Highway of Heroes tournament more than hockey

Posted Jan 5, 2012 By Kate Everson

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Tony Galloway sharpens skates at the Gardens.

Kate Everson, Belleville EMC

Tony Galloway sharpens skates at the Gardens.

EMC Lifestyles - Quinte West - The Highway of Heroes house league hockey tournament for minor hockey started at the Community Gardens on December 27 and ran to January 2.

This included teams in Atom, Bantam, Peewee, Midget, Tykes and Novice divisions from the area. Both arenas were used for the tournament. The name is taken from the Highway of Heroes which is a stretch of highway from CFB Trenton to the 401 for the repatriation of Canadian soldiers who died in Afghanistan. The tournament has been going in Trenton for many years, but was recently renamed.

But there is more than just hockey that goes on at the Gardens. Now there are vendors set up in the lobby, including silent auction and draw tables, photographers selling digital copies of hockey players on the ice, and even a local jeweller trying to catch the eye of hockey moms.

"Some of the ladies like to have something for them too," explained Pauline Paul, independent jeweller.

One lady sat in the lobby knitting squares. "I expect to be here all day," she said smiling. "This gives me something to do."

Tony Galloway was busy sharpening skates in the little room across from the snack bar and had a steady line of clients.

Out on the ice, the Zamboni driver had a constant job between hockey games, keeping the ice cleared.

The next tournament is the Snowball on March 12-16.

In other hockey news, the Quinte West Novice A Hawks took gold. The Scaletta Group Novice A Hawks won the Cobourg Regional Silver Stick tournament that took place from December 2 until 4. This championship comes one weekend after the same group won the CANAM Challenge Cup in Lake Placid. The team now looks forward to travelling to Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, to compete in the International Silver Stick Championship January 20 to 22.

Team members include, Luke Belej, Brodey Brooks, Zack Brooks, Gavin Camp, Andrew DiCresce, Tyler Gauvin, Evan Jerrett, Matthew Lombardi, Brock Sallans, Ethan Scaletta, Connor St. Pierre, Ashley Taylor, Kendrick Webster, Coaches Bevett Horner, Scott Scaletta, Ian Brooks and Trainer Joey Scott. For more news and updates see .