Local minor hockey teams will be sharing the ice at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena with world champions during the upcoming Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) all-star weekend celebration today and tomorrow.
Among the dignitaries attending the local event will be Canadian Olympic gold medalist Erin Ambrose and world champion Jessie Eldridge, both of whom will be back at Eddie Bush next weekend for the Professional Women's Hockey Player's Association's (PWHPA) Secret Dream Gap Tour.
Ambrose and Eldridge will be instructing local youth players during an on-ice skills development session, and will sign autographs during the day.
The OJHL All-Star Celebration, presented by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, begins this evening (Jan. 13) with opening ceremonies. Collingwood’s Lauren Lesage will perform the national anthem on Friday night with Town Crier Ken Templeman welcoming the event to the town of Collingwood on Friday prior to the alumni game.
The event’s centrepiece is the OJHL All-star Game set for Saturday, Jan. 14, at 3 p.m. It will be televised nationally on CHCH, as part of the league’s Game of the Week schedule of games. The game will feature the best players from across the 21-team OJHL as selected by the league’s competition committee.
At 7:30 p.m., the OJHL’s top prospects will clash in the InStat Top Prospects game featuring the OJHL’s top young talent from both OJHL conferences in 2022-23.
“The Town of Collingwood and its minor hockey programs have been so supportive of the OJHL All-Star Celebration,” said Rick Morocco, the OJHL’s Director of Business Development and Events. “The number of age groups from both boys and girls hockey taking part in our event fall within our themes of community and the celebration of the past, present and future of hockey.”
Area youth hockey teams will hit the ice on Saturday:
- U13 Mixed Girls and Boys Skill Development session, 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
- Collingwood Lighting Girls U9 blue and white game, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Lighting U18 vs Barrie Sharks 12:45 - 2 p.m.
- Collingwood Minor Hockey U18/U16 - Blue White game 5:45 - 6:45 p.m.
During the first intermission of the All-Star and Prospect games, Collingwood U9 players will play 5-on-5. The U7 Lightning Girls will play during the second intermission of the all-star game.
All net proceeds from the weekend events will go to the OJHL Foundation, which focuses on delivering the First Assist Program to aid players with mental health and life skills training.
Ticket prices (including HST and fees):
- Friday
- Advance: $10
- Door: $15
- Saturday
- Advance: $25
- Door: $30
- Two-day pass
- Advance: $25
- Door: $35
Click the link for tickets. Or call the Ticketpro Call Centre (1.888.655.9090)
The schedule for the weekend celebration includes:
- FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Alumni Game | OJHL vs Collingwood Alumni
- 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. OJHL All Star Skills Competition (HockeyTV)
- SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
- 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. OJHL All-Star Game (CHCH)
- 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Instat OJHL Prospect Game (HockeyTV)
