John Reid Memorial Tournament – 40 years and counting!

In the fall of 1978, a group of St. Albert residents spearheaded by Blaine Galbraith and the Kinsmen Minor Hockey Association who were operating minor hockey in St. Albert at the time believed that it would be great to have a Bantam “A” tournament to showcase not only the St. Albert Sabres but other teams from Alberta and Western Canada. The first tournament was held April 4th to 7th, 1979 and the 8 teams participating were Kamloops Syd Smith Chevy’s, Saskatoon North Stars, Edmonton K of C Squires, Sherwood Park Bumpers, Edmonton Maple Leaf Bay Drug Knights, Calgary Red Arrow Colts and the home town Sabres. Sherwood Park was the first winner when they defeated St. Albert in the final.