SEDMHA female hockey tournament booked solid in 1st year
Tournament dates back to 1977 and this is the inaugural all-female event
Organizers of a new all-female hockey tournament in Nova Scotia have had to cut off registration after a "huge" response and say it bodes well for the future of the event.
The SEDMHA Minor Hockey Tournament dates back to 1977 with competition at rinks across the Halifax region in early April. Teams from across Canada and the United States attend, but organizers in the past have had problems attracting female teams.
This fall, a separate SEDHMA event was created for just female teams. Organizers booked the BMO Centre in Bedford for the end of November and opened registration, but had no idea how it was going to be received.
Trish Fader, the co-chair of the tournament, said the response was overwhelming — 51 teams signed up and registration had to be closed because for the first year, the event is limited to the BMO Centre.
"It certainly is huge for us, to have that many teams. This is just the start of something that's going to be great," she said.
Teams from across Nova Scotia, as well as New Brunswick and P.E.I., have signed up to attend. Fader said she hopes to see the tournament expand next year with teams from Newfoundland and Ontario.
Leo Mroz, the coach of the girls Dartmouth Whalers Midget AA team, said the timing of the event — in November rather than April — is "perfect."
"The timing of the hockey tournament is probably ideal, ideal for most minor hockey associations," he said.
"It's the right time of the year, way before Christmas and the teams are just getting started. I think the timing is perfect."
Mroz said one year, the female division of the event was cancelled. It was reinstated after an outcry and that eventually led to this year's all-female tournament.
He said he's surprised at the response.
"It surprised me because it was the first year and they were a little late getting the word out," he said. "It was August so teams are starting to get ready and plan their year, so a little bit surprising."
Mroz said it will be good for the sport overall.
"I think it will help spark some interest and allow the girls to showcase their talent," he said.