Hockey players are descending on Moncton in droves this weekend for the 36th Annual Monctonian AAA Challenge.
Tournament Chairman Blair Brooks says they started games Thursday with 30 teams in Major Midget, and 23 teams in Major Bantam with playoffs starting today.
He adds there are teams from many provinces across the country.
“Furthest team away is from Saskatchewan and we go right East across the country, Ontario, Quebec and all the Atlantic Provinces so we’ve got pretty good coverage of our country for sure,” says Brooks.
He says it’s also one of the most heavily scouted tournaments in Canada with about 175 scouts registered ranging from Major Junior, College, Prep School and Junior A from both Canada and the USA.
Brooks adds it’s a year round project and they will start planning on Monday – the day after the tournament ends.
“You’re on a recruiting mission as soon as it’s over, and you touch base with the participating who have just left to make sure it was a positive experience for them,” says Brooks. “And if it wasn’t or there were some errors or something that bothered them, go over it and try to make it better year by year.”
Brooks says a new team from Quebec is already registered to participate next year.
Details can be found HERE
