The 41st Annual Osoyoos Atom hockey tournament takes over the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos and Oliver Arena this weekend. The South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association Atoms play their first game Friday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. and their second game at 7:45 p.m. immediately following the opening ceremonies, which are set to begin at 7 p.m. A total of 13 teams are competing all weekend. Above is some action from the SOMHA Atoms from last year’s tournament. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Since 1975, the Sun Bowl Arena in Osoyoos becomes a beehive of hockey activity during the March Break as the annual Atom Fiesta comes to Osoyoos.
The 41st Annual Atom Fiesta tournament kicks off Friday night at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The Atom Fiesta was the first hockey tournament held at the Sun Bowl Arena when it opened in 1975 and has become an annual tradition in our community every year since then, said 2015 tournament assistant co-ordinator Gary Burton.
This year’s tournament will see 13 teams from across the province competing, including the Atom Coyotes who will be representing the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association.
The local squad will play its first game at 1:45 p.m. on Friday. Their second game will take place Friday evening following the official opening ceremonies. The opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. sharp with the Atom Coyotes taking to the ice for their game at 7:45 p.m.
The local squad will play two more games on Saturday, with the first game set to begin at 11 a.m. and their final game set for 6:15 p.m.
The tournament finals will be held on Sunday afternoon.
As has become tradition, games will be played at the Sun Bowl Arena as well as the Oliver Arena, said Burton.
“With the amount of teams we have coming to town, we need to use both arenas,” he said.
The SOMHA is celebrating a banner year with the Peewee, Bantam and Midget rep teams all heading to their respective provincial championships later this week.
There was a time in the 1970s when the Atom Fiesta tournament attracted as many as 28 teams, said Burton.
For the past several years, there have been between 12 and 16 teams coming to town to compete in the tournament, he said.
There is always a big crowd on hand for the opening ceremonies and he expects more of the same on Friday evening, said Burton.
“With all the players, coaching staff, parents and supporters, we always have a big crowd on opening night,” he said.
John Seminoff, head coach of the SOMHA Atom Coyotes, and his players have had a solid season and they’re looking to end their season with a strong performance at the Atom Fiesta, said Burton.
The Atom Fiesta tournament brings in enough players, coaches and parents from out of town that is always provides a significant amount of economic impact for local hotel, motel and restaurant owners in our community, said Burton.
“We get a lot of people from out of town and they will be spending a significant amount of money throughout the course of the weekend,” he said.
Many of the youngsters who play in the Atom Fiesta end up playing in other tournaments in Osoyoos as they graduate to the higher age levels in Peewee, Bantam and Midget, he said.
All local hockey fans are welcome to head down to the Sun Bowl Arena throughout the weekend to watch great minor hockey action.
All of the games can be viewed free of charge throughout the weekend.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
The SOMHA Atoms will be playing their first game Friday afternoon at the Sun Bowl Arena in the 41st Annual Atom Fiesta. They will play their second game Friday evening at 7:45 p.m. following the opening ceremonies, which are set to begin at 7 p.m. (Richard McGuire file photo)
