STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Tubber Hockey Tournament invades Nanaimo

Feb 16, 2018 | 4:29 PM

NANAIMO — The annual Tubbers Hockey Tournament is the epitome of beer league hockey.

The 37th annual tournament got started Friday morning and continues until Sunday afternoon, featuring 350 players on 26 teams in five divisions.

Tournament organizer Tim Paugh, who was getting ready to referee a game Friday afternoon at Cliff McNabb Arena, said this tournament is circled on many calendars.

“There’s nothing better to hear when the teams come through the door that it’s their favourite tournament of the year…they’re looking forward to coming from all over the island and Lower Mainland.”

Most games happen at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, where Paugh said a beer garden, prize raffles and live entertainment takes place.

He said the annual Tubbers Hockey Tournament was scaled down to create the best possible experience with their volunteer base of 40 people.

“We have good support…the boys back me up well, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here,” Paugh said.

He pointed out the tournament provides a nice economic injection for local hotels, bars and restaurants. 

The finals in the respective divisions happen Sunday at NIC #1.

 

Ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes