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THE
SILVER STICK STORY...
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The founder of the International Silver Stick Association, Mr. Jack
Kinsella, was born in Regina, Sask., April 8, 1908. He moved to Ottawa,
Ontario as a child and it was in the city that the idea of Silver Stick
originated in 1957. The purpose of the venture was to further
International relations between Peewee and Bantam age players from
Ottawa area and New York State, immediately south of Canada's capital.
The theme of the entire program is to promote citizenship and goodwill
through the medium of Silver Stick Hockey, and to foster sportsmanship
through International competition for youth of all nations.
A trophy was needed for the tournament and one of the founders, Mr.
Ernie Temple, is credited with the idea of using along stick
instead of a trophy to present the winners. The stick, made of silver
and donated by the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, was used at the first
Silver Stick Tournament in 1958, in Richmond, Ontario. Relative
replicas of the Original Silver Stick Trophy are used in North American
Finals.
In 1961, Mr. Kinsella contacted the late Mr. Fred Lamelein of Port
Huron, Michigan who then visited with Mr. Kinsella in Ottawa. Following
that meeting, Silver Stick Hocky was introduced to southwestern Ontario
with a tournament in Watford. Mr. Roy Caley of Watford was responsible
for organizing and promoting this event.
In January of 1963, the first North North American Finals Tournament
took place in Port Huron, Michigan. On May 19, 1963, a Constitution and
Bylaws were adopted and an International Board elected. Port Huron was
chosen as the permanent "home" of Silver Stick Hockey and the site of
the Peewee and Bantam Finals each year.
In 1969, Sarnia, Ontario was established as the site of the "Atom and
Midget" Finals Tournament each year. In 1974, "Juvenile" competition
was introduced and the finals were held in Mooretown, Ontario. In
subsequent years, new Finals were introduced in St. Clair Shores,
Michigan; Newmarket, Ontario; Whitby, Ontario; Forest, Ontario; Pelham,
Ontario; Tecumseh, Ontario; and Brighton, Ontario. [TOP]
Regional
Tournaments
Regional Tournaments are held throughout North America in areas
reaching from British Colombia, Colorado, Texas, Alabama, and Maryland.
The main concentration of Regional Tournaments are in Ontario and north
central United States of America.
The winning teams from Regionals then vie for top honors at the Silver
Stick Finals here they compete against the winners from the other
Regionals.
Regional tournaments are under the direction of the Regional Directors.
All Regional Directors must be santioned each year by the Board of
Directors.
Players and coaches of the Regional Championship teams wil receive a
Regional Silver Stick Championship Pin. All participants will receive a
dated souvenir Silver Stick Pin. Other awards presented will vary by
tournament.
Note: There are presently three "AAA" Division Regional Tournaments in
North America. The other "AAA" teams competing in the Final Tournaments
are by invitation and include the elite teams from the various "AAA"
leagues. [AMERICAN REGIONAL
QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS] [TOP]
Rocky
Mountain
Regional
The Rocky Mountain Silver Stick Regional is quickly becoming one of the
premier youth hockey tournaments in the west.
The
Rocky
Mountain Regional tournament has been in existence for 19
years and has hosted teams from 17 states and 3 Canadian provinces.
This Regional has also produced five Silver Stick Final Champions. [TOP]
