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By Sheldon Spackman

Lakeshore Drive

Battle at the Beach expands in Sylvan Lake this summer

Jun 2, 2022 | 4:04 PM

It’s becoming a staple of the kick-off to summer in Sylvan Lake.

Battle at the Beach, a ball hockey tournament featuring players of all ages and abilities, takes place in the Lakeshore Drive parking lot at 44 Street and Lakeshore Drive from June 18-19, 2022.

Organizer and three-time Stanley Cup champion Colin Fraser says the tournament is strictly for fun.

“This is our fourth event,” explains Fraser. “We did it two years prior to COVID and had a really good success rate with really good growth. Then obviously we had to be closed down because of COVID.”

However, after resurrecting the event last August instead of the normal June, due to COVID, Fraser says it once again feels like a true start to summer.

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“We really emphasize the fun and emphasize that this is for everybody of all ages and abilities,” says Fraser. “There’s no Stanley Cups handed out at the end of it. We don’t have a trophy. We have little small prizes for best jersey, for winning teams, but we don’t have a main trophy to win because the idea is for everybody to have fun.”

Some new activities have also been added to this year’s event, explains Fraser.

“Last year we had a hardest shot station and an accuracy station,” says Fraser. “Now we’re adding what I call a race station, where there’s targets, and you go against a partner, and whoever can hit the targets quickest, wins.”

Fraser says those new features are all by donation, with donations being split between Special Olympics Alberta and the Andrew Ladd Foundation – 1616.org, a mental health initiative for children in hockey.

“So there’s lots of things to do,” he explains. “The food trucks, the stations, the beach is right there 100 feet away, and the kids just have fun and hang out.”

Fraser notes well over 40 teams have registered across all age divisions (U7 to Adults 18+) for this year’s event.

“We use construction zone fencing for the arenas, so for the boards,” he explains. “Then each arena is a different size, depending on how old the kids are. Adults would play on a bigger rink than the U7s.”

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Fraser says there are seven players per team maximum, with a minimum of four players for three-on-three style hockey.

Also new this year, says Fraser, is the Town shutting down Lakeshore Drive for the event.

“The Town of Sylvan Lake supports this event very well, they encourage it,” says Fraser. “We’re able to grow it to the north side of the street a little bit. Lakeshore Drive will be shut down. Our main event will be on the south side parking lot with a little going on in the north side parking lot as well.”

“It’s an excuse to get together with your friends, bring grandma and grandpa out, whatever the case may be, enjoy the weather, enjoy the town of Sylvan Lake and have some fun playing hockey.”