A total of 102 teams – 72 men and 30 women – are participating in the Summerside Recreational Hockey League’s 24th annual Mardi-Gras tournament this week. Play began on Wednesday, and continues through until Sunday. Last year, 94 teams took part.
“To accommodate the extra teams this year we had to rent 20 hours of ice in Charlottetown,” said tournament chairman Aaron Doyle, who noted there will be close to 1,700 participants in this year’s event.
“Bringing in these teams from across P.E.I. and the Maritimes, as well as parts of Upper Canada at this time of the year is great for the city and surrounding area,” said Doyle. “Every hotel room in Summerside is full, restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, they all benefit from a tournament of this size.”
Games will be played at Credit Union Place in Summerside, The Plex in Slemon Park, Evangeline Recreation Centre, Bedeque Area Recreation Centre, South Shore Actiplex in Crapaud, Community Gardens in Kensington, APM Centre in Cornwall and Simmons Sport Centre and Cody Banks Arena in Charlottetown.
Each team is guaranteed three games. Overall, there will be a total of 174 games played, including 153 in the round robin.
“(The) skill level in each division of play has really picked up in recent years,” said Doyle. “This year features many former and current university, major junior and junior A players in the Men’s A Division.”
Tournament most-valuable-player awards will be presented to the top players after the championship games in each division.
The tournament, which provides a big boost for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and convenience stores, has also included off-ice social events for participants.
Finals
Mardi-Gras tournament championship games:
Sunday, April 2
Men
1:40 p.m. – B Division (Eastlink Arena).
4 p.m. – A Division (Eastlink Arena).
5:10 p.m. – E Division (Eastlink Arena).
6:20 p.m. – D Division (Eastlink Arena).
6:30 p.m. – C Division (Ice Pad).
Women
2:50 p.m. – D Division (Eastlink Arena).
3 p.m. – B Division (Ice Pad).
4:10 p.m. – C Division (Ice Pad).
5:20 p.m. – A Division (Ice Pad).
