May the Fourth be with you: Kids hit the ice for Star Wars-themed hockey tournament
Star Wars characters took over Winsport on Saturday to celebrate May the Fourth.
While it wasn’t the snowy planet of Hoth, the ice surface was filled with kids donning themed jerseys for the Star Wars Classic.
May 4 has become a tradition among Star Wars fans to celebrate a galaxy far, far away. The date is a play on words of the iconic catchphrase, “May the force be with you.”
The annual tournament, put on by the AMP Youth Hockey Development Program, brought together 140 kids for games of three-on-three.
“We have Chewbacca, we have Darth Vader, all the characters, and we bring out the characters on the ice to celebrate with the kids,” Patrick Breault, the director of hockey operations at AMP, said.
“It's a really fun way to do three-on-three hockey, which we do all year round. But May the Fourth is a special weekend for the kids for Star Wars.”
There were three divisions of youth teams, aged U7, U9 and U11. The divisions were divided into four teams, named after Star Wars characters: Stormtroopers, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and Darth Vader.
Breault said the event adds a bit of excitement for the kids, outside of their usual drills and practices.
“They still get to play hockey. And sometimes they even play a little bit more competitive,” he said.
The playoff round will run on Sunday, with the winners hoisting Star Wars-themed trophies.
Some of the parents even hit the ice as part of the festivities, trying out sledge hockey with the kids.
“We have a good affiliation with sledge hockey and trying to develop that program. So this is also just a great tie-in for sledge hockey and Star Wars,” Breault said.
With files from CTV News Calgary’s Tyler Barrow
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
She developed a passion for genealogy while finding her roots. Now she helps others find their own
Lauren Robilliard always knew she was adopted. As the B.C. native grew older, she developed a passion for genealogy, tracing her roots and paving the way for a career to help others find their own.
Papua New Guinea says landslide buried more than 2,000 people
A Papua New Guinea government official has told the United Nations more than 2,000 people were believed to have been buried alive by Friday's landslide and has formally asked for international help.
A cross-country look at beer and wine in convenience stores
By Labour Day weekend, Ontarians of legal drinking age could snag a six-pack at their local convenience store on the way to the cottage. But what are alcohol sales like across the country? Here's what we know.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
Severe thunderstorms set to hit some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind and severe thunderstorms across Canada.
'We were vetted': Sex-ed organization 'disappointed' over Higgs' comments
The head of a Quebec-based sexual and reproductive health organization says she's disappointed New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has deemed presentations she did in the province last week inappropriate.
Richard M. Sherman, who wrote songs for 'Mary Poppins' and 'It's a Small World,' dies at 95
Richard M. Sherman, who helped write the songs for 'Mary Poppins,' 'The Jungle Book' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, 'It's a Small World (After All)' — died at 95.
Cyclone floods coastal villages, blows away thatched roofs and cuts power in Bangladesh and India
A cyclone flooded coastal villages, blew away thatched roofs and left hundreds of thousands of people without power Monday in southern Bangladesh and eastern India. At least seven deaths were reported.