The Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament is a winter economic staple

“As one of the largest adult hockey tournaments in Canada and across the globe, the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament has made tremendous strides in the development of Cape Breton’s winter tourism offerings. It is a driving force for building economically sustainable economies, making Cape Breton Island a great place to live, work and play hockey.”

-       Rodger Cuzner, Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton – Canso 

“The Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament is a staple in Cape Breton. Over the last two years, the tournament’s resilience was tested with renovations to its host arena, the Bayplex. I am pleased that the Society was determined to accommodate players, regardless of challenges they faced, and to ensure our community continues to be provided with meaningful volunteer, sport and tourism opportunities.”

-       The Honourable Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney – Victoria

“It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament for the communities in Cape Breton. Not only does it bring families and friends together for some fun and competition, it provides a significant impact to the island during a relatively quiet time. We are grateful to Rich Warren and his team of volunteers for their incredible efforts to make this tournament a success.”

-       The Honourable Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Business, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Glace Bay 

“It has been a pleasure to host so many teams, from across Nova Scotia and beyond, over the last 30 years at the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament. We are proud of how far we’ve come with the development of the tournament and the significant contributions it makes each year to Cape Breton’s economy. Most importantly, we are grateful for the support of our volunteers, our community and our partners.”

-       Richard Warren, President and Founder, Vince Ryan Memorial Scholarship Hockey Tournament Society

• The Government of Canada is contributing $150,000 towards the 2018 - 2020 tournaments. The Province of Nova Scotia, through Communities, Culture and Heritage, is also contributing $25,000 towards the project.

• The non-repayable contribution, allocated through ACOA’s Business Development Program, will help the Society broaden the tournament’s appeal to attract more teams and visitors from outside of Atlantic Canada through a new comprehensive marketing strategy, while ensuring its operational capacity.

• John Vincent (Vince) Ryan began playing hockey on ponds around his hometown in Donkin, Cape Breton. The inaugural tournament was established following Ryan’s sudden death in 1989.

• In 2014, the Dream Team from the Netherlands became the first international club to participate in the tournament.

• The opening ceremonies for the tournament will take place on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

• This year’s tournament will include the inaugural Vince Ryan Tots Game for four and five-year-olds.

• The BDP primarily assists Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs who want to start a business, increase productivity or improve operations. Investments under the BDP address any gap that may arise if an application does not fit within ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. 

• The Business Development Program continues to build on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it.

Lori Selig
A/Director of Communications & Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-266-7477 (cell)
lori.selig@canada.ca

Lynette MacLeod
Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage
902-229-0785 (cell)
lynette.macleod@novascotia.ca

Richie Warren
President and Founder
Vince Ryan Memorial Scholarship Hockey Tournament Society
902-849-6560
richard.warren@ns.sympatico.ca