THUNDER BAY -- Mini-sticks hockey has been a popular tradition for kids across the country for many years.
But for a couple hundred of local kids, like Caleb Labelle, they got to put their mini-sticks prowess to the test.
Caleb was one of almost 200 kids who converged on the gym at the former Port Arthur Collegiate Institute for the third annual Lakehead Thunderwolves mini-stick tournament.
“It’s really fun and I like it,” he said.
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The tournament has three different age groups with bragging rights on the line.
For returning teams, such as Caleb’s who placed third one year ago, it’s an opportunity to avenge those past results.
Andrew Wilkins, the current Lakehead assistant coach and former captain, was involved in coordinating the tournament for his first time.
The large scale of the tournament, with eight different mini-rinks and kids running all over the gymnasium, was more than he anticipated.
“I didn’t really expect this,” he said with games going on around him. “When I came to set up (Friday) I thought this was going to be a pretty good event and sure enough the kids are having a good time.”
It’s a nice change of pace for the kids in the middle of busy hockey seasons, he added.
Wilkins, who became a fan favourite at the Fort William Gardens for his playmaking ability and gritty two-way style, said even mini-sticks have come a long way since he was a kid.
“The difference is when I was a kid I was using short little plastic mini-sticks. Now these kids have the high-tech one pieces with custom curves,” Wilkins said.
“I wish I could have had something like this when I was a kid.”
