History

A tradition in the region
Without interruption since 1961, hundreds of Magnymontois and Magnymontoises followed one another to build a sportive tradition precious for the region, the Tournoi de Hockey Pee-Wee de Montmagny. This competition, which is the second oldest Pee-wee tournament in the world, has always gathered together people of all classes, of all sexes and of all ages to welcome, year after year, young players from everywhere in the country. Each winter, about in the same time, the first months of the year, all of the Capitale de l’Oie Blanche population’s lives in the rhythm of the Pee-Wee tournament.

So, the years passing, this love story between the population of Montmagny and the great region of the Côte du Sud and the youngs hockey players of the country continues to write itself.

The beginning
In 1961, a young Montmagny hockey team, leaded jointly by Paul Émile Gagné, Denis Roy and George Boulay won the Class B title of the famous Pee-Wee tournament of Quebec. The Dileo team from Toronto had kept it from coming back with the great tournament championship.

Back in their little town, the couple Marie and George Boulay and the manager Roy had the idea of organizing a day of Pee-Wee tournament. They so wished to attract the attention of their fellow-citizens, not only on the merits of the local young hockey players, but also on the opportunity to set up a minor hockey league structure in Montmagny.

A sponsor, doctor Marcel Laverdière, an icy surface, an only 9 years old arena, a bunch of voluntary workers and eight teams, there were the elements needed to reach the objectives. In only some days, the Boulay couple recruited the teams of Saint-Jean de Matha of Montréal and Sainte-Foy of Québec West in the « B » class, Bienville and Sillery in the « C » class.

More than 3500 people bunched up together on the steps of wet boards, in the not heated building of Sainte-Brigitte road, to assist to the unfolding of this sportive day. It ended with the victory of the Saint-Jean de Matha of Montréal team. It was the birth of the Tournoi de Hockey Opti Pee-Wee de Montmagny. Did the supporters believe back then that the tournament would still be there today?

The tournament birthday
Each following year, the hockey supporters were waiting the third week of Marsh in anxiety. They were all in a hurry to celebrate… the Pee-Wee. In all the corners of the county, people went at the Montmagny Arena. This « feeling » in March lasted seventeen years.

In 1977, the Association Québécoise de Hockey Amateur imposed a new structe of hockey, of which some rules were about the organization of tournaments. Without wanting to, the organizers had to modify their calendar. The dates of the tournament, from Marsh, became January, a month with an often imprevisible temperature here. Actually, the Marsh festivities took a long time to forget. The sportmen gave up coming to the tournament for some years. But, having a history directly linked with the region of Montmagny , it experienced a return to life in the middle of the eighties. Since then, the tournament has reached such a popularity that six weeks before the beginning of the hostilities, it is hard to get a place.

The constancy
In spite of some more difficult years, the Tournoi Pee-Wee de Montmagny has always known a certain stability, so that never was its existence treatened. Only eight presidents have ever composed the history, beginning by the founder George Boulay.

A very active and numerous organizing committee has always helped the presidents. It does not matter which one of the Jean-Luc Després, Jean-Claude Tremblay, Clermont Nolin, Réjean Fiset, Michel Fortin, Yvon Lévesque or Martin Létourneau, they helped them. Alone, Jean-Luc Després (11 years), George Boulay (9 years) et Martin Létourneau (10 years) cumulate more than 30 of 43 years of presidency.

The popularity
The popularity of the Tournoi Pee-Wee de Montmagny gives it the chance to attract teams from everywhere. From eight teams registered in the first tournament, the number of clubs have attained a point of saturation fixed at 46 teams. Exceptionnally, in 1985, date of the 25e birthday, 50 teams battled for the honors. Moreover, at the 35e, 52 teams were accepted.

In the fifteen first years, the assistance was about between 3 and 6 thousands spectators. Since 1975, the games attract more than 10 000 supporters. Phil Watson, Louis Chantigny, Gérard Bolduc, Paul Dumont, Guy Lafleur, Jean Gravel, Jean Perron, Joe Sakic, Rodger Brulotte, Yvan Cournoyer, Karell Blais were the more well-known presidents of honor.

The fame
The organizers always showed a great respect for the players, the teams directors, the referees and the supporters. The reception offered by the parents who lodge the young players is proverbial and their sense of hospitality was cited for exemple many times. The referees’s and official people’s impartiality in the tournament is remarquable. The affability of the citizens towards the guests always surprise those last ones.

Conclusion
The Magnymontois believe in the Pee-Wee Tournament. They involve themselves in it in a lot of ways like leaders, officials, hosts, voluntary workers, sponsors, supporters, spectators. They do it without waiting for anything in return. Their implication contribute to keep well alive this quebecker tradition which is hockey.

Here is why this Tournament Opti Pee-Wee of Montmagny is a tradition that everyone want to keep in their home region.