The opening game at the John Reid Memorial Tournament is 8 a.m. Thursday at Servus Credit Union Place.
The 16-team draw is four divisions split into two conferences to determine the playoff pairings in the A, B and C brackets.
The A semifinals are Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Northstar Hyundai Arena and 1:45 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena. The A final is Sunday at 2 p.m. at N.H. Arena.
The 1983 Territorial Leasing Sabres are the only St. Albert team to ever win the tournament.
At the opening ceremonies Thursday at 7 p.m. at N.H. Arena, the $1,000 John Reid Memorial Scholarship will be awarded.
The 35th annual St. Albert bantam AAA invitational tournament schedule is on page 63 or visit www.johnreidmemorial.com.
Reid conference
In the John Reid conference Thursday, the host St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres skate in the FYI Doctors division against the Pursuit of Excellence Academy of Kelowna at 10:45 a.m. and the Winnipeg Monarchs at 7:30 p.m. at N.H. Arena. The last game for the Sabres before the playoffs is Friday at 5 p.m. against the Calgary Bisons at N.H. Arena.
The Skybox Grill division includes the North Shore Winter Club Hawks, Lloydminster Heat, Calgary Royals and MLAC Scott Pump.
Iginla conference
In the Jarome Iginla conference, the SVS Group LLP division is comprised of the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins, Sherwood Park Flyers, Calgary Northstar Sabres and Winnipeg Hawks.
The City Ford division features the SSAC Southgate Lions, Okanagan Hockey Academy, Notre Dame Hounds and Red Deer Rebels (Black).
Tickets
A four-day pass is $40 for adults ($30 with no program) and $25 for students and seniors ($18 with no program).
Daily admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Children 10 and under get in free. There is no charge for Raiders Hockey Club and St. Albert Minor Hockey Association players wearing their team jackets.
A program is $10.
Awards banquet
Jason Strudwick, a Team 1260 talk show host and former NHL defenceman, is the guest speaker at Saturday’s tournament banquet, starting at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Conference Centre Ballroom.
The highlight of the night is the presentation of the John Reid Memorial Award for heart and hustle to a Sabres player.
The tournament’s MVP award winners and all-star team selections will also be announced.
Tickets are $45. For more information, contact Trish Nuttall at 780-690-6714 or [email protected].
