YARMOUTH, N.S. –
A big weekend of ball hockey is coming up in Yarmouth, where a section of Main Street in the downtown area will be converted into a series of hockey rinks for the event.
The inaugural JStrong Cup will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30.
The plan is to set up 12 playing rinks on Main Street between Parade and Cumberland streets, although the championship games on the tournament’s second day – Sept. 30 – will be played on the outdoor rink at the Mariners Centre.
There will be six divisions: novice, atom, peewee, bantam, midget and open.
You can have a minimum of seven players and a maximum of 10 on teams.
The four-on-four tournament is being organized by the JStrong Fund and the Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association and all proceeds from the event will go the YCMHA.
The JStrong Fund is covering the registration cost for teams in the tournament from the novice to midget divisions, so only teams in the open – or adult – category will be required to pay the $200 entry fee.
Registration is being handled through the local minor hockey association. Organizers are looking to have registrations in by Sept. 21.
CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM
Contacted Sept. 7, Steve Berry, a member of the JStrong Fund committee, said the response about the tournament already has been great, but he has said since then registrations have been a bit slow to come in.
On a Sept. 10 Facebook post he writes, “This is a free event for teams 18 years and younger. Every team (18 years and under) registered is a $200 donation from JStrong Fund to minor hockey. Do you part and get your teams registered.”
Aside from registration by accessing the online form, people can stop by the Mariners Centre this Wednesday and Thursday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. to sign up their team in person.
Aside from the hockey action that will take place as part of the tournament, organizers are looking to have vendors, as well as live music, Berry said. They hope local restaurants will have specials in conjunction with the event, he said.
The JStrong Cup is a three-foot-high replica of the Stanley Cup. Winning teams will get to bring home a miniature trophy.
The JStrong Fund was established in memory of Jadon Robinson, a popular local athlete who died as the result of a car accident in 2015. He was 17.
The fund’s goal is to help local youth who are in need of assistance with sports registration fees. It also helps with sponsorships of athletes, teams and sporting events. More than $50,000 has been distributed by the fund since it was established.
The fund has organized a number of fundraising tournaments in other sports – golf and softball – and the intention is to make the JStrong Cup ball hockey tourney an annual event.
Downtown Yarmouth has been the site of major ball hockey competition before. A section of Main Street was turned into rinks when the town hosted the Play On national street hockey event five years ago.
QUICK GLANCE: 5 things to know
1. The tournament is being organized by the JStrong Fund and the Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association and all proceeds from the event will go the YCMHA.
2, The event will take place Sept. 29 and 30.
3. There will be six divisions: novice, atom, peewee, bantam, midget and open.
4. The plan is to set up 12 playing rinks on Main Street between Parade and Cumberland streets with the championship games played at the outdoor rink at the Mariners Centre.
5. Register through Yarmouth County Minor Hockey Association. Visit their website for a form: ycmha.goalline.ca
