Facts From 35 Editions Of The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament
There's a high chance that some of the biggest names in hockey spent at least one summer during their youth playing on West Edmonton Mall's Ice Palace rink at the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament.
With summer upon us, many think of getting away and spending time on a beach elsewhere, but for a special week, one of hockey's most storied youth tournaments is back in full swing.
The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament has been a hallmark of the hockey world for generations. Since 1990, some of the best nine and 10-year-old players in the have descended upon West Edmonton Mall to participate in an event that pro players speak fondly of playing in.
Sunday afternoon marked the end of the 2024 tournament as the Toronto Bulldogs and the Detroit Junior Red Wings squared off in the championship game. The Junior Red Wings squeezed out a 4-3 win thanks to a goal by Christian Kolarik with three minutes remaining in the third period.
So let's take a look at some of the coolest facts at one of hockey's more unique summer events:
Over 200 Brick Tournament Alumni Have Gone on to Professional Careers
It's impossible to judge how many players who play in The Brick tournament every year will go onto careers in the NHL or will embark on a career in other professional leagues. But since 1990, many of the biggest names in the sport have played in at least one Brick Tournament. Players, such as P.K. Subban, Steven Stamkos, Jordan Eberle, Cole Caufield, Auston Matthews, and Brent Seabrook, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the tournament's NHL alumni.
The tournament also has a YouTube channel dedicated to showing classic clips showcasing the plays of the various NHLers and international women's players who first turned heads in front of parents, teammates and more than likely a few shoppers who couldn't believe what they just saw.
Want to see Dustin Byfuglien go through four defenders on his way to a goal in 1995? Its there. How about future Canadian Olympian goaltender Shannon Szabados making some massive saves in the 1996 event? Want to watch Tyler Seguin, with the sun shining down upon him, light the lamp in 2002? They got you.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaNTYT7W9Xw[/embed][embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW-7YiMQOiY[/embed]
A Quiet Brick Tournament Did Not Always Equal A Quiet Pro Career
While the Brick can be a great first look at players having success before their teenage years, it hasn't meant that all players who don't score or put up points will be forever doomed to obscurity.
Some of the more prominent names who have never scored at the event include Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, U.S. Olympian Cayla Barnes, and Jamie Drysdale of the Philadelphia Flyers. For many players, there's still a ton more development to be had, and the biggest aspect of this tournament is to ensure that kids at this age are enjoying the sport.
The Event Has Long Been International
When the Brick Tournament was first launched in 1990, it was a one-of-a-kind summer event that has welcomed players from all over North America and the rest of the world. American teams have participated in the event since the original tournament, in which Team Los Angeles won it all.
In total, American-based teams have won the Brick Tournament seven times. Before the Junior Red Wings became the seventh American victor, the Conneticuit Jr. Rangers essentially had a mini-dynasty, pulling off a three-peat with championships from 2019-2022 (the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The international flavor hasn't been restricted to the United States; overseas teams have also participated in the event, with some examples, including 1991's event, which saw Finland and Czechoslovakia (now Czechia) field teams.
If you're in West Edmonton Mall on a July day and happen to stop by to watch a game or two, there's a chance you may be watching the future of hockey within the next decade.