For 40 years the Ollie Peterson Boxing Day tournament has been getting hockey players off the couch during the holiday season.

Organizer Bill MacKillop says the tournament started in the old rink where the Timothy Fred's store is now.

"We had it there for three years," said MacKillop. "And on the third year, Ollie Peterson who had been the trainer with the High River Flyers Flyers for forever came on the bench, coached the Flyer team and they won the tournament."

Unfortunately Ollie passed away two weeks later on January 10th.

"At that time we changed the tournament in his memory and it has been going strong ever since."

The tournament is now held at the Bob Snodgrass Rex-Plex with the focus on fun with 12 teams playing.

"There are four divisions of three teams each and they play a round robin. So everybody gets two games and then that is it. There are no winners declared, it is strictly for fun."

There are a few special players coming out this year including Mackillops brother John.

"He is 74, he might be the oldest guy in the tournament this year, everybody knows we all get there."

MacKillop is looking forward to seeing Vince Miller and Billy Holmes coming out as well.

Money raised from the tournament will be donated to the United Way High River fund this year.

 

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