BY SCOTT
HADDOW
The annual Big Nickel Major AAA International Hockey Tournament
has helped launch the careers of many successful OHL
players.
From Sudbury's Zack Stortini, current Sudbury Wolves player
Kyle Tarini, budding Oshawa superstar John Tavares to OHL
leading scorer Sam Gagner, countless youngsters have used the
event as a testing ground against the best players in Ontario.
The 27th annual Big Nickel tournament starts Thursday, Nov.
2, with all championship finals concluding on Sunday, Nov. 5.
Ninety teams applied to get into the prestigious event, but
only 60 will get the chance to become champions.
The tournament features some of the best AAA midget, bantam
and peewee teams from across Ontario. From Thunder Bay to North
Bay to Ottawa to Toronto and everywhere in between, there's a
club competing for bragging rights.
Six local squads will challenge to be the top dogs - the Sudbury Wolves Nickel Capitals (midget), Sudbury Wolves (bantam), Sudbury Northwood Wolves (peewee), Onaping Falls Huskies (bantam), Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (midget) and the Valley East Cobras (midget).
An adult weekend pass sells for $20 or $8 for a day, while
children under 12 are free, half-price admission for students
with a valid student card, and seniors will be admitted by
optional donation.
"People are going to see Triple A hockey at its best," said
Barry McCrory, one of the executive directors. "People will see
10 to 15 of the top teams in Ontario. Teams keep coming back
because we keep entry fees low and guarantee them four games no
matter what...and it's great hockey. It's exciting and fans get
to see a lot of future OHL players."
The local contingent is strong as usual, but they will be in
tough to win one of the three titles. Last year, the midget
Nickel Capitals Wolves lost 2-1 in triple overtime to Nepean.
They were the closest to hoisting a championship banner since
the peewee Sudbury Lakers were finalists in 2002. The last time
any Sudbury squad took a title was in 1991, when the Sudbury
BPT Wolves won the bantam crown.
"The Nickel Capitals should do well...they're very
competitive," said McCrory. "The bantam Wolves...and peewee
Wolves are also highly competitive teams and should fair well."
Another team to watch closely are the Cobras, who went on a
tear in the Great North Midget League (GNML) early on, winning
11 of their first 14 games.
The tournament benefits the local players. "It's an immense help for us," said Nickel Capitals general manager Bob MacLean. "It's great exposure for our GNML. It promotes our hockey across Ontario and a wonderful opportunity for local players. In a tournament like this, all the big teams are here and there's no where to hide...you have to be a good team that plays well."
Dale Pidutti, who stars for the Nickel Capitals, has played in
the Big Nickel for the past four years.
"It's good competition," said Pidutti. "It's awesome to play the best teams in front of hometown fans. We look forward to this tournament. It's a good way to prove ourselves against the best and see how we compare. We lost in triple overtime last year, we have just as strong of a team this year, so we want to win it this time."
