Quebec

After more than sixty years of existence, the International Hockey Tournament Peewee Quebec remains a place of unforgettable encounters and memorable moments, thousands of players aged 11 and 12 years come to defend the colors of their team. The biggest names in hockey as Brad Park, Guy Lafleur, Gretzky and the Howe brothers, Mario Lemieux, Patrick Roy, Steven Stamkos and several others, during their career, participated in this event. Others, like Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe took place in the stands.

The tournament was founded in 1960 by Gerard Bolduc. In its first edition, the tournament hosted 28 teams and nearly 20,000 spectators.

It is in a spirit of conviviality that the father Bolbuc decided in 1959 to create a hockey tournament in Quebec Pee-Wee. Tired of taking his troops in Goderich Ontario, he holds that the Old Capital, the following year , the host of such a sporting event. The tournament is then integrated with the Quebec Winter Carnival festivities held in February.

One of the first players to compete and to reach the heights of professional hockey in the NHL was Brad Park. In 1962, the small Guy Lafleur skated on the ice from the Coliseum. For three consecutive years (1962-1964), he is the star of Pee- Wee tournament and scored a total of 64 goals. It has long held the best individual performance of the Pee-Wee Tournament in Quebec City. Ten years later, during one entry, a kid named Wayne Gretzky outplayed goalies 26 times.

Gerard Bolduc led the tournament from 1960 to 1975. In 1975, Father Bolduc passed the torch to Alex Légaré, who has managed the organization until 2000. An important point then appears in the agenda: innovation. The tournament was to attract new teams and a larger number of spectators.

The early years, the tournament took place among the activities of the Quebec Winter Carnival, it is detached from 1977. In 1980, Légaré created the America's Cup and the following year, the Quebec Cup in addition to meetings of the International Class and the International Cup. In 1984, Manon Rheaume was the first girl to defend the net of his team. In 1989, to the astonishment of all, Russia and Japan both joined the tournament.

To mark 50eédition the tournament, was organized some legends tournament. This part was presented at the Pepsi Coliseum February 21, 2009. Players present marked the tournament in their own way. Some have had exceptional careers in the National Hockey League, others have rather marked the junior and professional hockey minor. In 2013, about 1,050 players have played in the NHL or AMH after passing the pee- wee. In 2011, the event has attracted a team of Australia, the fifth and final continent to participate in the tournament. two teams of Africa and some of Asia had already participated later.

In addition to thousands of young people to live a dream, the tournament has always been Patro Rocamadour heart. In over 50 years, the tournament gave the Patro more $ 2,133,000. It is in the Patro Rocamadour that the tournament has its temple of friendship, in which we find pictures and trophies that have marked the history of the tournament.

In 1960, there are nearly 20,000 spectators cheering on the little tournament in February 1999, the record of all time was recorded, 211 178. How young players can generate so much passion and emotions? The secret of such longevity and such a craze among fans lies in the spirit of the tournament.

The work of veteran organizers and the collaboration of many volunteers have contributed to the world renowned International Tournament of Hockey Pee -Wee de Québec.