Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago I was in Fort Frances attending a municipal event. When I arrived at the Super 8 hotel, the very sheepish attendant apologized profusely, telling me there was a hockey tournament on and that it might be a little bit noisy.
Yes, there was an under-13 AA tournament. Sure enough, it was noisy at times, with a bunch of raucous 12-year-olds playing floor hockey in the stairwells, while at the same time, their parents sat on the first floor pretending they were drinking ginger ale out of coffee cups. As I listened to the halls filled with the laughter of kids, and as I saw the parents having a good time with a bunch of people they previously hardly knew, all while it was 30 below outside and the wind was blowing, I realized, and this is with sincerity, what a wonderful thing minor league hockey tournaments are and how much they are a part of our identity and the Canadian culture.
Everyone who puts them on, even the refs, who I sometimes criticize, should keep up the good work. I thank them.