Saskatoon to host national youth hockey championships

The Canadian Ball Hockey Association National Youth Finals were held in Saskatoon on Saturday.

Teams from all over the country gathered at Merlis Belsher Place and the Henk Ruys Football Centre for the interprovincial competition.

Team participated in the girls U17, U20 and boys U15, U17, U19 and U23 brackets. The tournament was divided into two competition groups.

“It’s one of my favorite tournaments, the excitement is immense,” said tournament director Richard Rocha.

A number of players came from the U18 World Cup recently held in Slovakia.

“Canada won gold medals in the U17 and U20,” Rocha said.

For some players, the chance to travel and experience a high-quality tournament is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which is why the tournament organizers have created a special opening scene.

Upon entering the field, the players ran through a lit gate and smoke.

“We have been organizing national competitions for players from A-level to D-level for a long time. It is important to give the kids the opportunity to play hockey at this level,” Rocha said.

The Etobicoke Whalers emerged victorious in Group B of the U17 portion of the tournament, with Team BC winning the A Pool.