The Richmond International Midget Hockey Tournament is one of the largest tournaments held in North America. This tournament is an ice hockey tournament held annually for midget aged players in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
The Tournament is held at the two Richmond arenas under the auspices of Richmond Minor Hockey Association and is sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The tournament gets underway every year starting on Boxing Day, and concludes on New Year's Eve, with the Elite Division and AAA Division Championship games being played at Minoru Arena.
The tournament features 60 teams and approximately 170 games with more than eleven hundred participants, aged 15–18, from across Canada, the United States and Europe. Each team is guaranteed to play at least five (5) games with 3-20 minute stop-time periods.
All proceeds from this Tournament go directly to the Richmond Minor Midget Hockey Scholarship Program. We do not charge an entrance fee, so we ask that spectators support our 50/50 draws, raffle and program sales.
In 2008, the AAA Gold final game proved to be one of the highlights of the tournament, seeing the two local teams from Richmond BC, Richmond Minor Hockey Associations and Seafair Minor Hockey Association, playing off against each other for the title. The AAA Gold game was played before a sold out crowd of more than 1600 fans that left standing room only at the Minoru Arena. The Seafair Islanders won the Championship 5-2.
In 2008, the British Columbia Junior Hockey League joined as a sponsor of the tournament. The BCHL schedules a regular league game to be played during our tournament. The inaugural game featured the Surrey Eagles and the Powell River Kings. This Junior A game was a big hit with the players of our tournament, as the two teams played to a crowd of more than 1300 fans. The game was played in true Junior A fashion, with end-to-end action, overtime and all.
Tournament History The tournament began in 1980 as a B tournament with 10 teams participating.
In 1992, after the completion of the Richmond Ice Centre, the tournament expanded the B division to an AA/B division with 20 participating teams and added the AAA division with 20 participating teams.
In 2004, the Elite AAA division was added, and the tournament size grew again, with a total of 60 teams participating in all three divisions.
Tournament Format "Elite AAA" Division consists of 12 teams, 2 pools of 6 teams. The format sees the top 4 teams from Each Pool proceed to a playoff format. (1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 from the opposite pool). The 5th and 6th place teams in their pools will play a Consolation game with a team from the other pool.
"AAA" Division consists of 28 teams, 4 pools of 7 teams. "AA/B" Division consists of 20 teams, 4 pools of 5 teams. The format is set up as a flight series, allowing more teams to advance into the playoffs.
Gold Flight - the 1st and 2nd place teams in each pool will advance to a Quarter-final in the Gold Flight. The winning teams from the Quarter-finals advance to a Semi-Final, and the winning teams from the Semi-final advance into the Gold Final.
Silver Flight - the 3rd and 4th place teams in each pool will advance to a quarter-final in the Silver Flight. The winning teams from the Quarter-finals advance to a Semi-Final, and the winning teams from the Semi-Final advance to the Silver Final.
Bronze Flight - the 5th and 6th place teams in each pool will advance to a quarter final in the Bronze Flight. The winning teams from the Quarter-finals advance to a Semi-Final, and the winning teams from the Semi-Final advance to the Bronze Final.
Past champions
Elite AAA Division This division was added in 2004. 2009: Moose Jaw AAA Warriors 2008: San Jose Jr Sharks U18 2007: South Island Thunderbirds 2006: Vancouver Greater Canadians 2005: Chicago Chill 2004: Anchorage North Stars
Midget AAA This division was added in 1992. 2009: Seafair Islanders 2008: Seafair Islanders 2007: Vancouver Thunderbirds 2006: Prince George 2005: California North Stars 2004: Ridge Meadows2003: North Vancouver 2002: Kelowna 2001: Coquitlam 2000: Kelowna 1999: Regina Canadians 1998: Tisdale Saskatchewan1997: Edmonton MLAC 1996: Prince Albert 1995: Chilliwack 1994: Chilliwack 1993: Victoria 1992: Richmond
Midget AA/B 2009: Campbell River Tyees 2008: Boise Jr. Steelheads U18 2007: Kerry Park 2006: Kelowna 2005: Kerry Park 2004: Fairbanks Arctic Lions 2003: Alaska blue devils 2002: Arctic Lions 2001: Alaska All Stars 2000: Alaska all Stars1999: Seattle Snokings 1998: Victoria 1997: Alaska Bulldogs 1996: Victoria Racq. Club 1995: Richmond B1 1994: Alaska All Stars 1993: Richmond B1 1992: Langley 1991: Chilliwack 1990: Victoria Racq. Club1989: No Tournament 1988: Burnaby Minor 1987: Kamloops 1986: North Vancouver 1985: Burnaby Minor 1984: N. Shore Winter Club 1983: Abbotsford 1982: N. Shore Winter Club 1981: 100 Mile House 1980: N. Shore Winter Club
References
External links Richmond International Midget Hockey Tournament