THUNDER BAY — Technically, this should be the 32nd annual Robin’s Minor Hockey Classic.
But like most sports, COVID-19 got in the way, forcing the event to the sidelines for the past two seasons.
That’s all in the past.
On Thursday, the U13 Neebing Hawks and KC Golden Knights took the ceremonial opening faceoff, kicking off the premiere hockey tournament in Northwestern Ontario, an event that features more than 130 teams, including visitors from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
It’s just great to be back on the ice, said tournament co-chair Kelly Mallon.
“We were a go last year, but as you know, the Ontario government took it away on Jan. 1, so we had to pull the plug two weeks before. So, after three years, it’s really great to be back in the city and we’re really excited about this year,” Mallon said.
“It’s the biggest tournament in the region, and sometimes people say Canada. There are over 135 teams. They’re really excited. This is one of those ones that you want to win. It’s one of those ones that the guys that go on to play in the NHL, they all said they won the Robin’s. It’s really the one tournament that everyone goes, ‘Yeah, I want it.’"
While most of the teams are from Thunder Bay, Mallon estimated there are 30 teams from outside the city, including Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Marathon.
Managing that many teams over such a short period of time requires a lot of schedule dancing — not to mention filling up ice time from one end of the city to the other.
“We’ve never done Neebing on a Thursday,” Mallon said, nothing things have changed a bit on the hockey landscape since 2020.
“The Tournament Centre 2, the last time we held the tournament, used to be a hockey rink. Now it’s a soccerplex.”
That represented four days of ice they had to find. In addition to added time at the Neebing Arena, organizers also added ice time at the Norwest Arena and Fort William Gardens.
Admission to all games is free of charge and schedules can be found at www.robinstournament.ca.
Championships will be held on Sunday.
