It’s the biggest week of the minor hockey season with a whopping 70 teams taking over all three of the city’s ice venues for the 36th annual Richmond International Bantam Midget Hockey Tournament (RIBMHT), staring on Boxing Day.
Hosted by Richmond Minor Hockey Association, this holiday event has a reputation of attracting teams from afar and this year is no exception. Overseen by longtime tournament chair Wendy Steadman, organizers have done an outstanding job putting together a wide variety of entries with plenty of international flavour.
The biggest of all is the Hungarian U16 national team, marking the first time in 18 years the tournament will feature a European entry.
Coached by Glen Williamson, a former scout with the Los Angeles Kings and assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets, Hungary has already enjoyed success in B.C. earlier this year, winning the Kamloops International Bantam Tournament last spring.
In Richmond, the team will be part of the Midget Major Division and begins play Dec. 27 against the Prince George Cougars at 8 p.m. at the Minoru Arenas’ stadium rink.
Adding to the intrigue of holiday tournaments in recent years is the emergence of academy programs and the opportunity to take on teams from minor hockey associations. RIBMHT’s Midget Major Division will feature teams from Major Midget, Midget AAA, the Canadian School Sport Hockey League (Academy), U.S. leagues and Europe.
Richmond Minor’s top Midget and Bantam rep teams will take a step back this season and compete in their respective Tier 2 Divisions. The Seafair A1 Islanders will carry the local hopes in the 20-team Midget Tier 1 Division and are enjoying a solid season in Pacific Coast’s top tier with just one loss in 12 league games to date.
RIBMHT round-robin action runs from Dec. 26-Dec. 29 at the Richmond Ice Centre, Minoru Arenas and the Richmond Olympic Oval. The quarter-final and semi-final games take place Dec. 30 and the five divisional finals will be held Dec. 31.
Here’s a rundown of this year’s participating teams:
Midget Major (10 teams)
Everett Jr. Silvertips U16AAA, Yale U16 Lions, North Island Silvertips, Golden State Elite Eagles, Guelph Gryphons, Prince George Cougars, OHA-Edmonton, South Island Royals, Mission Arizona Ice U18, Hungary U16 national team.
Midget Tier 1 (20 teams)
Kelowna Jr. Rockets, Alaska Blue Devils U16AAA, Nanaimo Clippers, North Shore Winter Club, South Delta, Anaheim Jr. Ducks U16AA, Seafair, Surrey, Saanich, Alaska Jr. Avalanche, Seattle, Juan de Fuca, Chilliwack, Anaheim Jr. Ducks U18AAA, Cloverdale, Vancouver Thunderbirds, North Kamloops, Alaska Wolves, Delta Hockey Academy Midget Varsity.
Midget Tier 2 (20 teams)
Richmond A1 Blues, North Vancouver A2, California Wave U16AA, Homer Glacier Kings, Peninsula Eagles, Wenatchee Wilderness U16, Arizona Jr. Sun Devils U16, Golden State Elite Eagles U16AA-2, Burnaby Minor As, Semiahmoo A2, Burnaby Winter Club A1, Seafair A2, Portland Jr. Winterhawks, Golden State Elite 2001, Comox Valley Chiefs.
Bantam Tier 1 (6 teams)
Golden State Elite Eagles North, Vancouver Minor A1, Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Varsity, Seafair A2, Vancouver Thunderbirds A1, Everett.
Bantam Tier 2 (8 teams)
Richmond A1, North Delta A1, Cowichan Valley Tier 2, Wenatchee Wolverines (U14, Semiahmoo A2, Golden State Elite Eagles Bantam AA, Peninsula Eagles, Port Jr. Winterhawks Bantam AAA.
Bantam Tier 3 (6 teams)
North Delta Bantam A2, Cloverdale Bantam A2, Campbell River Tier 3, Semiahmoo Bantam A3, South Delta A2, Seattle A2.
