Thirteen teams played ball for a good cause over the weekend, facing off in the annual fundraiser tournament in support of Hockey Mineur Fort-Coulonge.
Teams competed for championships in three divisions. While the weather cooperated for games on Friday and Saturday, Sunday afternoon’s rain made the field a bit muddy.
But the teams played on. In the end, the A division was won by the Morrissette family, who defeated the perennial champion Corriveau team in a rain-soaked final. The B division final took three extra innings to determine a champion, but in the end it was the Ladouceur family who lifted the trophy. And finally, the Presseau family managed to edge out the Boucher family in the C division final.
Hockey Mineur president Paul Boisvert said the tournament has been around for around 20 years, adding that it usually brings in around $8,000, which the club uses to keep registration fees down for the kids.
“We try to raise $10,000 every year to keep the cost down for every parent by 90 bucks,” he said, adding that registration is $550 for the older age groups while the youngest age groups pay $350.
Boisvert said he was very pleased with the turnout this year, as he is every year, for the association’s biggest fundraiser throughout the year.
“Everything’s running really smoothly. Lots of volunteer help,” he said.
Boisvert said highlights of the past year in the association included an increase in registration by about 15 players. He tacked on a congratulations for the U13 A Comets team who qualified for the provincial championships in Laval, earning second place.
“It’s a small town team going up to Laval for the weekend and losing in the finals. It was a nice thing for the kids, that’s for sure,” he said.
Debby Ladouceur, captain of the B division champion Ladouceur family, said while her kids have not traditionally played minor hockey the family still puts in a team year after year.
“We have always supported the tournament for youth hockey, to help the community. But also to play ball with my dad and family to have fun. That’s what it’s all about,” she said, adding that her father Wilfrid Ladouceur is still playing at 77 years old.
Boisvert said that’s exactly the intention of the tournament, to bring families together for a fun weekend in support of minor hockey. He said it’s also fun to see some of the family rivalries at play throughout the weekend.
“Lots of families, they’re all cousins, so we try to make them play each other at least once during the weekend. You have to, it makes it fun.”
Boivert said the association will be hosting another fundraiser near the end of August, this time a best-ball golf tournament.
