ESTEVAN - The largest recreational hockey tournament in Saskatchewan wrapped up Sunday, with the champions being decided in all nine divisions of the Estevan Strippers’ Molson Spring Bust Tournament.
A total of 36 teams entered this year’s tournament. Games were played at Affinity Place and the Power Dodge Arena on Wednesday and Thursday, and the two rinks and the Bienfait Memorial Arena were used from Friday-Sunday.
Three divisions were for over-45 teams. In the Preston Meyer Memorial Division, the Estevan Tower Wolves 45s went 3-0 to finish first. The Melville Moneymen (2-1) were second, the Yorkton Old Relics (1-2) were third and the Brandon North 40 (0-3) were fourth.
The Woodley Whites won the Ray Frehlick Division. They were tied with the Energy City Wings at 2-1, but the Whites won the division because they won the head-to-head matchup with the Wings. The Fort Qu’Appelle Combines and the Estevan Capitals each went 1-2, and the Combines were awarded third on the tie-breaker.
In the Bill Dutton Division, the Estevan Viking 45s went 3-0 to finish first, followed by the Regina Old Slow Shots (2-1), the Weyburn Ambassadors (1-2) and the Regina Hooters (0-3).
Two divisions were for women’s teams. The Bienfait Bulldogs went 3-0 to win the Murray GM Division. The Weyburn Oil Queens (2-1) were second, followed by the Estevan Wildcats (1-2) and the Oxbow Hot Dawgs (0-3).
As for the Certified Energy Services Division, the Moose Mountain Chill went 3-0. The Reston Westman Fusion and the Melville Moneybags were tied at 1-1-1, but Reston won the tie breaker. The Bienfait Bitches finished at 0-3.
The other four divisions were for over-30 teams. The Estevan Flyers went 2-0-1 to win the Westmoreland Mining LLC Division. The Estevan Eclipse (2-1) were second, the Avonlea Antiques were third (1-1-1) and the Estevan Red Army (0-3) were fourth.
The Reston Rockets went 3-0 to finish first in the Einar and Rod Fagerheim Division. The Souris Valley Sioux (2-1) were second, the Estevan Tap House Rookies (1-2) were third and the Estevan Chiefs (0-3) were fourth.
In the Days Inn Division, the Estevan Tower Wolves went 3-0 to take top spot, followed by the Torquay Hoppers (2-1), the Regina Blackouts (1-2) and the Broken Arrow Bruins (0-3).
As for the Tap House Division, the Alameda Red Army went 3-0 to finish first. The Carnduff Chief and the Weyburn Thrashers tied for second at 1-1-1, but the Chiefs won the tie-breaker. The Regina Piranhas were fourth at 0-3.
Two sportsmanship awards were presented. The Estevan Red Army won the James Schroeder Memorial Award for having the fewest penalty minutes in the over 30 divisions, while the Regina Hooters and the Yorkton Old Relics won the Tap House Sportsmanship Award for the fewest penalty minutes in the over 45 division. All three teams had zero penalty minutes in their first two games.
The tournament is not only a celebration of recreation hockey, but it is also a fundraiser. Cabarets were held at the Power Dodge Curling Centre on Friday and Saturday night, with DJ Dale Orsted supplying music Friday and the band Third Degree Birnz playing live music Saturday. Hundreds of people attended each.
A silent auction was also held during the weekend.
The Strippers have donated to numerous causes in the community over the years, and have donated over $220,000 since 1997.
