February 10, 2012
Posted in BC Edition, Minor
BY GLEN ERICKSON/
Kelowna Minor Hockey Association has announced that the Showcase of Champions playoffs are set to begin for the 2011/12 season. This is the second year of an event focused on creating a post-season of sorts for the recreational teams in each division.
Last season, the inaugural event was highlighted by the teams earning the right to play in division finals, meeting at a one-day festive championship Sunday. According to KMHA, during these division final games, starting lineups were introduced, the national anthems were presented, goals and assists were announced across the public address systems, even shots on goal were provided after each period. The production was all about elevating the experience for the players.
Indeed, the event has quickly become a KMHA success story.
KMHA has posted the full schedule for the 2011/12 Recreational Hockey Showcase of Champions Playoff Series online at each divisional home page. Teams are reminded that the first team on the schedule is the Home team and they are responsible for providing scorekeepers and timekeepers for each game. The Showcase of Champions Finals are set to go at Memorial Arena on Sunday, March 4.
“If the events of last season are any indication, it will be an exciting month of hockey for our recreational teams,” explained Corrine Reid, KMHA Director of Hockey Operations. “We’ve stuck to the same format as last season. The kids seemed to enjoy it. I think the coaches are also in that playoff mode too, right now. And they kind of know what to expect this year.”
According to Reid, KMHA has been fortunate to secure sponsors for three of the Divisions. McDonald’s Restaurants is the Atom Division sponsor, thus the division has been referred to as the “McAtom” Division. Paragon Pharmacies is the Pee Wee Division sponsor and Canadian Tire is the Bantam Division sponsor. Representatives of each sponsor will be in attendance on the championship Sunday.
The Atom Division and Peewee Divisions include ten teams each, while the Bantam and Midget Divisions consist of eight teams each. That’s a total that exceeds 600 hockey players, close to half of KMHA’s total registration.
Last season the Peewee Division final was not able to be played on the same day as the others, as the teams were out of town at tournaments. This year, the scheduling has been set up so that all four division finals in the Atom Division, the Predators win the championship game, while in the Peewee Division, the title was won by the Avalanche. In the Bantam Division, the Bruins were crowned champions and in the Midget Division, the Bruins were victorious.
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