The original Parksville Panters hockey team from 1989. (R-L) Hector McLean, Dot Robertson, Frank Robertson, Shirley Tilly, Hugh MacAulay, Murl Mordorf, Tex Fandry, Eddie Edward, Bazil Doran. (Submitted/Neil Houlihan)

By Jordan Davidson

lace up

Parksville Panters senior hockey tournament returns to Oceanside Place

Sep 12, 2023 | 1:51 PM

PARKSVILLE — A popular senior hockey tournament is back on in Parksville this week.

The Parksville Panters Classic Hockey Tournament takes place from Sept. 12-14 at Oceanside Place, marking the 21st time the group players age 60 years and older get together for their annual barn burner.

President of the Parksville Panters Association Neil Houlihan said their official organization started in 1993, with the inaugural tournament designed to spur regional economic growth.

“The goal was they wanted to bring teams from outside of Vancouver Island, or outside the Parksville area, into the area to generate business for the hotels and restaurants… and its been a tradition ever since, its been a very, very successful tournament.”

The Panters tournaments have been a staple in the area ever since, taking a few years off before the new arena in Parksville opened in 2004, plus pausing for another two years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

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The tournament has since expanded to 28 teams this year, up from 21 in 2022, with players coming from all over the Island and across B.C., as well as Alberta and even some teams from the United States.

Houlihan said originally it was 55+, but it was difficult getting teams of people in their 50’s to play during the weekday due to work conflicts.

“We have 60+, then 65+, 70+, and 75+, and 80+ divisions…One of the guys will be playing in this tournament is 87 years old, and he just told me that the other day and I was shocked when he told me he was 87, because I thought he was in his mid-70s.”

The tournament is for bragging rights only, with dinner in the evening and beer gardens on-site. The public is welcome to come down to Oceanside Place and take in the action free of charge.

“It’s a good event, I was blown away myself when I came here ten years ago I never knew anyone in the Parksville area,” Houlihan told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I’ve probably made over 200-300 friends through the Panters association over the years here.”

Houlihan said one of the driving forces behind the original Parksville Panters Classic Hockey Tournament was former Parksville councillor Al Grier, who passed away in March.

He was elected and served as councillor in 2008, 2011, 2014, and finally in 2018 until Oct. 2022.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow