Ottawa hosts the 2019 provincial AAA peewee hockey championships

Seven AAA peewee hockey teams are in Ottawa, battling for the title of best in Ontario.

Two local teams will be in the tournament, which starts April 8; the Myers Ottawa AAA Senators, who are hosting the event at the Carleton University Ice House, and the Ottawa Junior 67's.

“We also have teams coming in from Mississauga, Thunder Bay, Brantford, Sudbury and Markham,” said Jeff Baker, Manager of hockey operations for Hockey Eastern Ontario. “They're going to battle to be the number one team in Ontario in that age group.” 

Baker says it will start off as a round-robin event from Monday through Thursday with the semi-finals and finals taking place on Friday, April 12.

“These twelve-year-olds are literally the best twelve year-old players in the province,” explained Baker. “These kids are really, really, really talented young hockey players. The level of hockey that folks can come out and watch and see is extraordinary.”

According to Baker, some big-name players, such as John Tavares and Steven Stamkos, used to play in this championship, enabling them to go on to eventually play in the National Hockey League. 

The tournament is open to the public, with ticket sales at the door of the Carleton University Ice House.

“It's great hockey and great family-value for everybody to come out and watch, especially our local kids,” said Baker.

For more information, go to the Hockey Eastern Ontario website.