The South Delta Minor Hockey Association is ready to get the party started.
The organization hosts the eighth edition of its ever-sopopular Party In Da House Tournament with action getting underway tomorrow at the Ladner Leisure Centre (LLC) and Tilbury Arena. The event concludes New Year's Day with the four championship games - Atom, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget at the LLC.
What makes this event so unique is it features nothing but teams from the SDMHA's recreational divisions, approximately 400 players. The all-South Delta flavour has resulted in tremendous support in the stands and from the business community.
This year's tournament includes graduating Midget Division players who participated in the first-ever Party In Da House Tournament in 2004.
"These young men have literally grown up playing hockey in South Delta," said tournament organizer Theresa Watts. "We have one of our largest group of Grade 12 players currently playing Midget 'C' hockey, there are 26 in total. It tells you that clearly South Delta Minor Hockey is doing something right to keep so many boys still enjoying the sport of hockey at this stage of the game."
There will be more than local bragging rights on the line this week as the four division winners will go on to represent SDMHA in the annual Delta Cup competition which is a one game playoff against the North Delta Minor Hockey Association champions.
On top of great hockey action, the teams will also be taking part in the "Hockey for Hunger" food drive. The winner of that competition is always the Delta Food Bank.
Over the past eight years, Party In Da House has been able to donate well over 10,000 pounds of food. "It's a great example of teaching young athletes how to give back to a community that has given them so much," said Watts.
In addition to the "Hockey for Hunger" food drive, the tournament also makes a donation to Canuck Place with its proceeds.
The money is generated through a massive basket raffle, with over 60 items donated this year.
Among the many businesses to step up to ensure Party In Da House is such a huge success is Firstar Sports Performance Apparel.
The fast growing company, which got its start in Delta, now has a stable of high-profile athletes wearing its gear including Vancouver Canucks star Ryan Kelser, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jason Reimer and B.C. Lions Grey Cup MVP quarterback Travis Lulay. Still, Firstar also remains active in supporting amateur athletics in its own community and is once again the main sponsor of the Party In Da House Tournament.
If you have some free time over the next few days, come on out to the local arenas and get caught up in the Party In Da House spirit.
