Tournament named after Dorval teen expands in second year

The second annual Tristan Morrissette-Perkins 06 Tournament is set to take place Dec. 29-30 at Dorval Arena.

The benefit 4-on-4 hockey tournament bears the name of Morrissette-Perkins, the Dorval teenager who died July 3, 2017, when he was struck by a passenger train on a CN rail bridge near Lancaster, Ont.

The Morrissette-Perkins family started a scholarship in Tristan’s memory last year through the Pearson Education Foundation of the Lester B. Pearson School Board. All proceeds from the weekend tournament are entrusted to the Pearson Education Fund.

“This scholarship was created in loving memory of Tristan and is awarded to the students who best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and leadership in multiple aspects of school life,” said tourney organizer Larry Sherrard, who coached Morrissette-Perkins in minor hockey.

The first Tristan Morrissette-Perkins Award was presented in June to Quinn Kennedy, one of Tristan’s former hockey teammates at John Rennie High School in Pointe-Claire.

Sherrard said the inaugural edition of TMPO6 (Tristan’s favourite number was six) was such a success that more rink activities are planned for this year’s event.

“We will again keep everyone entertained and involved by offering music, snacks, puck tosses, target shooting, raffles and silent auctions,” he said.

More than 100 players have been invited to participate in the two-day event. Many of the invitees are former teammates of Morrissette-Perkins from Hockey West Island and John Rennie High School.

Both Hockey West Island and John Rennie High School retired the No. 6 sweater last year.

“It is a time for all (Tristan’s) teammates, friends and former teams to get together to play the game he loved,” Sherrard said. “We expect everyone to compete, have fun, and raise money for a worthy cause.”

A total of 16 teams will be split into four divisions. Each team will have about seven skaters and a goalie.

Games are about 15 minutes in length, and each team is guaranteed five games, with a maximum of seven. Playoffs and finals will be played Jan. 30 at Dorval Arena.

The public is invited to come and watch the games.