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U13 A Provincials a Success on all Fronts
U13 A Provincials a Success on all Fronts
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
The barn in Vegreville was rocking throughout the four day U13 A Provincial Hockey Championship that was held from March 20-23.
There wasn’t a decibel reader to be found in the Wally Fedun Arena, but the sound level was totally off the charts as players, coaches, parents, relatives and fans came together to enjoy the intensity on the ice and the good times off the ice.
While action got underway on Thursday, the Opening Ceremonies were held Friday afternoon. Members of the Vegreville Skating Club performed prior to speeches from Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Vegreville Mayor Tim MacPhee and Hockey Alberta Representative Malinda Northcott. Also, on hand for the Opening Ceremonies were several members of the Svitlo Ukrainian Dancers as well as Edmonton Oilers Mascot Hunter.
Armstrong-Homeniuk was thrilled to welcome the athletes and their families to her hometown of Vegreville. “One of the things I have always appreciated about hockey is that it brings kids to every corner of the province. It isn’t just about competing and being the best, but also about travelling to new places and making friends across the province.”
She said hockey has a profound impact on people’s lives and noted that each year, the Government of Alberta commits $18 million through Every Kid Can Play program and the Active Communities Initiative to increase access to sports for all youth.”
Mayor MacPhee extended his thanks to the host committee for members’ hard work and dedication in making the event possible. He also thanked the families, coaches, assistant coaches and managers for their unwavering support.
Hockey Alberta Representative Malinda Northcott also thanked the host committee and volunteers. She congratulated the players, coaches, trainers and managers for their hard work this hockey season. Trevor Warawa echoed her comments. He told the players to be proud that they made it to Provincials. He told them to enjoy the experience and thanked their families for allowing the athletes to chase their dreams.
Following the Opening Ceremonies, the Vegreville Wranglers faced off against the Medicine Hat Hounds. It was a thrilling see-saw battle with blazing end to end action. They traded goals throughout the match, with Vegreville leading 5-4 before heading into the third period when Medicine Hat scored three unanswered goals to secure the win.
The home team had other close games during the tournament. Head Coach Bryan Kosak said the planning committee and volunteers did a tremendous job putting on the championship. “A huge thank you is owed to the sponsors and the athletes participating in this tournament. The experience our players’ gained and lessons learned can be reflected upon for a lifetime.
By every measure, this tournament was a huge success. We may not be provincial champions, but the community should be incredibly proud of their team, losing by only a goal to the eventual provincial champions, Strathcona Warriors. I am very proud of this team.”
The Medicine Hat Hounds played in the final against the Strathcona Warriors. The Warriors edged the Hounds out by two goals to claim the title.
The atmosphere was electric from start to finish which made for an unforgettable experience. The event was hosted and organized by the Vegreville & District Minor Hockey Association. Committee Chair Trevor Warawa said, “The whole event was a highlight.”
All in all, “Everything was very positive and the teams loved it.” Overall, “We had overwhelming support from the community.”
Besides Warawa, the organizing committee consisted of eight other members, who spent several months preparing for the event. There were about 40 volunteers, who helped pull everything together. It was such a great event, Warawa said VDMHA would consider hosting another Provincial Championship.
