ESTEVAN — Eight teams were in Estevan on the weekend for the Estevan Minor Hockey Association’s third annual Aaron Lavoie Memorial U18 Hockey Tournament.
The host Estevan Bears and Estevan Wolves were joined by teams from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Games were played Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Affinity Place, the Power Dodge Arena and the Bienfait Memorial Arena.
The Winnipeg CPET Canadiens defeated the Swift Current Knights 5-4 in the A final. The Weyburn Wings knocked off the Wolves 8-2 in the B event.
The Bears edged the Stanley Mission River Hawks 7-6 to take the C final. And the Foam Lake Flyers doubled up the Yorkton Terriers 8-4 in the D final.
The competition is held as a tribute to Lavoie, who played his minor hockey in Estevan. Lavoie died suddenly in 2019 at the age of 16.
His father, Gary, dropped the puck during a ceremonial faceoff Friday afternoon prior to a game between the Yorkton Terriers and the Bears – the team Aaron played for in 2018-19.
It was noted that Aaron loved the game of hockey, worked hard, and played with heart and determination. Organizers hoped the athletes playing in the tournament would show the same attributes.
