The South Okanagan Midget Rep team faces off against the Kelowna Junior Rockets during a game at the Sun Bowl Arena on Friday, March 2. The South Okanagan team will join nine other teams from across British Columbia in the Midget Tier 3 Provincial Championships being held in Osoyoos from March 19-23. Photo by Mathew White
Come the end of March, some top-notch minor hockey is coming to town as Osoyoos will be hosting the Midget Tier 3 Provincial Championships at the Sun Bowl Arena.
“It’s a wonderful honour but it’s a lot of work,” said Brenda Froese, chairperson for the provincial championships. “It’s putting on a big tournament that runs all week, but it’s a wonderful honour too.”
The tournament is being hosted by the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association (SOMHA) and will feature 10 teams from all over British Columbia, including the hometown team from Osoyoos.
In order to qualify for the provincials, a team must first win its league playoffs.
However, because Osoyoos is hosting the event, the local squad is automatically entered in the tournament).
“It’s exciting,” said Froese. “That’s kind of what a team works for all year, to make it to the provincials.”
Froese said players and their families will start to arrive in Osoyoos on Sunday, March 18, with the tournament running from March 19-23.
She said besides the great calibre of hockey, the tournament should also bring a decent economic boost.
“You have these teams staying in hotels and eating in restaurants. Some of them will probably partake in some of the recreational facilities, be it a team bowling function or going to the gym.
Each team will have 19 players, plus coaches and then however many parents come, so it’s going to be huge,” said Froese.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the tournament is more than welcome to do so according to Froese.
She said interested volunteers can reach her at 250-485-4077 or by email at [email protected].
Also, anyone who volunteers a sufficient amount of time will be given a week pass to the tournament.
“Anyone who’s willing to help out and volunteer a little bit, by all means,” said Froese.
“Come out and watch. There will be some great hockey.”
