Young Canada Week in the 1990s celebrated 50 years of the beloved hockey tournament

Beginning in 1990 the Goderich Lions Young Canada Week (YCW) hockey tournament rolled into its fifth decade.

Despite how much time has passed, the tournament continued to draw teams from all over Ontario to fill the various divisions.

The Goderich Lions peewee team gave the local fans something to shout about by winning the ‘B’ Consolation title.

Dennis Williamson, a YCW alumnus who starred on the Goderich Siftos Junior ‘B’ team in the 1960s, coached the peewees that year.

Port Perry won the ‘B’ championship, London the ‘AA’ division title, Mooretown the ‘A’ championship and Durham and Milverton were the ‘C’ and ‘D’ champions, respectively.

In 1991, a team from North Bay went undefeated to win the ‘AAA’ championship, Ajax won the ‘AA’ division, while Barrie took the ‘A’ and East Gwillimbury captured the Reg McGee and Sons Trophy in the ‘B’ section.

Lambeth were the ‘C’ winners and Thamesford took the ‘D’ championship.

North Bay repeated as the ‘AAA’ champions in 1992, while Guelph, London, St. Marys, Dresden and again Thamesford earned the championships in other divisions.

Les Finch, formerly of Sarnia, took time off from his position with American Airlines in Vancouver to return to Young Canada Week as a referee.

The opening face-off of the 1993 tournament honoured Marilyn Bannister, a long-time supporter and regular attendee at the tournament.

In more recent years, the bequest left by Marilyn and her husband Carlyle supported several community endeavours, including the rebuilding of what is now named Bannister Park.

In the 1993 YCW, the ‘AAA’ category had to be cancelled when teams from North Bay and Dearborn, Michigan had to withdraw last minute.

Stratford defeated London 6-0 to win the ‘AA’ division, while Clearwater won the ‘A’, Port Elgin edged Listowel 3-2 to win the ‘B’ division, and Langton won the ‘C’ division while Ilderton won the ‘D’ title. Ilderton also won the Stan Stokes Trophy as the most sportsmanlike team.

In 1994, Lion YCW Chair George Zolob, minor hockey executive and referee Kevin Meriam, referee-in-chief Ken Crawford, and long-time YCW announcer Clem Wolterbeek, combined forces to organise the 45th Young Canada Week tournament.

The ‘AAA’ division returned and was won by Kitchener.

London won over Stratford in the ‘AA’ category, and Brantford won the ‘A’ title.

It was Port Elgin that repeated as ‘B’ champions while Lucknow prevailed in ‘C’ and Chatsworth won the ‘D’ division.

The 1995 tournament produced championships for Kitchener, London, Riverside, Wallaceburg, Dresden and Parkhill.

The Goderich Lions team won the ‘B’ championship in 1996, the first time for a Goderich team since 1980.

The team, coached by Kevin Meriam, and led on the ice by his son David, also won the most sportsmanlike team trophy.

The 48th Young Canada Week in 1997 had a total of 66 teams in action.

Sun County won over Waterloo to take ‘AAA’ honours, Georgetown won in ‘AA” and St. Marys, a ‘B’ team won its first ‘A’ championship.

Dorchester won the ‘C’ title and Lucan repeated as the ‘D’ winners.

At the opening ceremonies of the 1998 tournament, local hockey hero Larry Jeffrey presented long-time volunteer Bill Leeson, with a jacket and cap designated to celebrate the up-coming 50th Young Canada Week, played in 1999.

Kitchener defeated Huron-Perth Lakers to win the ‘AAA’ championship in 1998, Hamilton won the ‘AA” division, Riverside the ‘A’ division, while Petrolia, Lambeth and Watford were the ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ champions.

In 1999, this was the much celebrated 50th Young Canada Week tournament and it was done up in a memorable way.

A long list of NHL celebrities, headlined by Jean Beliveau, attended and did autograph sessions, the Stanley Cup was on display, former players, organised by eras, appeared on the ice. There were bands, choirs, special on-ice ceremonies and an exhibition game between the Goderich Lions peewees and a team from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland.

The grant-daddy of all minor hockey tournaments was suitably recognized at the end of the 1990s, and the tournament soon entered its sixth decade.

Next month, we’ll take a look back at the YCW in the 2000s.