The board of directors of the Ottawa International Hockey Festival is pleased to announce that the Bell Capital Cup will return to the nation’s capital beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Often recognized as the world’s premier atom and peewee hockey tournament, the 19th annual Bell Capital Cup will showcase great minor hockey action across Ottawa this holiday season, from Stittsville to Orleans and all points in between.
Tournament festivities will officially get underway on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the Bell Sensplex with Bell Capital Cup FanFest and Esso Friendly Games, and will run through Sunday, Dec. 31. Local hockey fans are encouraged to attend and support these young athletes, as admission is free at all Bell Capital Cup events.
The event this year will include a Canada 150 division, which features 32 boys and girls teams representing all provinces and territories across Canada. The teams, as winners of the Canada 150 Rink “Hockey on the Hill” contest, will get the opportunity to play at least one game on the Canada 150 Rink, located on Parliament Hill. The Canada 150 Rink on Parliament Hill will also host additional tournament round-robin and friendly games, as well as numerous Championship games, all of which will help create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for players, in a truly Canadian atmosphere.
“Tournament organizers and volunteers have been working hard to offer Bell Capital Cup participants and their families an unparalleled hockey experience once again this holiday season,” said Bell Capital Cup general manager Scott Lawryk. “This year, we are very excited to welcome more than 120 teams which are traveling to the nation’s capital, to be part of the festival. With Esso FanFest, two Ottawa Senators games, an Esso Game Day Experience and Sens Skills, there is always a lot of action. The Bell Capital Cup is truly more than just a hockey tournament. Since the addition of special hockey, the tournament offers hockey players of any skill level the opportunity to participate in a world-class tournament.”
Once again this year, the Bell Capital Cup is proud to feature 12 special hockey teams with games scheduled on Dec. 28 and on Dec. 29. With the inclusion of special hockey, the Bell Capital Cup provides players who are developmentally challenged with the opportunity to lace-up their skates and take part in a fun-filled tournament alongside their peers.
From house league to AAA, the Bell Capital Cup will welcome atom and peewee aged hockey players from Europe, the United States and all across Canada to Ottawa to vie for the Allen J. MacDonald Memorial Trophy, which will be awarded to each division champion. The opportunity to play for the respective division titles at Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators, and on the Canada 150 Rink on Parliament Hill will be an incredibly unique experience, not found at any other event.
“As someone who grew up playing in Ottawa, I am excited to see some great out-of-town talent,” said honorary chair Todd White. “We’ve seen many friendships develop through the competition of the Bell Capital Cup. Players can trade pins, take part in friendly games or skate in an All Star game or Skills Competition with kids from different countries. It truly is a unique festival and I’m honoured to be a part of it. This year, we are very excited to welcome the rest of Canada to the nation’s capital to close out Canada 150!”
The Bell Capital Cup’s 20 divisions, including two girls groups, will play more than 650 games on 24 ice surfaces across the city. Each division’s championship game will be played at Canadian Tire Centre over the course of three days – Dec. 29, Dec. 30, and Dec. 31. Scotiabank-Canadian Tire Skills Competitions are scheduled for Dec. 28 and Dec. 29, while the Scotiabank-Canadian Tire All-Star Games are all slated for Dec. 29.
Off the ice, hundreds of tournament participants will attend the Ottawa Senators game on Dec. 29 when the Senators host the Columbus Blue Jackets and on Dec. 30 when Ottawa welcomes the Boston Bruins. On Dec. 31, the Senators will compete head-to-head in various skills events, including the fastest skater and hardest shot, in Sens Skills presented by Sport Chek.
The Ottawa International Hockey Festival is a non-profit organization with the mandate, as set forth by its volunteer board of directors, to support local children’s charities and minor hockey. The Bell Capital Cup provides young athletes with an opportunity to compete against their peers in a high level environment, meet new friends and develop skills both on and off the ice in a fun yet competitive setting. Money raised from this year’s tournament will once again support minor hockey and local charities. To date, more than $2.66 million has been raised through Bell Capital Cup initiatives over the 18-year history of the tournament
