Recreational Tournament Wrap-up
June 03, 2016
Calgary- Alberta Minor Roller Hockey’s annual recreation tournament moved to Calgary this year and took the city by storm. Over 500 people, 25 teams, and a horde of volunteers took over 3 rinks in Calgary.
Teams of players from age 6 – 18 fought tight games, and endured run away games. The competition for the top spots was fierce! In the end 72 hours of roller hockey was played and there were winners and losers, but what mattered more than the scores were the teams that played better than they ever had before, the teams that really became teams and not just 10 people who meet once or twice a week to chase a puck around, and the friendships that were formed that will last a lifetime!
Highlights from the weekend included the U 17 final – that saw the undefeated Didsbury Renegades win silver in a tightly contested game against Edmonton’s Team United. Then there was the unexpected Grizzly match that saw the Calgary Grizzlies edge out the Edmonton Grizzlies for the right to be called the Alberta Grizzlies and take home the Griz himself.
Organizer Ted Zystra commented “Bringing the tournament to Calgary was a great experience. We saw a new level of competition at the Rec Tournament and certainly have raised the profile of Roller Hockey in the greater Calgary area.” When asked if the tournament would return to Calgary, Mr. Zystra remarked- “ Well it is certainly possible, Calgary Roller Hockey has been great to work with, but now that we have taken the tournament on the road I wouldn’t discount the possibility of taking it to new markets such as Grande Prairie and Lethbridge too. I guess you will just have to wait until next year to know for sure.”
Certainly the 2016 Rec Tournament will be one that will be remembered for quite some time. Below is a list of where teams placed
U8
Gold - Moose Jaw
Silver- Calgary
Bronze- Didsbury
U10
Gold - Moose Jaw
Silver - Calgary
Bronze- Didsbury
Copper- Edmonton
U12
Gold- Angry Snipers
Silver - Moose Jaw
Bronze - Red Deer Gunners
Copper - Didsbury
U14
Gold - Didsbury
Silver - Moose Jaw
Bronze - Edmonton Mustangs
U17
Gold - Team United
Silver - Didsbury
Bronze - Calgary Grizzlies
