THUNDER BAY - For many hockey players, the Robin’s Minor Hockey Tournament is one of the first big competitions of their career, so there is no better way to say goodbye to the annual compeition than going out on top.
“The first hockey tournament memory I have is probably the Robins,” said Andy Prystanski of the Current River Comets who defeated the Hearst Lumberkings 4-1 on Sunday to capture the Midget AA title.
“It feels pretty great,” said Ben Pretty of winning the title.
“Especially in your last year,” Prystanski added. “We are all third years and we are all moving on next year. So it feels pretty good to get the last one.”
The championship win for the Comets is just one of the many successes for players, coaches, parents, and fans of the Robin’s Minor Hockey Tournament, now in its 43rd year.
Joe Rizzuto, tournament chair, said this year’s tournament was another success, with 145 teams competing over four days.
“I think it’s a great impact for the city,” Rizzuto said. “We have 33 teams from out of town with an average of 16 players on each team. So they are filling up a lot of hotels, a lot of restaurants and a lot of shops. It’s great for the city and the kids enjoy it.”
Teams from across the region and the country register to participate and the largest tournament ever held included 160 teams, and even then, teams still had to be turned away.
According to Rizzuto, the success of the Robin’s Tournament comes down to its longevity, with young players competing all the way through the various skill levels, and then still being involved as parents cheering on their kids or coaching.
“It’s great,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for 21 years. It’s a generational thing that has been going on for 43 years.”
And for the players, it’s about leaving it all on the ice for the win and taking away the memories and the friendships.
"It’s been ince playing in this tournament and a lot of nice memories," said Comets player, Shane Thompson. "It’s been fun while it lasted."
“No better way,” Pretty said. “The memories will last forever.”
“I think the guys,” Prystanski said of that he’ll remember most. “The guys in the room. We had a new group this year and a new dynamic. And everyone was so positive coming into the game. We worked as a team and we gelled as a team and that’s what made it special.”
For a complete list of results, visit the Robin’s Minor Hockey Tournament website.
