More than 30 years on, it’s still a favourite summertime tradition to strap on the skates and shoot the puck around.
The Roller Goodwin Memorial Tournament has been played for more than three decades, with the majority of the games held at the Whitney Forum.
Over the course of the years the tournament has travelled to cities like Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, Alta., and Warman, Sask., but it will come back to
Flin Flon this August long weekend.
In the past the tournament has featured former NHL stars like Flin Flon’s Bobby Clarke as well as former Flin Flon Bombers.
Chairperson Stew Lloyd says he doesn’t know of any former NHL players guaranteed to come this year.
The weekend will feature a 50-plus age category as well as a family division and a competitive division.
Lloyd, playing in the 50-plus division, has been taking part in the Roller Goodwin tourney for the past 15 years and has been part of organizing the event for the past decade.
The teams are constructed differently than when the tournament began, as there are now more families participating than former Flin Flonners.
Lloyd says it’s exciting to see the change of pace.
Unknown future
While more than a dozen teams are already registered for this year’s event, Lloyd says the final turnout will help determine the future structure of the tournament.
“This could be the last one in Flin Flon,” he said. “It’s quite likely not, but we’re not sure.”
Lloyd, along with the rest of the organizers, will take into consideration the number of players and teams as well as attendance at the supper and social to follow the event.
“We know there is lots of interest, but maybe we would have it every two years,” he said. “We’ll see what the interest is going to be for future events.”
Funds raised
The majority of the money raised through entry fees and tickets will support the future of the Roller Goodwin Memorial Tournament.
However, Lloyd says in the past organizers have been able to make donations toward local organizations and charities when the event has generated a higher surplus.
Alongside the entry fees and social tickets there will also be a 50/50 draw and a raffle on an autographed Philadelphia Flyers jersey.
As of press time yesterday, Lloyd wasn’t sure of the names on the jersey as it had not yet arrived. Once he receives the package he expects to see three former Flyer signatures on the jersey.
Originally named the IOSC hockey tournament, the event was renamed after the passing of Goodwin.
This year’s tournament is set for August 1-3.
