NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers rookie Shane Smith waits for a pass while playing in the YCMA's and IG Wealth Management Sticks on First Street charity hockey tournament Friday on First street.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Despite the rain, the YMCA’s road hockey tournament went off without a hitch.
The YMCA, partnered with IG Wealth Management Medicine Hat, hosted the first Sticks on First Street Hockey Tournament Friday on First street.
The three-on-three tournament was an IG Wealth initiative to raise funds for the local YMCA. Megan Nunweiler, an executive assistant with IG Wealth, said they brought the tournament idea to Medicine Hat after seeing the positivity it brought the community in Regina.
Eight teams battled the rain and one another in the friendly street hockey competition. Each team played at least four games with those making it to the finals playing six.
The Sun City Dental team took first place in the tournament, beating the Badlands Training Centre ‘Bruisers’. Essentials ‘First Street Fury’ finished in third.
Tournament MC Trevor Moore and YMCA philanthropy director Helene Nicholson both agreed that although the rain wasn’t the most ideal weather, it still allowed for good road hockey.
“It could have been 38 degrees and we’re playing on black asphalt,” Moore said.
Nicholson said it was a good day weather aside and said they got to learn what worked and what didn’t for next year and how they can make it a bigger event.
Medicine Hat Tigers alumni Stefan Meyer, Matt Keetley and Wacey Hamilton participated in the tournament and were ‘auctioned off’ Thursday night to the highest bidding team.
Tigers prospect Shane Smith also participated in the tournament. He said he was just a last-minute call-up for the Badlands team and that he enjoyed the tournament.
Nicholson said next year they hope to get enough celebrity players to put one on each team.
All funds raised at the one-day tournament – from registration fees to a 50/50 raffle – were going to supporting YMCA programs and services across the board, with a portion of it being used specifically for their Strong Kids campaign. Strong Kids is a financial assistance program to help individuals who may be struggling with those financial barriers to access YMCA programs and services.
