3-on-3 teams shine in Lakehead

While the spread of 3-on-3 hockey continues to expand throughout the country, it appears Fort Frances teams have developed a special flair for the game.
A handful of local teams made the trip to Thunder Bay over the weekend to take part in a 3-on-3 tournament that welcomed more than 75 squads from across the region.
Kids aged nine-16 made up six teams who took part, and all did fairly well.
The players entered the tournament in teams of 10, based on age. Each squad carried nine skaters and a netminder, who were all born in the same year.
The 1992 Fort Frances team, the Pine Riders, made their way to the final game before finishing in second place. Similarly, the 1995 Roadrunners earned a second-place finish, as well.
The 1996 Fort Frances Bruins earned a bid into the semi-finals before losing out, as did the 1998 Junior Stars.
Brandon’s Bandits, the 1997 entry in the tournament, came away with a second-place finish. The kids born in 1999 also finished in second place.
“It was great hockey,” said Lori Shortreed, who had two sons playing in the tournament. “It was fast and quick. And it was well-organized.
“The kids had a great time.”
The tournament has been running for a number of years, but only recently has it extended beyond the boundaries of the Thunder Bay area. This year there were players from throughout Northwestern Ontario.
In addition to serving as a testing ground for young players, the event also is set up as a fundraiser for the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. Since the inception of the tournament, more than $35,000 has been raised through ticket and concession sales.
More than 180 games were played this year, and Shortreed is certain that local kids benefited from having taken part in the inaugural 3-on-3 league at the Memorial Sports Centre here last month.
“The kids had a sense of the rules coming in,” she said. “It was very beneficial to have the 3-on-3 league here in town. You can tell by the results.”
And what impact does the format have on the kids?
“Because of the quick pace and having to use your head a lot, the kids rise to the challenge,” said Shortreed, adding participants become better hockey players and better skaters.
“It’s very competitive hockey and the kids did great,” she concluded.