Hockey tournament keeps scoring big

Page R1

What started out 10 years ago as a dream has certainly blossomed into a major event in Prince Albert.

The Indian and Metis Friendship Centre held its 10th Annual Aboriginal hockey tournament on the weekend, and according to one of the co-founders, Eugene Arcand, the tournament gets better each year.

"This gives our players an opportunity to showcase their talents in a large urban area," said Arcand during the first day of the tournament. "Ten years ago, Prince Albert was the only major community in Saskatchewan that didn't have an Aboriginal tournament. Now, we can play in a first-class facility and this helps encourage young players to play the game and it also provides good physical conditioning for our young people."

Arcand, who is now the fifth vice-chief in charge of sports and recreation for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, was working with the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre in Prince Albert when the tournament was born. Arcand also said that the tournament fulfills a dream of co-founder Wayne Kemp, who passed away in 1989 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

"It makes me feel good to see how far we have come," noted Arcand. "It fulfills our dream."

After some humble beginning where the first two events featured just eight teams and were played in a much smaller facility, the tournament has gained recognition across Western Canada. The tournament is now one of the larges tin Prince Albert, and one of the biggest draws to the Communiplex.

"We wanted to try and start something good and with the reluctant co-operation of the city, things started to go," explained Arcand. "We soon outgrew the eight-team format and the smaller facility, and in three years we expanded to the present 12-team format and are now playing to large crowds here at the Communiplex.

"The underlying reason for the tournament fundraising," added Arcand "We have never gone in the hole and we usually raise between $12,000 and $15,000 for the friendship centre. The economic impact for the city also had to be considered. The business community has really become a major part of this."

Arcand said he hopes that the tournament will continue to grow and encompass teams from eastern Canada.

"The next five years are important because we would like to be where we have teams from Quebec," said Arcand. "I can really see it happening.