The Big Nickel Major AAA International Hockey Tournament will be marking its 29th year of competition and its first year without Gerald McCrory, the tournament's founder and chair, who passed away April of this year.
"It's obviously a very special event. There's a lot of talk about the word legacy these days in Sudbury but I think this tournament will certainly be Gerry's legacy," said Blaine Smith, president of the Sudbury Junior Wolves.
"When you think of the Big Nickel, you think of Gerry McCrory."
Smith noted that the Big Nickel Hockey Tournament is the most successful triple "A" tournament in Canada.
"I want to wish the best of luck to the organizing committee because they have obviously a big challenge on their hands with Gerry not being here. I'm sure they're going to do a fine job."
Tournament vice-chairman Bruce Killah has already noticed the amount of work that McCrory has put into the tournaments that they never realized.
"This is the first one since Gerry has passed away. In a roundabout way...we found out a lot of things that he used to do that we took for granted," said Killah.
"He's really missed. We're struggling but we will get there."
McCrory's son Barry has taken on the role of chair at this year's event and will be assistant coach to the BMI Major Bantam team.
"We'll always keep it going for him," said Barry.
"I don't know how I'm going to do both this year, but we're going to find out very shortly," McCrory's son said with a chuckle, noting that he hasn't coached in the tournament for almost 10 years.
Barry's son Colin will also be playing in the tournament.
"It's the second time in 29 years that he would have had a grandson playing,"
Another family presence in the tournament will be of McCrory's youngest son Scott, who will be assistant coach for the Oshawa Kinawas.
The tournament will officially get underway November 6 and will include 60 minor hockey teams in North America. The teams will feature 10 Peewee, 25 Midget and 25 Bantam teams. Fifty-four of those teams are from out of town. A $10,000 donation from the Big Nickel was presented to the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association.
Games will be spread out over four days with all the action taking place at Cambrian Arena, Countryside Sports Complex, Chelmsford Arena, Carmichael Arena and Walden Community Centre.
