The Peewee Jamboree tournament has been a Christmas-time tradition for Chilliwack peewee hockey players going back decades, but the legendary tournament is taking a one year (maybe longer) hiatus in 2019 as the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association board looks for a long-term fix. (Progress file photo)

The Peewee Jamboree tournament has been a Christmas-time tradition for Chilliwack peewee hockey players going back decades, but the legendary tournament is taking a one year (maybe longer) hiatus in 2019 as the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association board looks for a long-term fix. (Progress file photo)

Chilliwack Minor Hockey’s Peewee Jamboree tournament takes one year hiatus

Citing ice time concerns, CMHA isn't running the legendary tourney for the first time in 60 years.

This would normally be the time of year that the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association would be preparing to host the historic Peewee Jamboree.

But after 60 years, one of the longest running tournaments in the province is taking a year off.

It’s not a complete surprise.

In its heyday, the Peewee Jamboree was the go-to tourney for hockey teams from B.C. and beyond.

But the calendar has grown increasingly crowded the last decade and a half, making it hard for CMHA organizers to fill the field.

There’s been talk for years of a need for revitalization. Now the talk will shift to resurrection.

“The CMHA Board was sad to cancel this iconic tournament, but we are facing pressure from the association membership to have more ice time available to them during this part of the season,” said CMHA president Michael Jordan. “The Board is planning on bringing this tournament back next year.”

Still on the schedule for this season is the Paul Brenner Memorial Bantam and Challenge Cup Jan. 9-12.

An atom tourney runs Jan. 23-26 and a novice tourney runs Feb. 21-23.

CMHA has also announced that Hockey Day in Chilliwack will be March 14, featuring championship matches in the C divisions of atom, peewee, bantam and midget.

See chilliwackminorhockey.com/content/Hockey-Day-in-Chilliwack

Chilliwack Progress