Image From Facebook/TeamNunweiler

By Chris Brown

To benefit the YMCA

Street hockey tournament coming to downtown

May 26, 2022 | 12:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Hockey players craving their fix of gameplay can get it next month right downtown at a four-on-four street hockey tournament.

The inaugural Sticks on First event takes place June 24 and there are still openings for teams to register.

“Sticks on First is an opportunity for us to let loose at the (beginning) of summer … and we’re going to shut down this entire Frist Street right from the Esplanade here all the way down to city hall and we’re going to make six artificial fenced arenas,” says Nathan Nunweiler, a director at presenting sponsor IG Wealth.

Nunweiler says IG Wealth first brought the idea to the local YMCA in 2020 but plans were cancelled the past two years.

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The day is still being planned but Nunweiler says there will be food trucks, a special sponsor lounge and some downtown businesses will also be involved. The games will start at 10 a.m. and the final will take place around 4 p.m.

He adds teams will have the chance to play with NHL players and alumni including former Medicine Hat Tigers Matt Keetley and Stefan Meyer

“We thought about doing something a little bit different than just a golf tournament,” he says. “There’s lots of great golf tournaments don’t get me wrong but we want to do something different and so this is a chance for us adults and some of the kiddos to just come out and have a fun afternoon.”

Nunweiler says the Y was a big part of his childhood and hockey training growing up in the city and this is a chance to give back.

YMCA philanthropy director Helene Nicholson says there has been a drop in donations in the past two years. She says this day is about bringing the community together and helping people in Medicine Hat.

The proceeds from the Sticks on First event will go to support the YMCA in general in different areas of need with a portion of that going to the Strong Kids campaign,” she explains. “The Strong Kids campaign is our financial assistance program which allows all individuals to access the YMCA regardless of financial circumstances and so it removes those barriers for everybody to be engaged with the Y.”

For more information call Megan at 403-977-9138 or visit the Sticks on First website.