A tourney that is as much about history as hockey
The Beaumont Hamel Centennial Cup honours the service and sacrifice of young men a century ago
It’s a hockey tournament. It’s a lesson in history.
The annual Royal Newfoundland Regiment Memorial High School Hockey Tournament — the Beaumont Hamel Centennial Cup — will be held at the Paradise Double Complex next month, hosted by the Holy Spirit Falcons, who donated the cup for the first tourney in 2016.
The Falcons are among 16 teams from across the province that will be competing in the event, which will see 39 games (playoffs included) played from April 9-13.
The tournament honours and recognizes the sacrifices of the young men — many of whom were around the same age as the high schoolers who will be taking to the ice — who fought for the Dominion of Newfoundland in the World War I.
Many of those soldiers were exceptional hockey players who enjoyed playing together
in pick-up games or on the regimental team.
Round-robin games will lead into the Trail of the Caribou championship playoff series featuring four semifinalists who will have each claimed a banner in honour of a battle — Courtai, Masnieres, Monchy-le-preus and Gueudecourt — in which the Newfoundland Regiment fought.
This is the only high school tournament in the province that uses four on-ice officials for all games. It’s also the only one to allow for round-robin games that are tied after regulation to go to a three-on-three fiveminute overtime, to be followed, if necessary, by a shootout.
Overtime and shootouts will also be part of the format for playoff games.
The Ascension Collegiate Astros of Bay Roberts are the defending champions.