NEWS RELEASE
CENTRAL YORK GIRLS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (CYGHA)
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Players, coaches and league officials gathered at the Aurora Community Centre Thursday night as the Central York Girls Hockey Association (CYGHA) announced plans and provided background on the 20th Annual Aurora Girls International Silver Stick Tournament to be held Feb. 1-3.
The tournament will include 52 teams at the Atom and Bantam rep levels, from throughout Ontario, as well as three teams from the U.S. – Anaheim Lady Ducks, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and Colorado Rocky Mountain Lady Riders – along with six host teams from the Aurora Panthers.
“Our event is called the Silver Stick Finals,” said Bruce Bennett, schedule and tournament marshal for the past 15 years. “There are regional tournaments held across North America, but regional champions all send their players to this tournament. Which is why we have teams from California and Colorado.”
He added that during his tenure, they’ve hosted teams from 11 states, including Alaska, Michigan, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. “One year, we even had Mario Lemieux’s daughter. We were hoping Mario would show up!”
The first Silver Stick was held in 1958, a four-team tournament involving Bantam and Peewee players from Potsdam, New York and South Carleton, Ontario (near Ottawa). It has grown into North America’s largest minor hockey tournament, now hosting more than 65,000 players and coaches annually.
Its history is more recent in Aurora – 20 years in 2019 – but some organizers have been with it from early days, and player families are now seeing a second generation lace up for Silver Stick.
“I’ve been involved since Day One with the tournament,” said Don Bailkowski, who has served as treasurer, co-director, and currently tournament statistician. He noted there were initial challenges, with some volunteers and teams not showing up, but their first efforts still netted 40 teams – more than enough for a successful event.
“We initially had only Atom and Bantam A and AA divisions,” said Bennett. “About five years ago, we added the BB divisions – and we now have teams on waiting lists.”
“Despite much of the crowd being player families and friends, interest in the tournament continues to be strong,” said Bailkowski. “One growth area is the number of scouts from both Canadian and US universities, interested in watching the Bantam AA games (Age: 13 & 14 years). It’s the highest level for girls of that age.”
Aurora Silver Stick will take place Feb. 1 and 2 at the Aurora Community Centre (ACC) and Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex; and on Feb. 3 (playoffs) at the ACC.
Silver Stick is a free event, with opening ceremonies and the official puck-drop on Friday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. Hockey-related displays will be featured at both locations, and a unique silent auction will be held at the ACC until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2.
For more information about the 20th Annual Silver Stick Tournament, hosted by the Central York Girls Hockey League, please contact CYGHA Administrator, Patty Albert at [email protected], or visit the website.
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