The Don Mills Flyers Christmas minor peewee hockey tournament has been cancelled for the first time in 48 years.
The bad economy is to blame, according to Flyers’ president Peter MacInnis.
Normally a dozen or more teams from the United States apply to come, but this year only one team from the Buffalo area showed interest.
“The economy has had a huge impact;” MacInnis said.
However, he said he hopes the tournament will be back in 2009.
In the tournament’s heyday, Detroit Compuware and Detroit Little Caesars were sure entries as were other teams from all over the United States. Teams from England, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Siberia.have also participated over the years.
NHL players Eric Lindros, Larry Murphy, Brad Park, Kris Draper and goaltenders Manny Legace and Kirk McLean are just a few of the players who honed their competitive skills as 11- or 12-year-olds at this Christmas event.
“I also think private tournaments that run year round suck out money from the teams and some are being sponsored by big dollars,” MacInnis said. “It’s big business.”
He said considering all monies spent for accommodation, food and other items, a 170-team five-day tournament could spin upwards of $7 million into the local economy, MacInnis said.
“As a Toronto-based club we aren’t in that league,” he said. “We are just one of the many things going on in the GTA. We are fighting an uphill battle.”
MacInnis has made arrangements for any out-of-town pre-registered teams to be accepted into the Oakville Christmas Tournament.
