Rechristened the Esso Atlantic Bantam AAA Tournament in 2000, this year’s
event is the 25th
annual and it promises to live up to its rich tradition. With 17 teams from
across the Maritime Provinces, the eventual winner can wear the label of
champion proudly. They will have beaten the very best in order to win gold!
From the
inaugural event in 1990, when
Bob Haddow started things off, the tournament has been known as much for its
hospitality as the competition. It was known as the Dalhousie
Bantam AAA
Tournament and was a
first-class event right off the bat. The Dartmouth Whalers won the championship
the first year.
With such
strong teams, it is a tough
event to repeat in. Only three teams have managed to defend their titles;
Pictou County in 1991 and 1992; the Halifax Hawks in 1995, 1996 and again in
2007, 2008 and 2009; and the Bedford Blues in 2000 and 2001.
The list
of players who have played in
this event is impressive. From
past and
present, like NHL stars Nathan
MacKinnon, Liam O'Brien, David
Brine, Joey MacDonald, Brad Marchand, Craig MacDonald, Aaron Johnson, Derrick
Walser, James Sheppard, Luc Bourdon, Joe DiPenta, Randy Jones, Sidney Crosby,
Andrew Gordon, Colin White, Sean Avery, Eric Boulton and John Sim. And QMJHL and
NCAA players, past and present, such as
Alex Johnstone, P.J.
Lynch, Dominic Noel
, Ryan Lauzon, Evan Cheverie, Robbie Sutherland, Stephen Dixon, Stuart MacRae,
Domique Tweed, Trevor Ettinger, Andrew Carver, Brandon Verge, Luke Gallant,
Sean Avery, Sidney Crosby, Andrew Gordon, Kyle Doucet, Andrew Joudrey, Chris
Wall, Zach Saunders, Kenzie Sheppard, James Sheppard, Justin Saulnier, Ryan
Hillier, Steven Lund, Tyler Hawes, Luc Bourdon, Chad Denny, Andrew Bodnarchuk,
Chris Culligan, Blake Gallagher, Scott Brannen, Joey Haddad, Brendan MacDonald,
Alexi Pianosi, Matt Brown, Alex Beaton, Steven Anthony,
Brad Marchand, Ryan Sparling, Stephen
MacAulay, Michael Kirkpatrick, Taylor Lambke, Nathan Dunnett, Kalin Paul,
BradleyMacDonald, Logan Shaw, Nick MacNeil, Brett McCarron, Phillip Wright, Peter
Delmas, Michael Ward, Garrett Clarke, Marc Bourgeois, Jake Allen, Matthew
Brenton, Matt Fillier, Matthew Stoddart, Alex Grant, Stephen Walker, Ben Duffy,
Jordan Burke, Brandon MacLean, Matt Snow, Gerrad Grant, Kyle Dilosa, Nathan
Beaulieu, Ben MacAskill, Graham Bona, Michael Roski, Andrew Roski, Ashton
Bernard, Kelsey Tessier, Jeff Bell, Zack Sill, Devon MacAusland, Matt Eagles,
Patrice Cormier, Christian Morin, Alex Noel, Ian Saab, Matthew Stoddart, Jarred
Struthers, Derek Tait, Andrew Walker, Stephen Walker, Cory MacIntosh, Justin
Chiasson, Ben Miller, Brad Cuzner, Marco Deseaux, Kyle Dilosa, Pierre Durepos,
Tristan Archambault, Casey Babineau, Nathan Beaulieu, Jamie Bishop, Matthieu
Boudreau, Marc Bourgeois, Matthew Brenton, Byrce Milsom, Tyler Noseworthy, Nick
Parker, Travis Hall, Cole Hawes, Wes Herrett, Stephen Horyl, Sean Hoyt, Aidan
Kelly, Jordan Kennedy, Dylan King, Liam O’Brien, Taylor Burke, Michael Clarke,
Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan Graves, Bronson Beaton, Zach Taylor, Adam Stevens, Jacob
Fancy, Cole Murphy, Michael Lyle, Kelly Bent, Ryan Falkenham, Jack Flinn,
Mitchell Shewfelt, Connor Rodgers, Jesse MacInnis, Daniel Perigo, Sean Fraser,
Shawn Jeffery, Tyler Pyke, John Walsh, Ian Saab, Matthew Highmore, Mason
MacDonald, Mark Trickett, Zach Moody, Brendan Nickerson, Josh Pugsley, Nick
Quillan, Stephen Johnson, Nick Blanchard, Alex Mann, Jamie MacIntyre, Morgan
Messenger, Gareth Nicholson, Alex MacNeil, Nicholas Gibson, Matt Gray, Tyler
Brown, Mark Simpson, Chase Marchand, Evan MacEachern, Shane Dallaire, Justin
Dickinson, Joey Bernard, John Mulally, Jeff Hanes, Jimmy Vessey, Shane
MacDonald, Vincent Charest, Brett MacNeill, Matt Graham, Steven Brooker, Will
Thompson, Nick Welsh,
Joey Richard, Luc
Deschenes, Brad Kennedy, Alex MacQuaid, Jean-Michel Leblanc, Jordan Boyd,
Duncan McKie, Campbell Pickard, Hugo Robichaud, Jacob Vance, Logan Cooke,
Alexandre Jacob, Colby Tower, Matt Paul, William Bower, Cam Lee, Riley Scott,
Dillon Boucher, Bailey Webster, Frederic Foulem, Chris Sarault, Layton Parsons,
Lane Cormier, Colin MacSween, Brandon Worthen, Alex Anthony, Antione Landry,
Andrew Shewfelt, Denver Lynds, Logan Saunders, Ryan Chiasson, Grant Janes,
Lawrence Lyver, Jordan Bezanson, Josh Shatford, Tyler Burns, Cody Johnston,
Mark Vokey, Brett Dorian, Mason Macdonald, Reilly Pickard, Michael O'Leary,
Barrett Dachyshyn, Johnny Jones, Rowan O'Brien, Luke Green, Matt Green, Matt
Sartoris, Evan Fitzpatrick, Mitchell Balmas, Keith Getson, Jacob Hickey, Cody
Grant, Morgan Nauss, Brett Crossley, Declan Smith, Lucas Sangster, Jake Barter,
Mark Gramutbauer, Dillon Boucher, Noah Archibald, Colby Muise, Alex Arab, Jesse
Hamer, Blade Mann Dixon, Nick Dawe, Donavan Rehill, Ryan Yould, Ryan Kenny, Yan
Plourde, Marcus Tesink, Jarrod Shipley, Sam King, Francis Thibault, Dom
Cormier, Felix Leblanc, Kyle Ward, Julien Galloway, Peter Woulds, Kari Belec,
Parker Ronahan, Nathan Sanderson, and Sebastien Cormier – all have left their
mark.
ESSO continues
as the major sponsor of
the tournament, continuing their reputation as strong supporters of minor
hockey. We thank them for their involvement. But to all of the businesses and
corporations that have come to make this tournament a success – a huge “thank
You” for being part of a great hockey
tradition.
Enjoy the games!
