Iconic international Kamloops hockey tournament kicks off 55th year

Young players donned in jerseys lined up single file at the gates to the ice. Excitement was palpable in the arena as 38 teams waited to line the blue lines for the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament opening ceremony. For the adolescent players, it will be a highlight of their minor hockey experience, competing in an event that's seen young prospects like Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic, Mark Recchi and Jim Benning in its 55-year history. More recently it has hosted current NHLers like Connor Bedard and Kamloops-native Logan Stankoven. The McArthur Island arena stands were packed with a crowd of families cheering on their children and scouts looking for the next great major junior players on Thursday evening. Coaches dressed in suits or in branded team gear appeared stoic while the players were almost all smiles, preparing to face off against rivals over the next few days. "The teams here are those that are going to have one or two kids that potentially could play major junior hockey... It's good to identify them here, so they get that opportunity down the road," said Kelly Hall, who was at the event both as a city councillor and for his work as a scout for the Spokane Chiefs. READ MORE: ADHD cases skyrocketing across BC — and it's not just the kids anymore https://infotel.ca/newsitem/adhd-cases-skyrocketing-across-bc-and-its-not-just-the-kids-anymore/it107429 It's an ideal time to mark down players that might move on to play an event like the BC Cup, join top-tier U18 rosters and become potential picks for the summer bantam draft.  On Dec. 18, the ceremonial face off kicked off the five-day competition that features four U15 divisions, including one female group for just the second time. It was the inaugural year for the female division in 2023 and the hometown Kamloops U15 Blazers were the first to hoist the trophy. "It was an amazing game—a real nail-biter," said Sandra Dever, an organizer and on the tournament's board of directors. This year, the same team is in a six-team pool of all-female teams that are all from BC. "It's fairly new and it always takes a while to catch on. Women's hockey has come a long way with the PWHL and everything," she said. "We have six teams this year and we hope to have more next year." From across North America and Europe, teams have descended on Kamloops for more than five decades. It wouldn't have happened without the efforts of two men—one being Dever's father-in-law. Eldie Dever, who owned the now-closed Kamloops business Elroy Sports, joined forces with his friend Bud Fraser in 1968. With Fraser, who was a travel agent, they wanted to start a tournament that showcased young talent from Canada and beyond. READ MORE: All cancer care services under one roof 'not feasible' in Kamloops: health ministry https://infotel.ca/newsitem/all-cancer-care-services-under-one-roof-not-feasible-in-kamloops-health-ministry/it107513 Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament (KIBIHT) started the next year and launched with two divisions. A team from North Vancouver took the top-tier title and the other went to a team from Vernon. Playing forward for the Vernon Bantam Allstars last year was Eddie Johnstone, who became the first KIBIHT alumnus to move on to an NHL career when he was drafted to the New York Rangers. Its third year, 1972, was a big year for international hockey as the nation was enthralled by the Summit Series that saw Canada's best adult players go head-to-head with the Soviet Union over eight games. "Hockey fever was huge that year," Dever said, as she recalled watching Canada win the final game in a hotel room. "You could hear the whole hotel when Canada scored—when Paul Henderson scored. It was nuts." It was the same year KIBIHT brought its first European contenders, she said. "I think that probably added to the cache of the tournament and for the teams that wanted to come, though it had been in the works for a while." READ MORE: Penticton fraudster convinced everyone she had cancer — including her husband https://infotel.ca/newsitem/penticton-fraudster-convinced-everyone-she-had-cancer-including-her-husband/it107437 It's among the longest-running U15 tournaments of its kind in the country, and over the years Canadian teams have largely dominated. But, American teams soon became serious contenders, especially from Detroit. The first took home a title in 1979, while Europeans were snubbed until the 1990s, starting with a Russian win in 1992. Hall's first introduction to Kamloops was through KIBIHT, too. Though he would return a decade later to settle after university, he played in the tournament with a team out of Surrey in the 1970s.  "I was actually billeted out to a Kamloops family, and the experience was very important for my development as not only a hockey player but as a young adult growing up, knowing I'm going to meet people from other parts of BC, other parts of Canada," he said. Along with bringing young worldwide talent to face off against each other and showcasing for scouts, the event brings winter tourism to the Tournament Capital. "Over the years we've seen it grow. You look at it and every one of these teams has 20 players, coaches, families that are supporting tonight. The stands are going to be fun, there will be a thousand people watching the kids parade onto the ice, which is a tradition," he said. The annual economic boon for the city isn't clear, but Dever said Tourism Kamloops recorded a $2 million annual impact in years past when accounting for spending on hotels, restaurants and shopping with, at times up to  48 teams in town. "The kids come here and enjoy themselves, they get to meet new friends. Moms and Dads get to have a good time and they get to go shopping, they eat out at restaurants. The benefit of having a tournament like this in Kamloops is so important," Hall said. iNFOnews.ca reached out to Tourism Kamloops, but did not get a response. With 38 teams this year, the international draw is less prevalent in 2024. Almost all of them are Western Canadian teams this year, with two notable exceptions hailing from Idaho. A Kamloops area team is featured in all divisions, along with representation from the Okanagan. The North Okanagan Royals are among the six female teams. Two U15 Kelowna Rockets teams are in the tier one and two pools, respectively, along with U15 Penticton Vees in tier two. The tier one 'AA' pool also includes Kelowna's Rink Hockey Academy. In years past, it's taken place later in the season instead of December. Dever, whose children played hockey growing up, said it's an expensive and time-consuming sport for families, but whether it's because of the near-Christmas schedule or a slow return since a COVID hiatus that's affected the international turnout isn't clear. The annual effort to run KIBIHT wouldn't be possible without volunteers like Dever behind it. In part it's been a continued family effort with her and her brother on the six-person board of directors. "Volunteering has just been in my blood from the get-go. My mom was a huge volunteer and then, of course, the family connection. Hockey's in our blood," Dever said. "And I like to be around people. Since I've retired, it's a great way to meet new people and there's always interesting stories." The Devers are far from the only people that work to put on the event each year, for which planning started for 2026 before the first pucks were dropped this week. She said the organizers are now more than ever looking for more volunteers. "We're burning out. I'm not a spring chicken anymore, but it's a lot of work. If we could spread it around a little more, it would be a lot easier," Dever said. The games are open to anyone to watch at all five Kamloops hockey arenas until Dec. 22. Tickets are $5 per day or $20 for the full slate, with the Dec. 22 finals for all divisions taking place at McArthur Island. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. 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