dion Phaneuf, Steven Stamkos, Jay Bouwmeester and future NHLers like Tyler Seguin and Cam Fowler.
And this year’s rendition, the 21st of its kind, is sure to be no different from the rest.
“Literally, if you sit there in the stands and you watch the game, you would be hard pressed to believe that you’re watching ten-year-old kids,” said tournament organizer Andy Wigston.
“They don’t look like it when they make the passing plays they do or when they shoot it in the top corner or when a goalie makes an unbelievable glove save. These are the best of the best.
“We know that of the 200 kids that come this year, two or three of them are going to be stars in the NHL one day. We just don’t know who they are.”
But while the competition will no doubt continue to produce high-end talent, for Wigston, who was part of the initial organizing committee in 1990, it’s more than just hockey.
“What’s really made it successful is that it’s a fun thing to do,” Wigston said. “It’s summer vacation. It’s ten-year-old kids. It’s in West Edmonton Mall with the water park and Galaxyland and they have a blast.
“When the kids have their equipment off and they’re running around the mall in t-shirts and shorts, they’re ten-year-old kids. That’s the unique thing about it and it’s wonderful to watch.”
This year’s tournament features 12 of the best teams from across North America, eight of which are coached by former NHLers and included in the bench boss bunch is Denis Savard who will guide the Chicago Junior Blackhawks in an attempt to mimic the success of their senior sponsor.
Joining the Blackhawks in Edmonton this year will be Team Brick Alberta, Winnipeg Junior Jets, Detroit Red Wings, California 2000’s, Minnesota Blades, Montreal Ice Storm, Team Saskatchewan, Toronto Bulldogs, Toronto Pro Hockey, Vancouver Vipers and the Connecticut Yankees.
Each team has been the tournament before but for each kid it’s a brand new experience.
And with Team Brick Alberta coming in as two-time defending champions, every team is gunning for the home side.
Picture this: Toews, Brouwer, Dustin Byfuglien, Colin Fraser, Andrew Ladd and Brent Seabrook each hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Each of them started at the Brick and look where they are now. |
