The 30th edition of the Rigaud provincial pee-wee field hockey tournament got underway on February 6 at the Collège Bourget arena. A total of 26 teams in three categories - M13 A, M13 B and M13 C - will compete for top honors. Organized by the Knights of Columbus Club in collaboration with the City of Rigaud, the event runs from Thursday, February 6 to Sunday, February 9.

Four matches were scheduled for the first day of competition. In the curtain-raiser, the Prédateurs HRS took on the Riverains #1 de L'Île-Perrot and got the tournament off to a convincing 7-0 start.

Among the other victorious teams, the Lakeshore Jaguars and Verdun Leafs won 2-0, while the Seigneurs de Soulanges scored a resounding 9-0 victory. 

A tournament to benefit young field hockey players in Rigaud

The tournament also has a social vocation, as it helps finance scholarships for young field hockey players in Rigaud. For Sylvain Sauvé, one of the organizers, the event is “a way of helping parents and making the sport as accessible as possible to Rigaud residents.”

At present, some 30 Rigaud players benefit from the bursary. In return, many of the parents and youngsters who receive these grants volunteer at the tournament, helping to ensure that it runs smoothly.

Rigaud's mayor, Marie-Claude Frigault, was delighted to be invited once again to the tournament's official puck drop. Having spent a lot of time in arenas, she particularly appreciates this opportunity: “It brings back my memories of when my boy played. We spent a lot of time here.“

Organizers invite citizens to come and cheer on the young athletes over the weekend. The action continues until Sunday, February 9.