Mardi-Gras underway
Organizer calls it biggest recreational tournament ever in Summerside area
The Summerside Recreational Hockey League is holding its 25th annual Mardi-Gras recreational hockey tournament this week.
Games were scheduled to start early Wednesday evening, and continue through until Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Social events are planned for players and fans throughout the weekend. All past players and fans of the SRHL, which is the longestrunning recreational hockey league in Canada, are welcome to attend, and admission is free for all five-day event.
“Last year, we had 102 teams in the Mardi-Gras, this year we have 122,” said organizer Aaron Doyle, who added this is the largest recreational hockey tournament ever held in the Summerside area. “To accommodate the extra teams this year we had to rent 50 hours of ice in Charlottetown.”
Doyle explained this event is a big boost for local economies. “When you bring in 122 men’s and women’s hockey teams to Summerside at this time of year, it’s great for business everywhere,” said Doyle. “Every hotel room in Summerside for this weekend was booked full in January. Restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, they all benefit from a tournament of this size.
“As well a lot of the P.E.I. teams are staying the weekend in town.”
With all the hotels in Summerside full, there were 15 teams staying outside the city – 14 in Charlottetown and one in Mill River.
“These teams wanted to come, but when they heard all hotels were full they decided to book in other areas just so they could be at this year’s MardiGras tournament,” said Doyle.
Mardi-Fest
This year will also feature the return of Mardi-Fest on Friday in The Oval, and Saturday night in the Conference Rooms at Credit Union Place. Tickets are now available at Greco Pizza in Summerside, or at the MardiGras tournament office starting Friday at 4 p.m. Saturday night’s event is nearly sold out, but there are still some tickets left for Friday.
Teams representing Bathurst, Summerside, Bedeque, Charlottetown, Kensington, Moncton, Tyne Valley, Evangeline, Alberton, O’Leary, Richmond, Saint John, Cape Breton, Pictou County, Truro, Shediac, Sydney, Halifax, Dartmouth, Fredericton, Huntsville and Ottawa, Ont., Glace Bay, Sackville, Dorchester, Kent South, New Glasgow, Tignish, Annapolis Valley, Pownal, Crapaud, Borden, Morell, Rustico, and Sherwood are competing.
The Lost Quebecers will make their third appearance at the 25th annual event, with former Summerside Western Capital alumni Anders Frees the team manager of that squad. Shane Betts, who is originally from Moncton, is bringing half a team down from Ottawa as well to meet up with his friends from Moncton.
Skill level in each division of play has really picked up in recent years. This year’s event features many former and current university, major junior and junior A players in the Men’s A Division.
All divisions will be decided at Credit Union Place on Sunday.