Page 17 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 3

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West Edmonton Tournament

the Chance of a Lifetime

By Jan Murray he learned that only two Ontario with a game. It was a very electrifying x-box with his brother and sisters.
teams would be eligible to go, which experience for all the boys. “ (I’m)
Kobe is a lucky young man to
meant that Kobe needed to play for excited to have gone to camp can’t
Just over 20 years ago, a group have had such an experience at
one of those teams. He contacted the wait to see if I make the team,” said
of executives from The Brick such a youthful age; definitely an
president of Pro Hockey East out of Kobe.
Warehouse Corporation came up with
Napanee and asked how to get Kobe experience of a lifetime. His parents
a hockey tournament concept that Kobe’s family is also very excited
a try out and make this happen. After encourage him and his siblings to try
was quite unique. They envisioned by the prospects of Kobe making the
witnessing five tournaments, they all sports, but in the end, as his father
an international hockey tournament team. “They are all genuinely proud
invited Kobe to try out for the Pro explains “hockey runs in the blood”
for nine and ten year olds, created of him and each other,” said Kirk
Hockey Brick Team. and he gets his “dedication and hard
because they felt that this age group Tallman. “They are excited of course
was not receiving the level of national Approximately 32 children, that if he makes the team we all get a work from his mother.” Now, all
presence received by the Quebec Pee- including eight goalies from Toronto, holiday to the West Edmonton mall they can do is wait to see whether or
Wee Tournament or the Macs Midget Winnipeg, Buffalo, Arizona, New to shop and relax.” In the mean time, not all his hard work and dedication
Tournament. The idea was to create York, Ottawa (all Canadian citizens) when not playing hockey, Kobe will paid off. They will have to wait until
a summer tournament at the West anxiously appeared ready to try spend some time fishing, or playing Christmas to find out.
Edmonton Mall that would combine a out for the Ontario team, For those
summer holiday for travelling teams lucky enough to make the team, they
as well as provide for some excellent will play four tournaments out of
hockey. This idea grew into what we Toronto with the fifth tournament the
now know as The Brick Super Novice Edmonton Brick Tournament. They
Invitational hockey tournament. It practice three times on weekends
is recognized as Canada’s foremost between tournaments, starting in
Novice hockey tournament and this April and ending in July.
year, Long Sault’s very own Kobe
Kobe started playing hockey at the
Tallman was invited to try out.
age of four in the Long Sault Minor
The tournament provides these Hockey program and played there for
kids with the opportunity to show off three years. He played one year of
their hockey skills, play with some minor novice in Long Sault and won
of the world’s best nine and ten year the league championship. From there
old hockey players, all the while he skipped over the major novice
enjoying a nice summer vacation at level and moved up to the minor
the West Edmonton Mall with their atom level with the Seaway Valley
families. It’s an awesome experience Rapids.
for all involved. For Kobe, he gets
During his week at evaluation
to “play hockey and travel and meet
camp, the days were long and packed
new friends.”
full of skating drills. Each day the
Earlier this year, Kobe’s father, Kirk kids were on the ice from 9 a.m. until
Tallman found out about The Brick 4 p.m. with only a half-hour break
Tournament through the “AAA” for lunch. They did drills, practiced Kobe Tallman, right with friend Owen Carter. Kobe plays a lot of sports,
summer circuit. With a little research, power skating and ended each day but really loves hockey. Photo supplied by the Tallman family