National Old Timers Hockey Championship
By Gina Gillespie
The Valcartier Lions of the Quebec Region battle frantically in an attempt to even the score against the Shearwater
Flyers of the Atlantic Region. Their efforts to send the game into overtime fell short as they were defeated 3-2.
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Atlantic region set a blistering pace at the National Old Timers Hockey Championship, beating Quebec region 3-2 to defend their 2005 championship win.
The tournament took place April 1-7 at CFB Borden. Corporal Ross Brady scored first in the championship game, hitting the net at the three-minute mark.
Within minutes line-mates Master Corporal Rob Sneath and MCpl Wade Sutton had followed suit, putting the Shearwater Flyers ahead 3-0 after the first period.
The Valcartier Lions, representing Quebec region, fought back late in the game, with final minute goals by Master Warrant Officer Sylvain Éthier and MWO Dan Libby, but it was too little too late.
"Our strength lay in our team cohesiveness, our experience, and our mix of experience and youth," says Atlantic region coach MCpl Eric Severeyns. Their strategy was simple, to play sound hockey. It paid off, with the unbeatable Shearwater team giving up only one tie.
MWO Mike Mihalus, chairperson for the Jury of Appeal, presents the Northern Promotions Tournament MVP
Award to Atlantic Team member MCpl Wade Sutton. |
MCpl Sutton earned the tournament MVP award, while Trenton coach MWO Len Wood took home the Dedication to CF Sports Award. He says the best thing about playing in the Old Timers league is the camaraderie."We are more successful in participation [than the men's hockey league]," says MWO Wood. "The young guys nowadays are less focused on sports,and more on computers."
Tournament organizer Dave Rothermund says the Old Timers league is changing as many young players turn 35, graduating from men's hockey to Old Timers hockey. The result is a faster paced game and an increase in skilled players. He also sees an improvement in the quality of the officiating.
"They have one of the best hockey official schools in Canada run by the military," he says. "The quality of the officiating is at an outstanding level." The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) oversees the CF National Sports program and 13 National championships each year.Ms. Gillespie is a freelance writer with CFPSA.