Bentley Minor Hockey (BMH) hosted a combined dynamite (initiation) and novice tournament on March 9 and 10 in the Bentley Arena with four teams in each division. Both teams have a mixture of boys and girls on each team.
In the youngest division, the five- and six-year-old dynamite division, the pleasure of just watching the youngsters try so hard and fall down and get back was the entertainment. Each game consisted of three, 20-minute periods and they worked hard at coving the big ice surface.
“The dynamite team improved a lot this year. We have a young team with not many players,” coach Kelly McKinlay said. “We have had to play a few games with only one spare player on the bench and the kids have had great attitudes throughout it all.”
McKinlay noted there were even a couple of four-year-olds on the team. They hope for more to sign up for next year as four players move on to the novice division next year with six players returning.
The dynamite Canucks played about 20 games this season and practiced Thursday nights.
Assistant coach was Patrick Madden and manager was Heidi McKinlay.
They played against the Red Deer Honda, Eckville Eagles, and Red Deer Express 24 dynamite teams.
Matt Peterson and Ed Butcher were the coaches for the seven and eight-year-old novice Canucks team this year. Manager was Nathalie Gyori.
The Bentley team really held their own in the tournament.
After beating the Thorsby Thunder novice team 7-6, then the Okotoks Drillers 9-5 and the Beaumont Bulldogs 9-2, they easily qualified to be in the final with their 3 wins.
The Thorsby Thunder and Okotoks Drillers both had one win and one loss and they had tied in the game against each other, but with goals for and against, Thorsby moved on to the final playoff against Bentley.
Bentley came out flat in the first period and Thorsby was out to prove themselves against Bentley getting a quick five goals in the first period.
Despite the slow start in the first period, Bentley did pick up their game in the second period and after one of the Bentley players finally scored, the team started on a roll. Once they got going the team gave a valiant effort right to the end. With just a few seconds to go in the last period a Bentley player had a chance to tie the game but his shot missed giving them a 6-5 loss and the silver medal.
Bentley had 30 shots on goal and Thorsby had 28.
“The novice had a great season,” Coach Peterson said. “The team only lost five times all season, including the A final in the tourney, after playing close to 50 games. We had a great bunch of kids this season, with a good mix of second and first year players.”
Peterson added it was “Nice to see teams throughout the season, that have attended our tourney in years past, that still talk about what a great time it was.”
Great community and business support was very evident judging by the amount of items generously donated for the raffle table and support for awards and prizes.
All players received a goodie bag and took home a trophy and a medal for participating, with heart and hustle, sportsmanship, and player of the game awards also.
BMH appreciated those parents who helped with the tournament and who volunteered throughout the year McKinlay noted.
Dedicated timekeepers and referees were essential.
The concession staff offered up great food all weekend for hungry players, coaches and fans that included pancake breakfasts each morning.