The St. Albert Sabres won bronze for the first time ever last Sunday during the city’s biggest and longest-running amateur hockey tournament.
The Sabres beat the Red Deer Rebels 8-3 last Sunday, Jan. 21, during the bronze medal game of the John Reid Memorial U15 AAA Tournament at Servus Credit Union Place. This year's tournament ran from Jan. 18-21 and saw some 300 players aged 14 to 15 from across North America compete for trophies and medals.
The John Reid tournament is the biggest and longest-running amateur hockey tournament in St. Albert, said tournament chair Brent Kondro. The contest draws some of the top teams from across North America and sometimes Europe, and features live broadcasts with play-by-play commentary. Named in honour of former Sabres coach John Reid, it has been held in St. Albert every year since it started in 1979 except for 2021, when it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the big tournament everyone chases to be in,” Kondro said — the Stanley Cup of AAA minor hockey in North America.
The tournament gives St. Albert players a chance to test their skills against top-tier talent and to get exposure to the pro-hockey scouts watching in the stands, Kondro said. Many tournament participants, including St. Albert’s Jarome Iginla, have gone on to become professional players in the Western Hockey League or the National Hockey League. Proceeds from the event help fund minor hockey in St. Albert, while guests bring plenty of business to area restaurants and hotels.
Sabres take third
This was the first time a St. Albert team has won bronze at the John Reid tournament and the fourth time one has made the podium, research by St. Albert hockey historian Larry Mitchell suggests. St. Albert took silver in the tournament in 1996 and 1997 and gold in 1983.
Sabres head coach Geoff Giacobbo said he was proud of how the team did this year, adding the tournament was great practice for the provincial playoffs later this year.
“Obviously, this wasn’t the medal we were looking for, but we have some satisfaction from knowing we finished in the top three of such a prestigious tournament.”
Sabres captain Colt Carter said it was “pretty cool” that the team did this well, considering it placed sixth last year. He took home a team all-star award at the tournament.
Sabres assistant captain Ossie McIntyre was voted the top forward of the tournament and received the Heart and Hustle Award for heart, talent, determination, and sportsmanship. He said being a good sport on and off the ice helps your team win.
“If you’re a good teammate, it helps your team out more than just going out and putting your teammates down.”
Kondro thanked the tournament’s 325-odd volunteers and the City of St. Albert for their help in running this event. Planning for next year’s tournament starts later this month.
Visit johnreidtournament.ca for tournament results.
