Two Surrey hockey arenas were buzzing with excitement this weekend as WickFest hockey tournament and festival for girls kicked off Thursday evening (Jan. 30).
Conceived in 2010 in Burnaby by hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser, the Canadian Tire-sponsored WickFest is now a staple on the Surrey sports scene every winter, with Surrey Falcons and City of Surrey among event partners.
Close to 1,400 young players descended upon North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex and Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex in Fleetwood for a weekend of games at the full-to-capacity tournament.
Wickenheiser, who was in Surrey for the tournament, said that nearly 80 girls' teams from across Canada and the United States are participating this year, including 13 who will rep Surrey Falcons female hockey association in divisions from U11 to U18.
"It's a hockey tournament, but it's so much more. It's a festival of the game, so players can really sign up for all these different sessions, from equipment to self-esteem to making friendship bracelets to being on the ice with Meghan (Agosta) and hopefully, they leave with just their horizons broad and about what's out there for girls in sport and as an athlete."
"Today (Jan. 31) was our skill session and it was a lot of fun watching Meghan wheel around out there, she's still got it," Wickenheiser said. Kids from all different teams could sign up to participate in the skill session with Agosta on Friday.
Agosta said, "to be out on the ice with them and to see their smiles and to be able to put them through a few drills and then have scrimmage together. It was amazing to see and something that these girls will never forget," Agosta said.
She added it was an easy decision when Wickenheiser asked her to attend the tournament.
"Haley has been a role model of mine since I was a little girl and then to be able to play with her in three Olympics and winning gold all three times is unbelievable," Agosta said. "So when she asked me to come here, it was no brainer for me to be able to come back and get and give back."
"At the end of the day, it's not about the gold medals or silver medals that I've won, it's trying to inspire the younger generation to do something special in their lives, and if I could do that, then my job is done," she said.
Agosta also thanked all the sponsors that made the tournament possible.
During Calgary's WickFest in November, they brought a team of 12 and 13-year-old girls from Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odessa, Ukraine, to participate. "We didn't have an international team this event, but next one, you never know," Wickenheiser said.
WickFest has plans to expand, with WickFest Las Vegas and WickFest Milton launching next year.
-With files from Tom Zillich
