Goderich Signal Star, 2017-03-15, Page 2626 Signal Star • Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Young Canada Week tradition continues at 68th peewee tournament
111 More than 30 teams are competing
ff in five divisions over the six-
day tournament in Goderich
Dave Sykes
Special to the Signal Star
There have been many
memorable and historic
moments over 67 years of
peewee hockey at the
Goderich Lions Young Can-
ada Week Tournament, but
this year's event offered a
unique feature.
The 68th edition of the
famed peewee tournament
got underway here Friday
with over 30 teams partici-
pating in the six-day event,
over two weekends, in five
different divisions, but it was
the opening ceremony that
featured a new twist.
A host of local dignitaries
and Lions Club members
were led to centre ice for the
tournament's ceremonial
opening face-off by two mem-
bers of the Celtic Blue High-
landers pipers, but it was a
special guest from Oakville,
Freeman, a nine-month old
black Labrador, who had the
honour of conducting the cer-
emonial puck drop.
In training at the Lions
Foundation of Canada Guide
Dogs, Freeman is one of
many dogs training at the
foundation's Oakville facility
to one day provide ongoing
assistance to Canadians with
medical or physical disabili-
ties. At the command of
trainer, Jessie Waller, Free-
man released the puck
between the captains repre-
senting the Goderich Lions
and Bayfield Clinton I lensall
(BCH) Ice Dogs to officially
open the 68th Young Canada
Week Peewee Tournament.
Before the ceremonial
puck drop, Lions Club tour-
nament organizers took time
to recognize the tireless
efforts of Goderich couple,
Dirk and Mary Wolterbeek,
who provided thousands of
meals for peewee players
participating in YCW over a
35 -year period. Dirk, who
was a member of the Goder-
ich Lions team that won the
B division championship in
the 1962 tournament, would
proudly watch as his son,
Dirk, and two grandsons
would later play in the
tournament.
A member of the Goderich
Siftos Jr. B hockey team,
sponsored by the Detroit
Red Wings of the NHL, Wol-
terbeek went on to play
hockey in the Quebec junior
leagues.
Lion Dick Madge, on behalf
of the club and tournament
organizers, presented the cou-
ple with an all expenses paid
trip to Montreal to attend a
Canadiens NHL game and an
MLB exhibition, game
between the Toronto Blue Jays
and Pittsburgh Pirates in late
March.
Commending Lions Clubs
for their work in Goderich
Photos -by Dave Sykes/Special to the Signal Star
A Goderich Lions peewee defender chases a loose puck behind
his own net in opening round-robin action against liderton in
Goderich Friday with a Jets forward in close pursuit. llderton Jets
won the game 3-1
and other communities,
Huron -Bruce Conservative
MP, Ben Lobb, thanked the
club for their dedication in
organizing the tournament
over 68 years and for sup-
porting kids in sports. He
recalled his own participa-
tion in the event as a "short
tourney" experience.
While thanking Goderich
Lions for sustaining the pee-
wee hockey tournament
over 68 years, Goderich
Mayor Kevin Morrison, also
lauded the local club "for
everything you do in the
community," and welcomed
visitors to the town and
tournament.
Launched in 1950 by Nip
Whetstone and Guy Emerson
as a one -day tournament to
provide friendly competition
for 12 local teams of peewee
age players, Young Canada
Week has always espoused
the ideals of fair play and
friendly competition. From
those humble beginnings, the
tournament grew in stature
and participation and
included 100 teams from
coast to coast in the country's
Centennial year, 1967.
"To the boys and girls playing
this year, we hope you enjoy the
experience, enjoy each other's
friendship and, most impor-
tantly, have fun and play safe,"
Lions Club President Gary
Blenkhorn told the teams
before the opening ceremonies
in keeping with tournament
tradition.
The first weekend of play
featured competition in
three divisions as 10 teams
battled for the "C" Division
championship, six entries
competed in the Girls "C"
Division and the Boys "AE"
Lions Foundation guide dog trainee, Freeman, a nine-month
old Lab, and trainer Jessie Waller, dropped the puck at the
ceremonial opening face-off to kick off the 68th edition of Young
Canada Week. BCH captain, Braydon Taylor and Goderich Lions
captain, Wilder Hoggarth took the faceoff. In the background are;
Lions President, Gary Blenkhorn; Helen Gitter-Rothe, Kincardine
Lions; Huron -Bruce MP, Ben Lobb; and Mary Wolterbeek, who was
recognized for 35 years of service to the tournament along with
her husband, Dirk.
Division had four entries.
Trophy and banner presen-
tations were made following
games Sunday afternoon.
"The second weekend, Fri-
day, March 17 to Sunday,
March 19, will have the Boys
"LL" division competing with
more than six entries and
four area teams will play in
the Boys "D" Division.
The Goderich Lions Club
has always been the driving
force and organizational
structure behind the peewee
hockey tournament.
In the early 1980s, Lions,
clubs across Canada devel-
oped a national project to
reflect service to Canadians
with visual impairment. The
Lions Foundation started
YCW trophy presentations on Sunday
Photos by Kathleen Smith/Goderich Signal Star
"Ma Pruder Memorial Trophy" consolation awarded to St. Mary's Rock. From left to right are RJ
Masse (91), Zach Rooney (93), John Archibold (presenter), Mac King, (22), Alex Slade (9).
Canine Vision Canada in
1985 but later expanded the
program to include Guide
Dog Programs to provide
hearing service, seizure
response, autism assistance
and diabetic alerts.
Goderich Lions Club
financially supports Lions
Foundation of Canada in its
mission to assist Canadians
with medical or physical dis-
abilities by providing guide
dogs at no cost.
Animals, like Freeman, are
trained at the Foundation's
Oakville facility at a cost of
$25,000 per animal and
become inseparable part-
ners in capably guiding
Canadians through daily life
routines.
"Nip Whetstone Founder Trophy" runner-up awarded to Dorchester Dragons. From left to right are
Bili Whetstone (presenter), M. Robertson (7), K. Ashby (10), C.Curry (17), N. Van Berke! (16).