This Opeongo Heritage Cup Hockey Tournament has become both a spectacle of local hockey talent and a homecoming. Most of the players in this tournament have moved away because of job or school commitments, but the tournament brings them back to the Bonnechere & Madawaska Valleys to enjoy family & friends and some great hockey fun. All players have family roots in our community and are and have been some of the stars in Canadian amateur hockey.
The Origin of the Tournament
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he Opeongo Heritage Cup Hockey Tournament’s inaugural year was in 2006.
The idea of the multicultural hockey tournament was started by Johnny Kashub (Dave Shulist) in 1998. Dave’s passion for his own Kashubian (Eastern Europe) heritage inspired him to promote the very unique collection of different cultural groups in the Madawaska Valley.
While the tournament is referred to locally as ‘The Heritage Cup’, the official name is the Opeongo Heritage Cup, as ‘Opeongo’ is the name of the first road that brought the community’s ancestors to the Madawaska Valley area. Starting in the town of Renfrew all the way to Opeongo Lake in Algonquin Park, this road was literally the bloodline and lifeline of the region.
Tournament ideals are based on our national model of a country where everyone has a chance to embrace being Canadian first, while at the same time celebrating their own heritage….and being Canadian, what a great way to celebrate our heritage with a game or two (or three!) of hockey…
The Volunteers
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he Opeongo Heritage Cup Hockey Tournament could not happen without the support of the community and the help of countless volunteers. We would like to thank all who have contributed over the years.
Notably, local heritage groups have become the workforce and the beneficiaries of this weekend long tournament. A special thanks is needed to the Killaloe Heritage Society, Wilno Heritage Society, Combermere Heritage Society and Zurakowski Park who all help take care of the running the event. Each group contributes to the cultural food, dance, bar, admission, etc. and all proceeds from the tournament go to help these nonprofit organizations.
Other individuals and groups or organizations worth mentioning include:
- Kelly Klinck from Bay Berry Lane who produce the Opeongo Heritage Cup Program Guide, which is handed out at the tournament
- Jason Marleau & Russell Mussio from Barry’s Bay Cottages for helping with the creation of the website
- Andrew & Michelle Rivard with Timberline Signs and their help with signage
- Matt Cherry from Nature of Design and their help with digital design
- Carl Lacombe who is the Head of Hockey Operations along with his teammates Gerald Bloom and Ron Murray
- Johnny Kashub who is the Commissioner and Promoter of the event
- The Valley Gazette - www.thevalleygazette.ca
- The Barry’s Bay This Week – www.barrysbaythisweek.com
- The Eganville Leader - www.eganvilleleader.com