Hamilton welcomes P.E.I. players for annual Goodwill Games mini hockey tournament

It’s been a friendly competition going strong for 55 years. The Goodwill Games is a mini hockey tournament between Hamilton, Ont. and Montague, P.E.I.

Each year the host city flips, so this year Hamilton has welcomed almost 20 young hockey players from out east.

“The game, the experience, it’s awesome being here,” said one player.

What started back in 1968 between two hockey teams in different cities is still going strong today.

“It was a brother and sister, Mary Hennebery who lived in Montague, P.E.I. and Ernie McKenna, who lived in Hamilton, was managing a hockey team here, and they decided that it would be fun that the two locations would come together and play one hockey game. And that just started what we are seeing now, which is 55 years of the Goodwill Games where Montague comes up one year and Hamilton goes down the following year – always during March break,” said Ian Down, Goodwill Games Ambassador.

This year the Mount Hamilton Blues are hosting the Montague Norseman from P.E.I. It’s an opportunity for players to have a little fun and compete against a team they wouldn’t normally play against.

Darcy Mackenzie from out east played in this tournament 35 years ago and now it’s his son’s turn.

“It was good. We had a good exchange. And like I said, it’s a great experience to meet and mix with the billets and the families. And after all these years, we have got lots of friends with the management and the coaches, and it’s been a good time,” said Mackenzie.

And if you want to check out the tournament, they will be playing again Tuesday and Wednesday night between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena & Skating Centre.

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