NANAIMO — While VIU’s men’s hockey team is well acquainted with putting pucks in nets and butts in seats, they’ll turn their attention to serving drinks and blowing whistles this weekend.
The annual Tubbers Hockey Tournament, an annual institution in Nanaimo since the early 1980s, is rejuvenated with help from the highly regarded VIU men’s hockey program for a third year.
The team is hosting the annual adult recreational tournament between the morning of Friday, Jan. 31 and the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 2 at both Nanaimo Ice Centre sheets.
Tournament coordinator Gord Nowicki, who also serves as president of the VIU men’s squad, said this event is a vital fundraiser for their program.
“Every dollar that we make for this tournament goes directly to the team. We are completely volunteer, not for profit, not funded by the university whatsoever, we’re funded by players and sponsors,” Nowicki told NanaimoNewsNOW.
Nowicki said their seasonal expenses run about $120,000, while all of their players provide $,3,500 a piece to help help pay the bills.
Generating in the $10,000 to $15,000 range from this year’s Tubbers Hockey Tournament will help cover expenses such as bus trips, meals on the road and supplies like tape.
The organization is focused on giving back to the community and making the tournament a fun, festive atmosphere, Nowicki emphasized.
“We are going to have players out there doing timekeeping, some are going to be reffing, and some will be helping to run the beer garden, it’s a full team event.”
In addition to a beer garden, Nowicki said the NIC food concession will be available, while a raffle table and numerous prizes will be up for grabs for players and spectators.
Twenty teams in five divisions are participating, including a female division.
Nowicki said it’s exciting to help unleash positive local economic activity this time of year with seven teams from out of town competing to help fill hotels, restaurants and pubs.
“Nanaimo has an ability to be a big, big player in sport tourism,” Nowicki said. “This is our little part in trying to help the community out and help our hotels and restaurant partners.”
The tournament starts on Friday at 8 a.m.
Adding to the festivities is a Nanaimo Steelmen Senior A hockey game versus the Powell River Regals at NIC#1 on Saturday night at 7:15 p.m.
The game is their first, in the three team McCallum Cup, a four game round-robin which also includes Lake Cowichan.
Tickets to the Steelmen game are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors 65-years-old and up.
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