The sounds of hockey filled rinks across Calgary as teams from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Utah competed over three divisions for a championship.
The U13 Thanksgiving Classic consisted of more than 80 teams throughout their AA co-ed and AAA co-ed, along with women’s divisions. The tournament took over four of Calgary’s arenas: Cardel Rec, Max Bell, Seven Chiefs and Ness.
In this tournament, not all the coaches were focused on the win and loss column. For them, player development and team bonding were at the top of the priority list.
Tiernan Laverty, assistant coach for Calgary Northwest Athletic Association U13 AAA Red team, says it’s a great opportunity to build and develop a love for the game.
“Right now, we want the boys to have fun. We want them to compete. We want to bring the jump back into our regular season,” said Laverty.
While fun is the forefront, player and team progress are always a goal for the coaching staff. Coaches use tournaments like the Thanksgiving Classic as a prime opportunity to better the team and players on and off the ice.
“We really just want development. Obviously, the wins are going to come with that, but it’s really about getting those guys onto the next level and trying to help them succeed further down the line,” said Laverty.
He then added how the tournament offers a great opportunity to work on team bonds, as well as try new strategies on the ice, further developing the chemistry of the team.
For Laverty, he knows playing teams from other leagues offers a fun opportunity for his squad, which is something he valued as a player growing up.
Brady Niwa, a coach for the Calgary Northstars U13 AAA White team, understands the importance of an early-season tournament and how it can bond a team.
“It really brought our group together, which is so vital early in the season,” said Niwa.
Teams in the tournament were given three round robin games followed by a bracket-style playoff that was a ‘single knock-out’ format.
As the final buzzer sounded on Oct. 12 for this year’s U13 Thanksgiving classic, three champions prevailed. The Prince Albert Foxes, Red Deer Chiefs, and Winnipeg Wild won their respective divisions.
It was clear that the tournament delivered far more than three new champions, however.
Over the weekend, players gained experience, and coaches were able to strengthen their team’s development and foster strong team bonds.
Most importantly, families were able to experience the buzz and energy that fuels minor hockey in Canada.
Whether teams left with medals or memories, this hockey tournament proved why it is such a successful tournament in Canada’s hockey community, bringing young athletes together to compete, grow, and deepen their love for the game.