Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds U15 AAA Tournament underway

The Hockey Hounds will host 12 teams this year coming from each of the four Western Canadian provinces.

Dale Fuller, Hockey Hounds treasurer said you can expect some pretty good hockey.

“We’ve never really had a tournament where we haven’t had competitive games,” Fuller said.

“That’s the number one expectation is you want to go to watch hockey is to have competitive games.”

The tournament is used as a fundraiser for the organization to help it continue to operate and offer support for minor hockey in and around Medicine Hat, as well as the sledge hockey program through Medicine Hat Adaptive Sports and Recreation.

Fuller said that’s part of their mandate.

“The promotion and development of minor hockey within the community in the surrounding area. That’s our number one priority,” Fuller said.

The Hockey Hounds will also make donations to local charities throughout the year.

Some of the top players for the age group in Western Canada are showcased at the the tournament.

Fuller said this helps Western Hockey League scouts see draft eligible prospects.

The tournament used to include teams from south of border.

“We used to get a few from the states, but that’s kind of dried up over the last number of years,” Fuller said.

“But I think if we can get from the Western Provinces the reason we kind of restricted to that not going to Ontario is those are the only provinces that the WHL can draft out of is from the West so and that’s who we want,” he added.

“We want kids that are potentially the WHL is looking at.”

Their have been 16 teams at the event in years past, but Fuller says the number of tournaments in Western Canada has grown over the years.

“Twelve years ago we used to get probably 35 to 45 teams apply. But there was only I believe about three or four tournaments in all of Western Canada for that level,” Fuller said.

“There’s probably 20 tournaments out there, so it’s harder and harder to get teams to come in.”

Games will be held at the Kinplex Arenas and Hockey Hounds Recreational Centre.

The local team, the South East Athletic Club Tigers have their first game Thursday night at 8:15 pm in Kinplex One.

Admission at the door is cash only, day passes at $10 dollars, weekend passes are $30, with last game of the day at $5.

There will be an awards presentation on Saturday at 4 o’clock at Kinplex One.

A pair of $2,500 scholarships will be given out, one to the top SEAC Tigers player of the event and the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

These are donated by the Medicine Hat Tigers.

A number of other awards will also be given out.

“Come out and enjoy some good hockey and support the Hockey Hounds,” Fuller said.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds U15 AAA Tournament underway

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