The South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association (SOMHA) has announced it will be hosting a 16-team novice tournament in Osoyoos at the end of November. The tournament has traditionally taken place in Oliver. SOMHA executive members made a presentation to Town of Osoyoos council last week asking for $2,500 to pay for the food costs to feed 320 young hockey players during the tournament banquet. Shown outside town hall after their presentation are (back row left) Gary Burton, the SOMHA’s tournament director and vice-president Jason Bartsch. Front row (left to right) are local novice players Jaxson Bartsch, Charlie Burton, Andon Maynard and Danica Maynard. (Keith Lacey photo)
Town of Osoyoos council made no promises, but will try and find more than $2,500 in its 2015 budget to assist the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association (SOMHA) in hosting a 16-team novice tournament in Osoyoos in late November.
For more than 20 years, a novice tournament has taken place in November at the Oliver Arena, but the SOMHA board has opted to switch the tournament to Osoyoos and the Sun Bowl Arena from Nov. 27-29 this fall, said SOMHA vice-president Jason Bartsch, during a presentation to town council last Monday morning.
Four young hockey players from Osoyoos who belong to the SOMHA got the meeting off to a charming start as they told Mayor Sue McKortoff and the four councillors why they love playing hockey and playing in tournaments.
Bartsch said the biggest reason for switching the tournament from Oliver to Osoyoos is because Osoyoos has better accommodation facilities and this tournament will be competing directly with another novice tournament set for the same weekend in Penticton.
The SOMHA novice tournament has traditionally been held on a different weekend, but Penticton minor hockey has moved the date for its annual novice tournament after being named as host city for the B.C. Winter Games, said Bartsch.
To try and attract a full field of 16 teams – which include two local novice teams – tournament organizers would like to hold a tournament banquet at the Osoyoos Golf Club the evening of Saturday, Nov. 28, said Bartsch.
The tournament organizing committee would like town council to help pay for the burger and pasta buffet that would feed all of the young hockey players who would compete in the tournament, said Bartsch.
“We’re asking the town to cover the meal costs for kids only … the adults will pay their own way,” said Bartsch. “With 16 teams and 20 players per team, that would mean 320 players and a total cost of $2,560.”
A tournament of this size would provide “significant economic impact” to the entire community, especially the local hotels, motels and restaurants during a time of year when most of the tourists have left town, said Bartsch.
Mayor Sue McKortoff said town council has developed a successful Grant in Aid program to provide financial assistance to numerous non-profit and volunteer organizations.
Council voted to put aside $2,000 annually to assist local sports teams as part of this program, but all of that money has been spent as three teams that belong to the SOMHA – Peewee, Bantam and Midget rep teams – qualified for provincial championships this past spring and each received $500 to help pay for travel expenses.
Another $500 was given to the senior boy’s basketball team at Osoyoos Secondary School that also qualified to compete in the provincial championships this past spring.
“I don’t think that we have any funds left that can help you,” she said.
Instead of holding the proposed tournament banquet at the Osoyoos Golf Club, the town would be more than willing to donate use of the Sonora Community Centre free of charge to host the banquet, she said.
Bartsch said numerous sponsors from Osoyoos and across the South Okanagan provide outstanding sponsorship for the league and players and the organizing committee felt it was appropriate to approach council with this funding request considering how much positive economic impact the tournament would have on the town.
Bartsch said a large tournament like this would generate significant economic benefits for local hotel and motels, restaurants and retail outlets.
Coun, C. J. Rhodes said he didn’t want to turn down the request without receiving more information about the tournament and its many benefits to the players and community.
“I would like the opportunity to bring this to a regular meeting (of council) to be discussed more,” said Rhodes. “Sometimes budgets can be moved around … and hopefully we might be able to find the money.”
Coun. Carol Youngberg agreed.
“I think it’s very important we hold this tournament in our community,” she said.
Teams from the SOMHA have players in all age divisions from throughout the South Okanagan, including Midway, Keremeos, Cawston and Okanagan Falls, but the vast majority of players come from Oliver and Osoyoos.
Council voted to have staff prepare a report about possible funding avenues to pay for the $2,560 asked for by Bartsch and the SOMHA board for its next meeting following the Labour Day holiday weekend.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
