Vincent Heleniak enjoys ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience at Edmonton’s Invitational Brick Hockey Tournament

Ten-year-old Vincent Heleniak enjoyed a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience with the Toronto Bulldogs at the 2026 Invitational Brick Hockey Tournament. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Vincent Heleniak’s hairstyles continue to progress along with his ‘game.’

“Had a mullet, had a buzz cut - have a mullet, probably get another buzz cut,” smiled the 10-year-old Tillsonburg-area resident.

Heleniak has the hockey hair down and his game is following, underlined by a memorable trip to the 2026 Invitational Brick Hockey Tournament in Edmonton with the Toronto Bulldogs. Considered North America’s premier 10-year-old hockey event, The Brick was founded in 1990, a year, Edmonton Team Brick’s Mike Comrie was top scorer. Cole Caufield topped offensive stats in 2011 while playing for the Chicago Junior Blackhawks and Connor Bedard was named tournament MVP in 2015 while representing the B.C. Junior Canucks.

Other tournament alumni include Steven Stamkos, P.K. Subban, Jordan Eberle and Austin Matthews. The Brick is recognized as a showcase from which a high percentage of players subsequently play at the major junior or NCAA college level, and a significant number are drafted by NHL teams.

Teams apply for the prestigious event based on years of experience, tournaments played in previously and organizational structure including coaches’ resumes. The Bulldogs have a long-standing relationship with The Brick, stretching back to 2005 when Max Domi earned top-scoring honours, and 2007, when Mitch Marner did the same.

Heleniak began playing hockey as a Timbit in the Tillsonburg Minor Hockey Inc. system, the left-shooting defenceman advancing to play with the U10 South Oxford Storm as an eight-year-old. Unofficially, playing up an age group as a blueliner, Heleniak reputedly finished top five in league scoring. Last year, he suited up with the Brantford AAA program for a team which went undefeated through regular season and round-robin playoffs prior to losing in the final tournament.

“I’m an offensive and defensive player,” said Heleniak, who likes to care of things in his own end, but also allows he has a ‘pretty good shot from the point.’

He continues to work on his skating under Penny Jelsma, finding hockey ‘a lot of fun.’

“Your teammates trust you because you score and you have fun when you score.”

The Bulldogs first noticed him during spring hockey in Toronto, says Vincent’s dad Matt.

“They kind of have to ask you and you have to try out,” explained Vincent, nervous, scared and also excited at the prospect. “A bit of all of them.”

Tryouts were held in December and January, with Heleniak making the roster along with teammates from the GTA, Collingwood, North Bay, Port Elgin and Woodstock, although asked to play both defence and forward, a hard transition said his father, which Vincent handled well.

The Bulldogs’ campaign began after his AAA season concluded, roughly 36 hours of practice and 30-plus games leading up to the June 28 to July 5th Brick schedule.

That tournament’s 14 teams were split into two seven-member pools, each contesting six round-robin games in five days at the West Edmonton Mall’s Ice Palace.

The Bulldogs opened with a 2-1 win over the BC Junior Canucks, dropped a 6-4 decision to the Western Selects and rebounded for an 8-2 win over Manitoba Junior Ice, a game in which Heleniak notched his first tournament point. The Bulldogs suffered a 5-4 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens, cruised past the Detroit Junior Red Wings 5-1 and closed out with a tight 3-2 over Team Brick Alberta.

“The first game was crazy,” said Vincent. “Once it went on it got less crazy, but then in quarters (quarter-finals) it was crazy again.”

The ‘Dogs finished tied with the Junior Canucks atop Wigston Conference standings with a 4-0-1-1 record, good for 13 points. They met the Saskatchewan Junior Pats in crossover quarter-final play, suffering a tough 2-0 loss.

“A hot goalie,” Matt summed up succinctly. “Wasn’t our best game either.”

Paced by tournament-leading scorer Colton Stewart’s 33 points in nine games (22 in round-robin, 11 in playoffs, topping Bedard’s record), Team Minnesota downed the Western Selects 7-2 in quarter-final play, eased past the Junior Canucks 3-1 in the semis and took the title by a 7-2 score over the Junior Red Wings.

Heleniak’s favourite on-ice moment was his second assist, coming in the Bulldogs’ 5-1 win over Detroit.

“When I chipped it off the boards and Otis (Alderson) scored.”

Vincent excelled at ‘any role he was put in,” credited Bulldogs coach Massimo Lamacchia.

He is an ‘ultimate team guy’ who plays a ‘hard game’ combined with offensive ability continued the coach, hard on the puck with a great shot and work ethic to go with it.

“He had a great tournament overall.”

Off the ice, the entire family (mom Kelly, siblings Olivia, Richard and Elizabeth and grandmother Cheryl) enjoyed a trip featuring intense hockey, the mall’s waterpark, Galaxyland and quality shopping.

“It was awesome,” said Matt. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Playing at The Brick brings no guarantees.

“One hundred per cent,” Matt agreed. “But it does mean you’re on the right track.”

Looking forward, Vincent is committed to playing with the Elgin-Middlesex U11 Komoka AAA Canucks through the 2026/27 season.

“He seems to be pretty motivated,” his father concluded. “I never have to force him. As long as he’s motivated, we’ll just try and support him.”