Greater Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes 
The 39th Annual Sudbury Silver Stick Regional Hockey Tournament will be taking place Dec. 4-7, with 90 teams participating at arenas all over the city.
With six arenas hosting 182 games and 225 hours of ice, hockey fans will have an action-packed weekend.
About 4,600 people, including players, coaches, parents and volunteers, will fill the city that weekend as 55 teams in the tournament come from out of town.
Mayor John Rodriguez said this tournament is great for Sudbury as thousands of people will be staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants and shopping in stores.
He commends the volunteers for the effort they have put in to making this tournament possible.
"As the mayor of the city, I've very proud of the people who put on this tournament. I mean, this is what we're all about, this is who we are right here," he said.
The tournament will begin Thursday Dec. 4 from 5 p.m.- 11:30 p.m. at Countryside Arena and will continue all day Friday to Sunday at the Countryside, Walden, Garson, Cambrian, Carmichael and Azilda arenas.
The Sudbury Silver Stick Regional Hockey Tournament is one of 41 regional tournaments held across North America that are played from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. 
Winning teams advance to the North American Finals which are held in either St. Claire Shores or Port Huron Michigan, or Sarnia and New Market Ontario depending on the level of hockey.
"We just want to see the kids have fun," said Sudbury Tournament director Peter Michelutti.
James Gagnon was the recipient of the 2007 Sudbury Silver Stick Scholarship, which is worth $500. The scholarship is granted to a midget hockey player who demonstrates sportsmanship and devotion to the game of hockey.
The recipient is also someone who intends on attending college or university or take part in an apprenticeship. Gagnon was also the recipient of the Larry Memorial Scholarship.
For more information on the Silver Stick Hockey Tournament visit www.sudburysilverstick.com .
