Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Vol. 44, No. 32
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YOUR LOCAL PAPER
Brettzky with fun weekend of hockey action at the Carena Pictures on Pages 2, 15, & 16 Patricia Harcourt Editor
It was an action-packed weekend of high calibre hockey as the 2021 Brettzky’s Hockey Challenge returned to the Viking Carena Complex ice. After a year off, the sixth annual event came back strong with 12 teams competing over four days as the crowds cheered them on. The action included a Young Stars game Friday night and championship finals on Sunday. The Viking Ribstones won the tournament championship Sunday afternoon, taking the ‘A’ final, and the Thunder took the ‘B’ final championship. This was the first year the tournament had both an ‘A’ and ‘B’ event winner. The all-day action just kept coming from Thursday right through to Sunday. The Young Stars Game was an event that packed the arena with spectators anxious to see these skilled players perform. The Viking Pharmacy team (Team Red) - coached by Darryl Sutter and Curtis Skip - was pitted against the Ritchie Agencies team (Team Black) with coaches Duane and Chris Sutter, and player Brett Sutter (Ontario Reign). Before the game, a special ceremony
was held to present Brett Sutter with one of his own Ontario Reign jerseys, framed along with his picture in a jersey box. Making the presentation, Brettzky’s Committee Chair Todd Ritchie said the gift would be hung in the Carena lobby as a way of showing appreciation for all the hockey player’s efforts in starting and promoting the event and for all the support this has brought to the community over the last six years. Also at the presentation was Brett’s wife Erin and their three young children, along with Brettzky Committee member Lindsey Quinten. Brettzky serves as a fundraiser for local youth sports and activities. Ritchie expects a plaque will also be put on display explaining Brett’s contribution and how this has benefitted the community. A surprise treat followed when country singer Gord Bamford stepped out on the ice and sang “O’ Canada” to an arena full of players, volunteers and eager spectators. Bamford’s son Nash was playing in the tournament. The Young Star game was a close one with “lots of scoring that was entertaining to watch,” said Ritchie, who credited the organizing skills of volunteer Darryl Gagnon for making the game happen. “He was the person who organized
most of that event,” said Ritchie. “He made all the contacts and put the game together…It says a lot about Darryl that they all said yes.” After the Young Stars game, the rest of the tournament went ahead with many games leading to the semi-finals and then the finals on Sunday. In the semi-finals ‘A’ pool, the Ribstones beat Wildrose AGI, and The Club beat the Beaverkings. In the ‘B’ pool semi-finals, the Thunder beat the Viking Wieners and the Blues beat Men with Wood. This led to Sunday afternoon’s championship finals. The ‘A’ final saw the Ribstones clinch a 6-2 victory over The Club. Coaches Duane and Chris Sutter picked up the trophy for happy team members who had never won the tournament before. Once collected, player Brett Sutter took the trophy and hoisted it high as his fellow teammates cheered. In the ‘B’ final, the Thunder beat the Blues 10-6, even though the Blues put up a real battle after the Thunder scored several goals in a row, making it a competitive game. As well as hockey, there was plenty of time for socializing and other fun, including the banquet Saturday night at the Multiplex attended by players, their families, sponsors and volunteers.
It was followed by a public live/silent auction and many prizes to be won. A public dance featured the music of country headliner Trevor Panzack. The weekend also featured a beer gardens, Kids’ Play Centre and raffles. Fan Matthew Hafso won the 50/50 draw of $5,280 and donated a portion of his winnings back to the Brettzky’s Hockey Challenge. With only a month to organize this year’s event, Ritchie was also happy with the results. “We weren’t able to do it last year so once the province removed the (health) restrictions we started planning in late June to do this,” he said. “Normally, we would start planning in February, so it was a lot of work in a short amount of time.” But he credited the committee and volunteers for pulling it off. “There was lots of work from all the committee members and the volunteers. So many people bring their own talents, we couldn’t do it without them. We put on the event and the funds are donated back to the community.” He estimates that about 100 people volunteer to make the Brettzky an annual event for all to come and enjoy. “It was an exciting weekend,” he said.