The organizing committee is making headway with planning for the B.C. Bantam Tier 3 Hockey Championships, running at the Smithers Civic Centre Arena from March 20 to 24.
Ten of the best teams of 13 and 14 year old hockey players in the province will be playing for the Provincial Champion title.
The organizers are still looking for a few good men and women to help out with security during the tournament. Although security isn’t expected to have to deal with too much in the way of unruly parents, they are a requirement for the tournament and so far, there’s not enough volunteers stepping forward to fill the role.
“Filling in security is a pretty huge deal,” said organizer Chris Steenhof.
Volunteers are also still needed to help sell 50/50 and raffle tickets, as well as to fill a few team liaison spots, acting as a local expert for one of the visiting teams.
“Any hockey parents that maybe haven’t been very involved before, now’s your chance to step up,” said organizing committee member Helga Steenhof.
Organizers have secured a Sidney Crosby jersey, as well as a signed Dan Hamuis jersey, for two separate raffles. Only 500 tickets will be sold for each, and as with all fundraising efforts for the tournament, money will cover costs of putting on the week long event, and any extra funds will be channeled back into the Smithers Minor Hockey Association. Tickets for the jersey raffles are already available through Storm players, Oscar’s Source For Sports and from John Wreggitt at OK Tire, who is also looking for sponsors and advertisers for the official program.
In the meantime, the days are counting down, with a little less than three weeks left until some of the best young hockey players in the province converge on Smithers, hockey gear in tow. The teams that the Storm will be facing during the tournament should be known in the coming days, and hockey fans will be able to look forward to five days of free high calibre hockey action.
