The first of two very busy weekends at local rinks kicks of Silver Stick Hockey Tournament season, with all of the "A" divisions taking to the ice at no less than seven different Sudbury and area arenas, beginning Thursday and wrapping up early Sunday evening.

While the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex serves as home base for tournament chair Peter Michelutti Sr and his crew, at least some games are being played at all of: McClelland Arena (Copper Cliff), T.M Davies Community Centre (Walden), Carmichael Arena, the George Armstrong Arena (Garson), Toe Blake Arena (Coniston) and Cambrian Arena.

A grand total of 121 teams will be competing over two weekends of play at the 57th annual version of the event in Sudbury, with the "AA" competition running from November 26th to the 29th.

An assortment of volunteers and invited guests were on hand Tuesday afternoon at the Caruso Club, with that mix serving as a crystal clear indicator as to just how much things have changed since the nickel city festivities kicked off back in 1969.

"It's changed so much," said Walden lead hand Perry Peltomaki, a participant as a minor hockey player at the very first tournament all those years ago. "I played in the city league, with maybe six teams, and we played of our (regular season) games at the Sudbury Arena - which was great," said the 69 year-old former centreman.

"In those days, my parents might have watched us play maybe a couple of times only a year. Everybody goes to all the games now: parents, grandparents."

The draw would typically extend no further than northern Ontario - with the tournament often heavily flavoured with a regional feel in terms of the field.

By comparison, the games that take place later this week will include entries from Stouffville, Stittsville, Cambridge, Woolwitch, Newmarket, Brant and Castor River, as well as the standard northern fare these days that covers from Sault Ste Marie, up through Hearst and Kapuskasing, down through the Tri-Towns and extending along Highway 11 to Powassan and Huntsville.

If the hockey has changed, the nature of those special highlights have not. Now a member of the OHL Sudbury Wolves, local product Mason Walker still recalls his tournament winner some eight years ago as the Copper Cliff Redmen captured the Major Atom "AA" banner with a 2-1 overtime win over the Nickel City Jr Sons.

"I scored that goal on my former teammate, (goaltender) Kalia Pharand," said Walker, referencing the local puck-stopper who is already making waves in her freshman season with the Clarkson Golden Knights of the NCAA.

"It was great growing up and playing in that tournament."

And for as much as Walker and other locals could benefit from hometown support, the smooth-skating young forward can also relate to the enthusiasm that out of teams teams will experience as they prepare for the trek to Sudbury.

"There is so much bonding, in the hotel rooms, playing mini sticks and all that," said Walker. "For me, it was fun playing in new rinks, something you always remember for sure from your childhood."

Schedule information and results will be available all weekend long at: https://silverstick.org/Tournaments/32402/