Dan Boyd, the tournament's chair, said teams from throughout Nova Scotia, as well as one from New Brunswick, will be converging on Windsor Thursday to Sunday for the 23rd annual Birthplace of Hockey high school tournament.
The Avon View Avalanche are hosting the well-attended event this year, Boyd said, due to King's-Edgehill School's entrance into the North American Prep Hockey Association.
Planning for the tourney at the Hants Exhibition Arena began in September.
“We're very happy to have last year's defending champions back: Halifax West,” said Boyd.
Host Avon View's opening game against the Yarmouth Vikings is Thursday night at 8 p.m. following the ceremonial puck drop, which will feature local dignitaries and special guest John Paris.
Paris, who was born in Windsor and currently resides in Texas, is a member of the Windsor Hockey Hall of Fame. He began his hockey career in the early 60s as a junior player with the Montreal Canadiens organization and went on to coach and manage several teams, as well as recruit and develop players.
Boyd said the annual event brings with it a chance to watch some outstanding high school hockey, while also boosting the local economy.
“One thing I'd like to stress is what it does for the economy in the local area,” said Boyd.
This is the Yarmouth Vikings first tournament of the season.
Who's coming to town
The following teams will be participating in the 2014 Birthplace of Hockey Tournament.
Howard Dill Division:
West Kings, Halifax West, Forrest Heights, and Glace Bay
Chook Smith Division:
Avon View, Harbour View, Barrington, and Yarmouth
The following is the tournament schedule.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Game 1 at 6 p.m. - Forrest Heights vs. West Kings
Game 2 at 8 p.m. - Avon View vs. Yarmouth
Friday, Nov. 14
Game 3 at 9 a.m. - Barrington vs. Harbour View
Game 4 at 11 a.m. - Halifax West vs. Glace Bay
Game 5 at 1 p.m. - Barrington vs. Yarmouth
Game 6 at 3 p.m. - Glace Bay vs. West Kings
Game 7 at 5 p.m. - Halifax West vs. Forrest Heights
Game 8 at 7:30 p.m. - Avon View vs. Harbour View
Saturday, Nov. 15
Game 9 at 9 a.m. - Forrest Heights vs. Glace Bay
Game 10 at 11:15 a.m. - Avon View vs. Barrington
Game 11 at 1:15 p.m. - Yarmouth vs. Harbour View
Game 12 at 3:15 p.m. - West Kings vs. Halifax West
Game 13 at 7 p.m. - Howard Dill #2 vs. Chook Smith #1
Game 14 at 8:30 p.m. - Howard Dill #1 vs. Chook Smith #2
Sunday, Nov. 16
Game 15 at 1 p.m. - Championship game
