THUNDER BAY – For 27 years, youngsters of all skill levels have gathered in Thunder Bay for the annual Robin’s Minor Hockey Classic.
This year is no different.
About 160 teams will take part in this year’s event, which kicked off Thursday at arenas around Thunder Bay.
Eleven-year-old Jayden Poohachoff, a right-winger with the Norwest Stars Atom A squad, has played in the tournament three times and said he and his teammates love testing their abilities against the best the city and region have to offer.
And it’s a lot of fun, he said.
“It’s exciting because we haven’t really won a lot of games over the last tournament. So hopefully we can try winning this tournament. Hopefully we’re lucky,” Jayden said, moments before his team took to the ice at Port Arthur Arena and proceeded to blank the Westfort Rangers 6-0.
Rangers opponent Parker Turk, 9, had some pretty high expectations heading into a weekend of traipsing back and forth to the rink.
“I’m really excited because most of all I can probably get the MVP,” Parker said.
It won’t be easy, he added.
“It’s really tough. There’s a lot of really good teams,” he said, set to take part in his fourth Robin’s event.
“Last year we won the Robin’s tournament, so I’m hoping we can this year too. I’m really confident. I’m going to play my hardest and score a couple of goals, maybe.”
Teammate Brandon Blasizzo captains the Rangers team and said he was excited for the games to finally begin.
“I’m pretty confident and I’m going to play as hard as I can and pass a lot,” he said.
Tournament organizer and volunteer Kelly Mallon said the event has had a fantastic run over the years, one he doesn’t see stopping anytime soon in a city – and tournament - that has produced a host of NHLers, including the Staal and Pyatt brothers, Matt Murray, Carter Hutton and Robert Bortuzzo.
“It’s one of the largest tournaments in Canada,” Mallon said. “We have over 2,500 kids participating. That works out to be almost 12,000 spectators. There are about 30 to 35 teams coming in from all over, as far as Winnipeg and Wawa.
“It’s a longstanding tournament, very well run and it has a very strong volunteer base. To be quite truthful, people just keep coming back. They have a great time, it’s at a good time of the year and the main emphasis is having fun.”
Hockey players from age four to age 18 will take part in the tournament, which runs through Sunday at rinks throughout the city.
Early scores:
Peewee A
KC Canadiens 4, VP Bearcats 4
Westfort Maroons 5, Neebing Hawks 0
North End Flames 3, Westfort Rangers 1
NorWest Stars 3, Current River Comets 2
Peewee AA
Norwest Stars 2, Westfort Rangers 1
KC Sabres 3, Current River Comets 3
Bantam A Queens 5, Elks 82s 3
Bantam A
Westfort Marrons 6, Westfort Rangers 5
South End Jr. Stars 6, NorWest Stars 5
Thunder Bay Beavers 3, North End Flames 2
Bantam AA
Thunder Bay Beavers 3, Westfort Maroons 3
Neebing Hawks 1, North End Flames 1
Novice A
Neebing Goldenhawks 2, Westfort Maroons 2
Neebing Hawks 5, Westfort Rangers 2
Novice B
KC Hurricanes 3, North End Flames 1
VP Bearcats 8, Norwest North Stars 2
Atom A
KC Whalers 2, North End Flames 0
NorWest Stars 6, Westfort Rangers 0
West End Bruins 7, TBWHA Fury 0
Westfort Maroons 4, Neebing Hawks 2
KC Devils 3, Current River Comets 0
Elks Blackhawks 1, Neebing Hawks 1
Atom AA
NorWest Stars 2, Elks 82s 0
KC Sabres 2, North End Flames 0
Neebing Hawks 3, Westfort Rangers 0
Midget AA
Current River Comets 6, Fort William Hurricanes 4
VP Bearcats 5, Fort William Canadiens 3
