The Estevan Strippers Hockey Club ran another successful Spring Bust recreational hockey tournament despite being somewhat under the cloud of the Humboldt bus crash Friday evening that claimed the lives of 16 people.
The 40 games went on as scheduled in the 36th annual tournament at Affinity Place and the Power Dodge Ice Centre, with a few games in Bienfait this year, and tournament winners were crowned but there was a difference this year with many teams getting together at centre ice before their games in a show of solidarity with the community of Humboldt and their hockey team.
“As soon as I found out about it, I spread it like wildfire,” said organizer Rick Rohatyn. “We had it at the curling rink, it was turned to the coverage immediately. That night and the next morning, Nancy Bourbonnais from Beinfait contacted all the teams via social media and put tape and green markers in each of the dressing rooms so that each of the players could tear a piece of tape off immediately and put the H on their helmets.”
Many players wore ‘H’ or ‘HB’ on their helmets in yellow tape, one of the primary colours of the Humboldt Broncos.
Bienfait's Dana Pastachak also made yellow and green ribbons for teams to have to signify the loss.
The crash had a significant impact on the players here.
“I think it shook everyone up,” said Jason Dutka, captain of the Estevan Tower Wolves team. “Hockey and the fun times here kind of took a back seat to what was going on in Humboldt with the kids.”
“When you get on the ice, you're into the game, but in the dressing room the talk was about who they knew,” Rohatyn said. “Everybody in this town I'm sure has a connection.”
The bottom line for the amount of money raised was more affected by the weather than any residual feelings from the crash, Rohatyn said.
“It's never been this cold for the Strippers tournament and it certainly kept the crowds down at the cabarets,” he said.
Baker-Hughes provided funding for the free Safe Ride Home program that was well-utilized by the players.
The 40 games that were played in the tournament indicated the support that the tournament has that has been there in the last few years especially, before the closure of the Civic Auditorium, but they got a huge hand from the Bienfair Memorial Arena committee, who opened the doors to the tournament for the first time this year.
“With a lack of a third ice surface we're just going to see that (support) go away because you won't be able to have as many teams,” Rohatyn said. “Estevan Minor Hockey already found that out this winter. They've been turning teams away because they don't have a third ice surface. Businesses will lose out. So that's our main objective to keep it there.”
Winning teams in the tournament included the Days Inn Division's Tower Wolves, the team Dutka captained, winning 8-5 over the Weyburn Ambassadors for the gold medal. The Torquay Hoppers won the bronze in that division 7-4 over the Oxbow Coyotes on the strength of three goals from Dan Daae.
The Regina Apex Hitmen defeated the Souris Valley Sioux 7-6 in a shootout for the gold medal in the Fagerheim Memorial division. The Estevan Taphouse Rookies defeated the Estevan 1124 Sharks 6-5 in overtime for the bronze with Cole Zahn's overtime magic.
The Fort Qu'appelle Combines win the gold medal in the Ray Frehlick division with a 7-1 win over the Energy City Wings. The bronze was won by the Tower Wolves 45s in a 6-5 win over the Regina Hooters.
The Estevan Cougars won the Preston Meyer Memorial division with a 5-4 win over the Alameda Red Army in overtime thanks to Dan Crooks' goal. The Broken Arrow Bruins won the bronze in a 4-2 win over the Regina Blackouts.
The Reston Rockets won the Taphouse division in a 6-2 victory over the Estevan Vikings. The Carnduff Chiefs took the bronze with a 6-5 win over the Moose Mountain North Stars thanks to four goals and an assist from Blair Beck.
The Woodley Whites took the Murray GM division with a 4-2 win over the Estevan Capitals. The Vikings 45s and Yorkton Old Relics tied their game at 3-3. Rohatyn picked up an assist in the game.
The Avonlea Antiques won the Westmoreland Coal division's gold medal in an 8-4 win over the Estevan Flyers. Bronze was won by the Estevan Eclipse 8-7 over the Regina Elite Burbot.
In the final men's division, the Regina Slow Shots won the Bill Dutton division with a 7-2 win over the Melville Moneymen, while the bronze went to Brandon North 40 in a 5-1 win over the Weyburn Ambassadors.
In the women's divisions, the Reston Westman Fusion won 4-1 over the Bienfait Bulldogs for the Certified Energy gold medal, while the Oxbow Renegades took bronze with a 8-0 win over the Swan Valley Extreme.
In the Coldwell Banker division, the Moose Mountain Chill won the gold with a 2-1 win over the Estevan Wildcats, while the Bitches won silver with a 7-2 win over the Weyburn Oil Queens, thanks to Robin Ulrich's three goals and an assist.
The Taphouse Sportsmanship award was given to the Weyburn Ambassadors who played three games in the tournament. The over 45 team had no penalties in their games. The James Schroder Memorial Sportsmanship award was given to the Reston Rockets, who had two minor penalties.
Rohatyn himself, the chief organizer for 35 years, was named the tournament's oldest player.
“Being the head of this committee and running it since 1983, I guess my turn was up,” Rohatyn said.
Next year's tournament will once again be in April and run for five days.
