International Friendship Tournament History
In 1986 Aldergrove Minor Hockey hosted an Atom B Invitational Tournament. One of the teams that participated was the Hachinohe White Bear from Hachinohe, Japan. Kaneiri was there…
In 1989 the citizens of the Japanese city of Hachinohe on the island of Honshu, celebrated their city’s 60th Anniversary. A local business leader by the name of Mr. Tadakiyko
Kaneiri had a dream to mark the occasion by hosting an International Peewee Ice Hockey Tournament for 12 and 13 year old children. He believed that bringing youth together from all over the world in an atmosphere where the emphasis was placed on fair play, sportsmanship, mutual respect and cultural exchange would develop greater tolerance and understanding and forge life long friendships. His dream became a reality when the first Friendship Hockey Tournament was hosted in 1989 in Hachinohe. All players participating in the tournament were assigned home stay or host families for the duration of their stay in Japan. The tradition of the host families has continued in each tournament. The Friendship Tournament is not a business or profit driven event but rather a vehicle for young ice hockey players, both boys and girls, from different countries to play against each other in the spirit of friendship and fair play while experiencing the culture of the host country. Mutual respect and understanding are two of the principal aspects of this tournament that participants learn which in turn serves them well for the rest of their lives, both on and off the ice. At the conclusion of the first tournament, St. Paul, Minnesota offered to host the second tournament in 1991 and thus the biennial Friendship Tournament was born. When the next venue is decided upon, the tournament flag is passed to the next host country. Since the tournament’s inception it has be held in Past Tournament locations:
1989 – Hachinohe, Japan
1991 – St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
1993 – Cranbrook, BC, CAN
1995 – Christchurch, NZ
1997 – Aldergrove, BC, CAN
1999 – Canberra, AUS
2001 – Hokkaido, Japan
2003 – St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
2005 – Cranbrook, BC, CAN
2007 – Dunedin, NZ
2009 – Hachinohe, Japan
2011 – Hudson, Wisconsin, USA
2013 – Aldergrove, BC, CAN
2015 - Newcastle, NSW, AUS
2017 - St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
2019 - Hachinohe, Japan
The tournament prides itself on the fact that there are no losers. All participants “win” by being part of the tournament. Teams participating are not national representative teams but rather teams consisting of players who may not normally be selected to play against international teams or visit and compete in an international event. They are players who play ice hockey for the local community or town, not just to win but for the enjoyment of participating and doing what kids do best…have fun and create friendships.
