Novice tournament hits town this weekend

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Hockey players from 18 teams will take to the ice in Morinville and Legal this weekend. The 4 the Love of the Game Novice Tournament runs Mar. 24 27 in both communities, bringing in players from the two communities as well as players from Fort McMurray, Slave Lake, Lloydminster, Barrhead, Westlock, Spruce Grove, Edmonton, Warburg and North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Sixty-five of the players are from Morinville.

“It is a tournament that Legal Minor Hockey has hosted – a memorial tournament for a young fellow named Dennis Blair Borduzak who passed away when he was a novice player,” said Morinville Minor Hockey Association Treasurer Suzie Johnson, adding now that Morinville and Legal are looking at a possible amalgamation, Morinville has joined in on the running of the annual tournament. “We have in the past hosted a tournament called the Novice Cup, but because this means more, obviously, to the Town of Legal and all our players then we took that over.”

Johnson said the tournament will run round robin games Thursday through Saturday in the two communities, with finals played in Morinville on Sunday. The tournament organizer said all teams are guaranteed four games, including final games whether they are championship or consolation games.

Although there is no admission charge to watch the tournament, Morinville’s games will be accompanied by a raffle table in the lobby with a number of prizes donated by local businesses.
“It is a fundraiser for Morinville Minor Hockey,” Johnson said. “We’re encouraging people to come out, buy tickets, and help support minor hockey in Morinville,” she said.

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