The 5th annual Midway Old Timers Hockey Tournament was a huge success at the local arena last weekend. Ten teams hit the ice, five men’s and five women’s squads.
It was a bit of a reversal of roles for the families this weekend with the kids coming to the arena to watch their parents and, in some cases grandparents, play.
The action began at 6 o’clock on Friday night and ran through Sunday afternoon.
There was a special game on Saturday night as the two Midway men’s teams—the Ranchers and the Loggers—took to the ice against each other. There was also some fun that had more to do with Mr. Dress Up than hockey as two representatives from each team had to compete in a Saturday evening contest that involved stripping to their skivvies and then having to put on their partner’s gear.
Following the Saturday night dinner and game, many folks headed to the Midway Community Hall for a dance.
The men’s teams this year were the Osoyoos Rattlers, Nelson Roasters, Grand Forks Boundary Electric, Midway Ranchers and Midway Loggers.
Ladies teams included the Midway Ice Maidens, Grand Forks Betty’s, Kelowna Ice Dragons, Nelson Diggers and the Wenatchee Bad Apples.
Marc Geen, who organized the tournament along with Bo Macfarlane, told the Times that if anyone came to win a prize they had come to the wrong tournament.
The game between the Midway men’s teams was switched up a bit this year. Anyone wanting to play had to register by noon the Saturday before the tournament, because that night an NH style draft was conducted to set the team rosters.
Macfarlane said this is the biggest game of the whole year for the players on these two teams, with huge bragging rights on the line. “I have never played a game like that before,” he told the Times on Sunday afternoon. “It was awesome!”
Proceeds go to the Halstrom fund, rec hockey, minor hockey and hats for Old Timers (some with the word ‘Champion’ on them—other s not).