January 20, 2012
Posted in Alberta Edition, Minor, Tournament Results
By Ryan Laverty /
If Nike is right and pressure really is power, then the energy levels at St. Albert’s Servus Credit Union Place Jan. 19 to 22 may just blow a breaker.
The John Reid Memorial Bantam AAA hockey tournament will pit 16 of the top teams in North America against one another in one of the most highly scouted events of the 2011/12 season.
“A lot of scouts will pick out a few players before Christmas, but when they come to this tournament, they come to see the growth that those players have made in the last month or two,” explained Tournament Chair Trudy Kueber. “Players can develop a lot in that period of time so the scouts really pay attention to that at this tournament.”
If history serves as any lesson, the scouts will undoubtedly like what they see when they converge on St. Albert. Last season, more than 90 of the 300 players who suited-up at the John Reid Memorial were taken in the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft.
Time will tell what that crew makes of themselves, but with Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla and Edmonton Oilers sensation Jordan Eberle headlining the list of tournament graduates, Kueber said it’s possible there will be a few future stars taking to the ice at this event.
“It’s a pretty special week for the players and for the community,” said Kueber, who has been chairing the tournament for the past seven years. “We try to make sure we’re bringing only the best teams to the tournament so it’s always a good event to come out and watch.”
This year’s tournament will feature the L.A. Selects, who won the tournament two years ago with Eric Comrie in net, alongside 15 teams from Western Canada. Alberta will be well represented in that mix with the Calgary Royals, Bronks and Bisons coming north to rival Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League counterparts the Sherwood Park Flyers, Lloydminster Heat, Canadian Athletic Club and of course the host St. Albert Sabres.
The Sabres have not won the tournament since 1983 and will have their work cut-out for them at the 34th edition. At press time St. Albert sat third in the AMBHL’s Nitro North division with 38 points, three points back of second-place Sherwood Park and Lloydminster, who lead the Charger North division.
Regardless, Kueber said, the tournament is almost always a success thanks to the efforts of the players, volunteers and the community. This year’s event will introduce a school program for close to 400 St. Albert elementary-aged children who will be given the chance to attend games on the Thursday and Friday mornings of the tournament thanks to sponsorship from CN Rail and Canadian Natural Resources Limited.
For the rest of us, admission is $40 for the complete four-day adult pass with program or $30 without the program and $25 for seniors and students. Daily admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and children under 10 are free. All are available at Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert.
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