By Laurence Heinen /
Since its inception 14 years ago, the Stampede Challenge AAA Hockey Tournament has played host to its fair share of eventual superstars.
Currently, forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Jonathan Toews, defenceman Mike Green and goalie Cam Ward are suiting up for Canada at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation ?World Championship.
All five previously played for their respective club teams at the Stampede Challenge.
This year’s tournament will start on June 27 and finish up with finals on Canada Day. The action will take place at the Airdrie Twin Arenas and at the Northeast Don Hartman Sportsplex and Calgary East Twin Arenas.
The tournament will be comprised of nine male divisions (major tyke, minor novice, major novice, minor atom, major atom, minor peewee, major peewee, minor bantam and major bantam) and two female divisions (peewee and bantam).
Previous tournaments have attracted teams from all over North America. Last year, a trio of clubs captured a pair of titles each as the Northern Alberta All-Stars won both the Peewee Female and Bantam Female divisions, the Vancouver Selects captured titles in the Minor Bantam and Major Novice divisions, while the Minnesota Machine skated to victory in both the Major Atom and Minor Atom divisions.
In addition to the aforementioned players on Team Canada, several other National Hockey Leaguers have also previously played at the Stampede Challenge including Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames, who is one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy as NHL’s top defenceman.
That class of 1985-born players also included Braydon Coburn of the Philadelphia Flyers, Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks, Brent Seabrook of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jeremy Colliton of the New York Islanders, Robert Nilsson of the Edmonton Oilers, Nigel Dawes of the New York Rangers, Eric Fehr of the Washington Capitals, Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators and Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils.
Earlier years produced the likes of defencemen Barret Jackman of the St. Louis Blues and Steve McCarthy of the Atlanta Thrashers, while more recent tournaments have seen such players as Andrew Ladd of the Carolina Hurricanes, Mason Raymond of the Vancouver Canucks, Mark Fistric of the Dallas Stars, Devin Setoguchi of the San Jose Sharks and Josh Gorges of the Montreal Canadiens pass through Calgary and Airdrie.
Check out the tournament website at www.stampedechallenge.com for the complete schedule and then head out to one of the host rinks to catch some of the action.
Who knows? You might be watching a future superstar in ?the making.
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