It’s one of the most anticipated tournaments of the season, and for many midget players it was their last in minor hockey.

The 17th annual Yelnats Cup was enjoyed by 24 midget teams at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sport Centre from Mar. 30 to Apr. 2. That included all six Cochrane midget teams and 17 others from across Alberta. The tier 3 Riverside Rangers came all the way from Windsor, ON. to round out the tournament.

Ron Sabo, one of the organizers, says the tournament was a success by all accounts. The smiling faces measure just how much it is appreciated.

“We’ve even had some of the players come to us and say this is the biggest thing that they look forward to all year; more important than the playoffs to them because they want to hoist that replica of the Stanley Cup,” says Sabo.

“There’s a lot for excitement out there. It sure puts a lot of smiles on those kids’ faces and the parents, too.”

Two Cochrane teams won the honor of hoisting the Yelnats Cup in their divisions and a third topped their ‘B’ event.

The Tier 3 ‘A’ final was a barnburner that saw the Cochrane Rockies overcome the pressing Westlock Warriors in overtime. The Rockies came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first period to tie the match early in the second. The lead changed hands several times before a 6-6 deadlock was broken with an overtime goal by Vance Wesley.

Wesley may not be in his last year as a midget but was thrilled to notch the winner for his teammates and himself.

“I really wanted to get a goal in my last game for all my friends. I was kind of nervous, too,” Wesley says. But I told myself, don’t be nervous and have confidence and just play like I had been playing all game.”

In the ‘A’ event of the Tier 5/6 division, the Cochrane Seals overcame the Cochrane Pilsners, 6-5, in another close match up. The Cochrane Red Devils won the ‘B’ event over the Grande Prairie Knights, 3-1.

Over 135 of 430 players in the tournament graduated from minor hockey and were commended for their dedication to the game.

The Yelnats Cup also gives back to the community with the help of generous support of Cochrane businesses. In its 17 years they’ve raised about $100,000 for local causes.

“If it wasn’t for all the sponsors and businesses in Cochrane we wouldn’t be where we are either because they donate quite a bit.”