The Shawville arena was packed with young hockey players over the weekend for the final iteration of the Pontiac Winter Classic tournament for the MAGH and U9 divisions (4-8 years old). 

Organizer Amy Taylor said that this is the first time they’ve hosted this age division before, and with 28 teams playing two half-ice games at a time, there was a bit of a learning curve. 

“It’s a little insane. We’ve never had one for this age division before, so it was a bit of logistics, but I think it’s turned out really well and this way all age categories in SDMHA have a home tournament,” she said. “So there’s that whole sense of pride having a home tournament, your whole family can come.”

With six home teams, and three squads from up the road in Fort-Coulonge, the rest of the competition came from across the Outaouais, from Montebello to Maniwaki. Taylor said that they also had the opportunity to give each team a “spotlight game” where the players are introduced over the loudspeakers and skate out into the spotlight, to the loud cheers of their families. 

“It’s a really cute, nice little thing that the kids like about the home tournament,” she said.

In addition to the action on the ice, the Ottawa Senators street team was on site Sunday.

She thanked all the sponsors who made the weekend possible, singling out CAMA Industries for their support. 

“We’re super grateful for all the sponsors, people have come out of the woodwork to support this tournament, it’s been fabulous,” she said.