It’s a big weekend for hockey in the city and far beyond.
From the OHL game tonight, the opener of the annual Attack doubleheader at home against Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters, to the Junior C & Senior Hockey playoffs, all the way to Goderich where the Lions Club, Goderich Minor Hockey Association and the Young Canada Week Committee are conducting their 64th annual Young Canada Week Peewee Hockey Tournament
Heritage in Goderich is everywhere, and maybe no more so apparent than this tournament which started in 1950, morphed into a 100 team monster by Canada’s Centennial year in 1967, and continues today in what is labelled as a rite of Spring in the community.
This year, running hand in hand with the Young Canada Week Tournament there is a focus on the ” Hockey Goes On ” promotion conducted by Kraft Foods.
Goderich has nominated Dirk Wolterbeek for special attention for ” Hockey Goes On ” and with good reason.
Wolterbeek played in the tournament and was on the championship team in 1962.
Since 1971, he has been coaching and assisting Minor Hockey in the community and during the tournament, for decades, he & his wife, Mary, inhabit the venue preparing meals for the players; somewhere close to 35,000 meals served through the years.
The Wolterbeek family has a special connection to the Lion’s Club who have assisted in the very special needs of their first child, Bridget, who is afflicted with Spina Bifida and so the connection between the groups is strong and vibrant
The conclusion of the Young Canada Week Tournament in Goderich coincides with the announcement of the finalists for Kraft ” Hockey Goes On “.
Here’s hoping there’s more than one winner in Goderich come March 16th.
I’m Fred Wallace