Western Nationals a Huge Success!

July 06, 2017

The inaugural Western Nationals is a wrap. Preparations started in January and carried right up to the last week before the tournament. For the tournament prep committee, each passing week the intensity grew as their assignments were completed. It’s never easy to plan a tournament but even more difficult with 10 divisions of 49 teams and 500 players. This undertaking needed hundreds of volunteers from tournament organizers, arena staff, coaches, managers, etc.  

The tournament started on Friday at 7:00pm and ran on 5 surfaces till 5:00 pm on Sunday. Breaks only occurring so the volunteers and athletes could rest before getting back at it the next day. The games were played at the East Soccer Centre in Edmonton and the Ardrosson Recreational Complex. Two great facilities within a 15 minute drive time between them. There were 10-15 hotels and campgrounds and countless places to eat within minutes of the facility making the experience all that much more enjoyable for the participants.

Tournament Chair and President of AMRHA Ted Zylstra said “with teams who we had never seen before coming, we were a little concerned that some of the games might be lopsided – but we were pretty pleased with the level of competition and the quality of teams that came.”

All in all it was a weekend of good competition and high quality roller hockey.  Pictures from the weekends action will be posted on the AMRHA website and don’t forget to use #WesternNationalRHC to share your photos on instagram

Plans are already in the works to come up with more fun and excitement for the 2018 tournament. As well as bring in more teams from out of province. This tournament will be the new standard for events in Canada and abroad.

Thank you to all the family’s who came from across western Canada to participate in this amazing event!

Medal results were as follows:

U8 AA

Gold- Red Deer Gunners

Silver- Team West

Bronze- Beaumont Bombers

U10 AA

Gold- Moose Jaw Breakers

Silver- Jr. Kodiaks (Edmonton)

Bronze- Calgary Thunder

U10 A

Gold- Red Deer Snipers

Silver- Moose Jaw Breakers

Bronze- Edmonton Lightning

U12 AAA

Gold- Red Deer Snipers Black

Silver- Wetaskiwin Jr. Ice

Bronze- Edmonton Snipers

U12 AA

Gold- Stealth (Edmonton)

Silver- Sherwood Park Knights

U12 A

Gold- Didsbury Rampage

Silver- Spitfires (Edmonton)

U14 AAA

Gold- Tropic Thunder (Sherwood Park)

Silver- Hitmen (Edmonton)

Bronze- Misfits (Edmonton)

U14 AA

Gold- Red Deer Snipers Black

Silver- Calgary Roller Hawks

Bronze- Didsbury Rampage

U14 A

Gold- Shockwaves (Edmonton)

Silver- Stony Plain Knights

Bronze- Team West

U17 AAA

Gold- Kodiaks (Edmonton)

Silver- Red Deer Snipers Black

Bronze- Team United (Edmonton)

U17 AA

Gold- Didsbury Rampage

U17 A

Gold- Dingos (Edmonton)

Silver- Spruce Grove Grizzlies

Junior AAA

Gold- Old Mil (Red Deer)

Silver- Aces (Edmonton)

Bronze- Solar Bears