Rivalry still going at alumni hockey tournament

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This article was published 06/03/2017 (3362 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are times when good ideas just keep on growing.

That’s the case with the 3rd Annual St. Vital/St. Boniface High Schools Alumni Hockey Tournament, which will be held on Sat., April 22 at Southdale Community Centre, located at 254 Lakewood Blvd.

The event started with four teams in 2015 and had expanded to 12 teams by 2016. This year, key organizer Jay Myshkowsky said the event will also include some new elements, such as some in-game entertainment and a skills competition, as well as a beer garden for thirsty visitors.

This year’s instalment will also feature an official game day program that will include the names of players and teams and jersey numbers to help participants and attendees keep tabs on what’s happening.

“We lost count of how many parents and former teachers came out and wanted to know who was on what team,” said Myshkowsky, 45, who graduated from Dakota Collegiate in 1989 and whose wife, Karen, is a teacher at Glenlawn, which creates a friendly rivalry in the household.

“We have lots of former teachers from high schools in the area take part, as well as some former students, and in some cases they haven’t seen each other for 15 or 20 years, so the program is a way of providing more information.”

Myshkowsky, who lives in Sage Creek, said all proceeds from the sale of advertising for the program, which is being printed by Glenlawn Collegiate, will be put back into hockey programs at schools in the area.

The event originally started out as a nod to the history and rivalry between Dakota and Glenlawn, but its popularity means it now encompasses other area schools such as Collège Jeanne-Sauvé and J.H. Bruns Collegiate as it has extended its reach across southeast Winnipeg.

“It’s now bigger than just Dakota and Glenlawn, as St. Boniface and St. Vital are so linked together. Bonivital is a great example of this,” Myshkowsky said, noting it’s no problem if the core of a team representing a particular school is topped up with players from another school.

And at the heart of the event is the good-natured banter and friendly rivalry, whether it’s in the dressing room or on the ice. The games have no official scores and there is no championship trophy.  

“There’s been a really great vibe of people getting back together and putting on the old jersey and seeing old faces and enjoying the camaraderie and catching up. Last year, the hallways were buzzing with smiles and handshakes. It’s a great occasion and it doesn’t come with the pressure to succeed. Everybody loves getting back together, but the only time people seem to all get together is for weddings and funerals,” Myshkowsky said.

Each team will play games at the event and Myshkowsky is hoping to see more participation from women this year.

“I’d love to see women’s hockey be more of a part of this,” he said. “I’d really love to see more female participation this year. It’s not a series event — it’s all about getting old friends back together.”

The deadline for registration is Fri., March 24. Go online at www.alumnihockey.ca for more information or email jaymysh@yahoo.ca.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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