Tomorrow, hundreds of hockey players from around the province will take to the ice at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex for the Fifth Annual Central B.C. Aboriginal Youth Hockey Tournament.
Games start Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the Peewee division’s Little Warriors taking on the Longhorn Juniors.
Saturday, the tournament’s always elaborate opening ceremony takes place at noon on rink one featuring traditional First Nations drumming and singing while teams are introduced to the audience.
Sheila Kelalst Booth, president of the Central B.C. Aboriginal Youth Hockey Sports Association, said chiefs and council members are invited to attend the opening ceremony.
“Drummers are welcome to kick off the tournament,” she said. “All chiefs and councils and dignitaries are invited to attend and can register when they arrive to be acknowledged.”
Teams competing in the tournament are from Good Fish Lake, Alta., Fort St. John, Prince George, Chase and Williams Lake.
Divisions being contested at the tournament include initiation/novice, atom, peewee, bantam and midget.
All teams are guaranteed at least two games with the tournament finals in each division being played Sunday morning and afternoon.
Raffle tables will be set up and 50/50 draws will be taking place all weekend.
The CBCAYHSA also puts out a call for logo submissions from youth each year to be featured on the tournament sweatshirts.
This year’s winner was Dayna Smith of Williams Lake who incorporated a raven, an eagle and bear, plus the tournament’s name, into her design.