Young Canada Week
Minor hockey’s longest running tournament
Starting March 7th
History of Young Canada Week
Goderich Lions' Young Canada Week began as a one-day, 12-team competition for peewee-age players in 1950, and went on to become an important part of the history and fabric of life in the Town of Goderich. Over the years, thousands of players, coaches, parents, and fans have been involved in the "grand-daddy" of all tournaments.
The connection between the National Hockey League and Young Canada Week is a valid one. About 75 YCW participants have gone on to play in the NHL, such as Wayne Gretzky, Paul Henderson, Darryl Sittler, Brad Park, Rod Seiling, Ron Ellis, Pat Stapleton, Doug Jarvis, and the Goderich duo of Larry Jeffrey and Gary Doak. Special guests at the tournament over the years have included such luminaries as Jean Beliveau, Ken Dryden, and Wayne's father, Walter Gretzky.
The peewee version of Young Canada Week attracted teams from across Canada from Manitoba to Newfoundland and from various US locations and even from Australia.
In Canada's centennial year, 1967, 100 teams competed in YCW. Players were often billeted in Goderich homes and they were provided with renowned full-course meals at a central location.
Girls played on teams over the years, beginning with Audrey McCabe, the goalie for Saltford in 1950, and a separate girls' division was included for several years beginning in 2004.
In more recent years, the abundance of other tournaments and the shrinking number of minor hockey systems was making it difficult to attract a full roster of teams and the tourney's future seemed in jeopardy.
The pandemic gave a bit of a respite to things and then two key individuals combined to give Young Canada Week new impetus and a new direction by attracting new age groups and divisions.
The duo of Lions YCW Chairperson Mike Alcock and Goderich Minor Hockey President Mike McBride, with help from their own organizations, deserve credit for reigniting the tournament's former glory.
Asked for a comment regarding Young Canada Week, McBride pointed out how quickly the entries came in this year, saying this was a testament to the great community support it gets each year from local clubs and businesses, and that this is what makes the tournament something special, where memories can be made for every player coach, official, volunteer and parent involved. He concluded by saying Goderich Minor Hockey is thrilled to be a part of it and hopes to see the tournament continue for many years to come.
Alcock similarly stated, "The vision of the founders of Young Canada Week was to create an opportunity where none existed for young hockey players. Now, with hundreds of tournaments following in their footsteps, Young Canada Week continues to evolve, providing nine full days of hockey for players in six divisions and three age groups."
More Information
More information on Young Canada Week can be found on these sites: