One of the most prestigious minor hockey tournaments on the continent is getting underway in Newmarket today as the puck drops for the International Silver Stick Finals.
The Ray Twinney Recreation Complex and Magna Centre will host 76 teams from across North America vying for Silver Stick trophies. The four-day tournament is part of a culmination of regional qualifiers, with winners recognized in a display in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Games run Jan. 26 to 29, with an opening ceremony at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex Friday at 7 p.m.
“Everyone you talk to is really excited about showing up in Newmarket and having a good time,” tournament director Murray Taylor said in a previous interview.
Silver Stick finals will be hosted in several cities and towns for different divisions. Newmarket will host eight divisions and has eight teams competing as the hosts.
The Newmarket tournament will feature Canadian and American teams, including one coming in from Alaska. Games will run all weekend, with finals getting played out on Sunday.
All games are free to watch. Live streaming is also available, and you can sign up at nmss.gameonstream.com. You can contact customer support for any issues at [email protected].
Games begin at 2 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The first Newmarket squad playing will be the U10 team at 2:15 p.m. Thursday at the Magna Centre.
A full game schedule is available on Newmarket’s Silver Stick website.
