The Ottawa Senators AAA Showcase Tournament took place this past weekend in Ottawa, Ontario with games being played at both the Richcraft Sensplex and the Bell Sensplex.
The tournament sees the top U18 talent from Toronto, Kitchener, Markham, Ottawa, Kingston and more gather for glory, and to put their skills on display.
With the Richcraft Sensplex being a short drive from the iPlayHockey office, there was no way we were missing out on this!
We arrived at the rink an hour before puck drop and were greeted by familiar sights. Players being dropped off wearing fancy suits but still carrying their own hockey bags into the arena. Elsewhere, players were going through stretches and pre-game warm-ups along the outside of the building.
Upon entering, there was a buzz in the air. Tournament coordinators looked overwhelmed as they worked to ensure everything was ready to go for the weekend ahead. Parents and coaches were high-strung as they know the importance of their child and team’s play over the next three days. Interestingly enough, the players appear to be the most relaxed of all, taping their sticks, joking around with their friends on the team, eating hot dogs, and anxiously awaiting their first game of the tournament.
While their friends are back home in school on this chilly Friday afternoon in mid-October, they’ve travelled several hours or even across the country (Halifax McDonald’s Major Midget) to get to do what they love most – play hockey. Along with their passion for the sport, they have real talent that allows them to pursue the one common dream every player in this rink has of playing in the National Hockey League (NHL).
At 3:15PM, puck drops for a clash between the Kemptville 73’s and Clarington Toro’s in the big rink. From the moment play gets underway, the teams exchange scoring chances and words after the whistle right through until the final buzzer.
It was a hard-fought battle with exceptional hockey talent on display on both sides, and in the end, the teams battled to a 3-3 tie. The players, parents and coaches can live with this result and now have some time to breathe before their next game.
It’s hard to stay relaxed though for most parents because of the stakes – the amount of money they’ve invested into their child’s hockey career already, the costs of travelling, the sheer amount of time that they spend at the rink praying that the game goes their child’s way.
Upon chatting with a few of the parents after the game, we came to realize one thing – they would do whatever it takes to ensure their child is able to see their dream though. So many of these young kids have NHL dreams and no matter what the money or time investment, the parents are going to be there to support them every step of the way to ensure they see it through. Yes some of these kids are going to stop playing hockey shortly, some will join recreational leagues, some will continue their careers, but regardless of what happens, these parents know that they had to let their child try, and see what they were capable of.
These tournaments really give us a glimpse into how difficult it is to make it to the next level because of the sheer amount of competition involved – 35 teams in this tournament alone and every single player belongs here.
If you’re wondering where to find the most realistic shot of future success, check out the players on the top teams. In the Ottawa Senators AAA Showcase Tournament, the Toronto Titans ended up coming out on top as champions after a 6-0-1 record and a +13 goal differential, only allowing 4 goals in the tournament.
Congratulations, boys. And don’t give up on your dreams!
