Pittsburgh attracts more Canucks to minor hockey tourneys

Last Updated: Thursday, November 27, 2008 | 1:23 PM ET

By Kristina Rutherford, CBC Sports

Sidney Crosby is one of the reasons so many Canadian minor hockey teams attend Pittsburgh's annual Thanksgiving tournaments. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Sidney Crosby may not know it, but since he came on the scene Canadian interest in minor hockey tournaments in Pittsburgh has skyrocketed. Of course, it could be the shopping, too.

More than half the teams in each of the Thanksgiving Classic Minor Hockey Tournament and the COMCAS Girls' Thanksgiving Tournament, both this weekend in the Pennsylvania city, are travelling from Canada.

"I turned away as many Canadian teams as I took this year," said Jim Babin, organizer of the boys tourney. "It's mainly because I don't want the Canadians to come to a tournament in the U.S. to play each other."

Five years ago, the tournament drew about a third of its teams from Canada. Then Sid the Kid brought his game to town.

"Ever since Crosby's become a big name, it's come to the point where we fill our tournament with about half Canadian teams," says Babin. "And we could have more, but like I said, we're turning a lot of them away."

Of the 52 teams in the 8th annual Thanksgiving tourney, 27 are Canadian, all from Ontario. And some are planning a big Saturday night.

"I know at least 12 or 13 of the teams have already organized to go see the Penguins when they play on Saturday night," says Babin. "At least those who are able to, because some teams have games scheduled at the same time."

He fields a lot of calls from teams inquiring about NHL tickets, but the city offers other excitement for hockey families.

"The shopping in Pittsburgh – it's excellent," says hockey mom Bridget O'Toole, whose daughter Niamh Burke plays for the Toronto-based Etobicoke Dolphins bantam BB squad.

The Dolphins are among 92 teams registered for the third annual COMCAS Girls' Thanksgiving Tournament, and are one of 59 coming from Canada.

"Niamh's very excited," said O'Toole, referring to the hockey, the travelling and the tournament — but shopping also ranks high on that list, especially with Christmas fast approaching.

"There are no taxes, this is Thanksgiving weekend, and it's Black Friday — Target opens at 6 a.m.," O'Toole says, smiling.

Last year, the Dolphins played a Thanksgiving tournament in Rochester, N.Y. — and bought an entire department store out of the popular Ugg boots, which were less than half the price compared to Canadian stores.

"They were all lined up, and people were asking if there was a big sale or something, or what was going on," says O'Toole. "Then someone said, 'It's because they're Canadian.'"

Tournament organizers in Pittsburgh are prepared for this. An information package sent out by organizer Kathy Pippy about the COMCAS Girls' Thanksgiving Tournament says it all.

"You know there is lots to do in our wonderful city, most of all shopping...!"

The e-mail details how mouthguards are mandatory, where the arenas and hotels are located, and a hockey seminar the girls can attend. Then it reads: "Now for what you really came for: shopping and fun in Pittsburgh!"

Pippy's e-mail even suggests picking up the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for Black Friday coupons and store hours, and includes the names and locations of all the malls in the area, ending with a reminder that there is no sales tax on clothing in Pennsylvania.