December 23, 2011
Posted in BC Edition, Minor, Tournament Previews
By Brendan Munro /
Taking place from Dec. 27 to 30 in Penticton, the Okanagan Hockey Academy ‘s Bantam Tier 1 Tournament will feature some of the best WHL Draft eligible players in Western Canada.
This is the first year for this event, and as such event organizer Mike Elphicke explained that drawing players and parents out of town during the holidays meant creating a number of incentives.
“We felt if a family and player were going to spend Christmas away from family and friends, it should be a lifetime experience that can be shared with the family and provide a great opportunity to play teams from out of province and country and will be heavily scouted,” said Elphicke.
Elphicke also mentioned that while many scouts have had a chance to see several of the players in this tournament, the number of quality prospects competing at one event should offer them a great opportunity to get more familiar with the players and their abilities.
Scouts won’t be the only ones anticipating this tournament, as it has quickly become a major community effort with over 100 sponsors signed up. The tournament will also feature a banquet for the players and a dance for the parents.
Coming off strong starts to the season, the early tournament favourites appear to be Burnaby Winter Club and North Shore Winter Club. Teams will play three round robin games plus one guaranteed playoff game. The full list of teams is Juan De Fuca, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Anchorage, Kamloops, Vernon, OHA, Penticton (AA), Sherwood Park, Camrose, Grande Prairie, and Lethbridge.
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