The Saskatchewan Hockey Association has cancelled this year’s SaskFirst Hockey Tournament for male bantam and midget-aged players this spring after the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
“We sincerely hope that everyone involved understands the decision we have made and we ask that you keep the individuals from the Humboldt Broncos and the families in your thoughts and prayers,” said Kelly McClintock, general manager of the SHA in a press released issued Tuesday.
The tournaments, which annually bring together the best of their age in the province together, scrambled on different teams, and played largely in front of Western Hockey League and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League scouts, would have taken place April 12-15 at the Cooperators Centre in Regina.
The decision to cancel the tournament affects many young hockey players in the area who had been named to the teams earlier this year.
They include the bantam tournament’s Turner McMillen from Carievale and Zane Winter from Carlyle who both played on the TS&M bantam AA Estevan Bruins, as well as the midget tournament’s Cale Adams, Zach Ashworth, Josh Romanyk and Kolby Kaban, all from Estevan and Joey Meredith from Gainsborough. All of these players played for the Apex midget AA Estevan Bruins.
Also missing the tournament will be Carnduff’s Trey Stovin, Ty Stovin, Mason Plews, and Matthew Plews of the midget division who played with the Carnduff Red Devils.
The female U-18 tournament the SHA runs took place earlier in April.
