Richie’s checking his list
Annual Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament runs March 23-March 28
Richie Warren has made his list and he’s checking it twice.
The 28th annual Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament runs March 23-March 28 in 10 rinks around the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
“I have six pages of things to do and I’m getting a few things checked off each day,” said Warren, founder and chairperson of the tournament.
Warren said they’ve also been working on getting the team packages together and teams will start picking them up on the morning of March 23. The first games will then begin at 6 p.m. at all 10 rinks.
He said they made the schedule under the assumption the Screaming Eagles will be playing at home during the tournament and Thursday they received word the Eagles will beplaying at home.
This would make for a great hockey weekend, he added.
“The Eagles and the Vince Ryan tournament will both be here, which is wonderful for the economy.”
Warren said everyone is
looking forward to the tournament and it’s hoped for another smooth year. He said the only thing out of their control is Mother Nature.
“Our biggest worry is Newfoundland teams crossing on Marine Atlantic if they will get here without wind delays. It’s like a game of poker — whatever hand we are dealt with we have to go with.”
He said with 113 teams and 194 games, there are always some hurdles to cross but they get through them.
He said a couple years ago they had a team that arrived to find out there was a sudden death in the family.
“Half of the players were related and had to go home.”
He said they made some phone calls and were able to round up players to fill in for the missing half of the team, so they were still able to participate, as were the teams they were scheduled to play against.
“They were very appreciative we were able to do that.”
The 113 teams are coming from as far away as Fort MacMurry and Ontario and from all across the Maritime provinces, including Newfoundland. Warren said they even have players from the United States coming to play on teams.
He said Michael Brown, a native of Glace Bay, is coming from New Hampshire and bringing two friends, part of David Ferguson’s Ferguson’s Pharmachoice team.
“Michael’s father, George Brown, was a milkman and use to deliver milk to my house.”
The tournament is holding a major fundraiser of a ticket draw for two tickets anywhere West Jet flies. Tickets are $2 or three for $5 and are available at the tournament office at the Cape Breton YMCA Enterprise Centre in Glace Bay.
Anyone wishing more information can telephone the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament office at 902-8491133.