Play On! returns to Kelowna in May

Street hockey enthusiasts in the Okanagan will want to circle the May 6-7 weekend on their calendar.

That will mark the return of the Play On! tournament, which has attracted approximately 1,500 street hockey players to downtown Kelowna on an annual basis.

Founded by a graduate of the University of Alberta and sponsored by the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, Play On! Kelowna will be held in the parking lots outside Prospera Place for the eighth straight year.

More than 200 teams and 1,500 players from throughout B.C. now plan their first weekend of May around this event in Kelowna, enjoying the hospitality, restaurants, retail and world-class entertainment available in the area surrounding their games.

“It’s wonderful news that Play On! is coming back to Kelowna for another year,” said Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran. “It’s such an important event for the city and the region, especially for the youth in our community. The summer wouldn’t be the same without it!”

Basran is currently in talks with Play On! event staff to once again participate in the celebrity game, tentatively scheduled for May 6 at noon.

The event also includes a Corporate division, with proceeds donated to a local charity.

The two-day competition is open to individuals of any age or skill level, organized into self-selected teams consisting of as few as four or as many as nine players.

There are divisions and categories for individuals and teams of any skill level, including for those who may be new to Canada and who have never played any form of hockey before.

An inclusive event that uniquely combines Canadian sport and culture, more than 50 per cent of participants in this event across Canada have historically not played ice hockey — including eight members of the Montreal Red Lite, the current men’s national street hockey champions.

Championship T-shirts, medallions and other prizes are awarded to all divisions winners.

Some winners of certain divisions in Kelowna will be invited to attend a CBC televised national street hockey championship event being tentatively planned for next September. More details will be announced as they are finalized.

Since the Play On! program’s inception in 2003, more than two million Canadians have participated from coast to coast in the 155 events held to date.

That includes many prominent Canadians and hundreds of professional hockey players such as current NHLers Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Curtis Lazar of Vernon.

To register a team in one of the 50 separate divisions for boys, girls, men and women, go to www.playon.ca. Space is limited and this event has historically sold out prior to the registration deadline.

“We are extremely excited to return to host this event in Kelowna at Prospera Place,” said Jake Clarke, Play On! director of hockey and operations. “As one of our most beautiful and scenic locations, bringing this event back to Prospera Place will ensure the very best experience for both players and spectators alike. You won’t want to miss this!”

Choices Markets is back as Play On! Kelowna’s title sponsor, with Booster Juice serving as the national sponsor.