HAPPY VICTORIA DAY METRO WON’T PUBLISH MONDAY (WE’LL BE BACK TUESDAY)
WOLFPACKED FRIENDS ARE ONLY CURE FOR THIS HANGOVER
LONDON
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Weekend, May 20-23, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Dropping the ball on London
Fight. To the finish
Last year’s street hockey tournament drew 25,000 spectators, 2,300 players KYLE REA
@METRONEWS.CA
It’s considered Canada’s largest sports festival, and it’s returning to downtown London this weekend. It’s the fourth annual Hockey Night in Canada’s Play On fouron-four street hockey tournament. Up to 300 teams and 2,000 players are to play in 35 rinks set up in the downtown core starting Saturday. “Our emphasis here is grassroots hockey. Organized minor hockey is very expensive and a lot of kids can’t play it as a result,” said organizer Brandon Pickard. “But street hockey allows anyone to pick up a stick and play with their friends. That’s what you see in driveways and roads all over the city. “It’s kids and adults coming together to play the game they
U.S. Fighter Bo Harris, left, throws Windsor’s Brent Franczuz up against the octagon cage during Thursday evening’s match at the John Labatt Centre as part of MMA Live 1.
Road closures KYLE REA/METRO
MMA unleashed in the cage The mixed martial arts event drew more than 5,000 fans to the JLC for a night that included eight matches. After four rounds, Harris eked out a 29-28 point win over Franczuz.
Dufferin between Clarence and Wellington. Wellington between Dufferin and Central. Central between Richmond and Waterloo.
For a cause Proceeds from the event are destined for the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation. Divisions include kids, adults and an adults elite bracket. Winners in the male and female elite divisions are invited to play in the national championship, date to be determined. Check out www.playon.ca for more information.
love, so we wanted to elevate that, and have a bit more organization and let people compete in organized games against each other just for the love of the game and to have some fun.” Jason DeGrace, a member of London-based Skank Buddas, the defending local and national street hockey champions, loves the tournament for the challenge. “The elite division is very competitive, and that’s mainly the reason. It’s a quick game in a small area, non-stop action. If you like hockey, this is it,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to play against teams you wouldn’t normally see, plus the national championship gives you some incentive to be the best there is.”