It’s a hockey tournament. It’s a lesson in history.
The annual Royal Newfoundland Regiment Memorial High School Hockey Tournament — the Beaumont Hamel Centennial Cup — will be held at the Paradise Double Complex next month, hosted by the Holy Spirit Falcons, who donated the cup for the first tourney in 2016.
The Falcons are among 16 teams from across the province that will be competing in the event, which will see 39 games (playoffs included) played from April 9-13.
The tournament honours and recognizes the sacrifices of the young men — many of whom were around the same age as the high schoolers who will be taking to the ice — who fought for the Dominion of Newfoundland in the World War I.
Many of those soldiers were exceptional hockey players who enjoyed playing together in pick-up games or on the regimental team.
Round-robin games will lead into the Trail of the Caribou championship playoff series featuring four semifinalists who will have each claimed a banner in honour of a battle — Courtai, Masnieres, Monchy-le-Preus and Gueudecourt — in which the Newfoundland Regiment fought.
This is the only high school tournament in the province that uses four on-ice officials for all games. It’s also the only one to allow for round-robin games that are tied after regulation to go to a three-on-three five-minute overtime, to be followed, if necessary, by a shootout.
Overtime and shootouts will also be part of the format for playoff games.
The Ascension Collegiate Astros of Bay Roberts are the defending champions.
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Teams
• Holy Spirit Falcons (Host), C.B.S.
• Holy Heart Highlanders, St. John's
• Ascension Collegiate Astros, Bay Roberts
• St. Kevin's Mavericks, Goulds
• O'Donel Patriots, Mount Pearl
• Queen Elizabeth Pioneers, C.B.S.
• Mount Pearl Huskies, Mount Pearl
• Prince of Wales Collegiate Cavaliers, St. John's
• Corner Brook Titans, Corner Brook
• Gonzaga Vikings, St. John's
• Holy Trinity Tigers, Torbay
• Carbonear Collegiate Sentinels, Carbonear
• Marystown Mariners, Marystown
• Exploits Valley Eagles, Grand Falls-Windsor
• Gander Collegiate Concordes, Gander
• Waterford Valley Warriors, St. John's
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Tournament Awards
(named in honour of members of the Newfoundland Regiment)
• Capt. J.J. O'Grady, M.B.E. Sportsmanship Award
• Lt. L. Duley Top Goalie Award
• Sgt. T. Ricketts, V.C. Most Valuable Player Award
• Monchy Nine Top Defenceman Award
• L/Cpl. J. Shiwak Top Scorer Award
• Lt. W. Greene, D.C.M. Excellence in Officiating Award
• Maj. B. Butler, D.S.O., M.C. & Bar Leadership in Coaching Award
• Lt-Col. T. Nangle Tournament Builder Award
• Gallipoli Team Spirit Award
Twitter: @telysports
