Spud Hockey Tournament returns after two years sidelined by COVID-19
AAA hockey players from across the region were in Charlottetown Sunday for the final games of the Spud Hockey Tournament.
There were teams from as far away as Newfoundland vying for the cup.
It’s the 48th anniversary of the Spud Hockey Tournament, but only the 46th edition, after the last two tournaments were put on ice due to COVID-19.
"It was devastating to have to cancel it because of the history of the spud,” said Brodie O’Keef, tournament chair. “We’re excited it’s back and running here again.”
He said the long lived tournament has become generational. Not many make it to 50 years.
“There’s alumni who keep coming back year after year that volunteer in it, and just say, ‘I can’t miss the spud,’ ‘I have to come out and support the spud,’” said O’Keef. “Whether they’re volunteering or coming out to watch hockey. We’re also seeing where lots of players who played in it growing up are now coaching.”
It’s a big opportunity. NHLers Sydney Crosby and Brad Richards are among the tournament’s alum.
Scouts are in the audience, and it’s young players’ chance to stand out.
“We’ve been doing pretty well. We’ve been staying strong,” said Bodan McFadden, NB East Lynx Captain. “Our first games were a bit rough, but we made it through and we’re rolling now.”
McFadden is from Moncton, so he’s played on the island before. He said that gives them a bit of a home field advantage compared to teams from further away.
“It’s going good. I think our team’s got this right now,” said McFadden. “We’ve been playing pretty well.”
Fifty-seven teams are taking part in the tournament and 39 of them from off-island.
“It’s been a very competitive weekend,” said O’Keef. “There’s been all kinds of close hockey games, and here we are in Spud Sunday with lots of games going into overtime as we head to the finals.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.