The South Cariboo Rec Centre was packed with hockey teams on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for an aboriginal youth hockey tournament.
There were 10 teams from as far as Fort St. John all the way to Penticton along with an all female team and midget team both from Canim Lake, according to organizer Bruce Baptiste.
“It was good, despite the Easter weekend, people like to spend time with their families, but we luckily got 10 teams.”
Baptiste says attendance was good with lots of parents coming to watch their kids as well as a lot of local folks coming out. He adds that with several of these tournament per year, it’s a great way to meet other aboriginal youth.
“There’s one in Merritt, one in Prince George and then ours here in 100 Mile. So they enjoy playing it after the minor hockey season is done. Personally, I think they look forward to coming to these aboriginal youth hockey tournaments. They meet aboriginal youth from other areas in the province and they meet new friends and they enjoy the hockey. They look forward to it all year long.”
The 100 Mile House tournament, now in its second year, is a good way to develop aboriginal youth in hockey, according to Baptiste.
Baptiste would like to thank his wife Shannon Woods for helping him organize the tournament.
Next year’s tournament will be on the weekend of April 13 and they’re looking for sponsors for next year’s event.
