Ice Mania hockey action packs 'em in KEITH A. CLARK/Daily Herald

Fans hungry for hockey piled into the Comuniplex in record numbers for Ice Mania. While the total has not been tallied, attendance at the annual event was up considerably from previous years, said Rick Willie, co-chairman of the 20-team midget AAA hockey tournament, which ended Sunday. The NHL lockout helped boost the puck-watching population at the rink. "People are starving for hockey," said Willie.

About 1,000 people attended the final game on Sunday. While Willie would have liked to see the host Prince Albert Mintos in the final, he was happy the Beardy's Blackhawks were there to battle the Notre Dame Hounds. The Hounds beat the Blackhawks 4-2 to take the tournament title.  The tournament is getting "more and more" recognized each year, said Willie.

He attributes part of the event's success to the calibre of the referees. "To play 47 games and not have any complaints speaks highly of the referees," said Willie. Ice Mania is one of three major midget AAA tournaments in Canada. It features teams from across Western Canada, and it was especially nice to have a United States entry - the California Wave - said Willie. "If you're a hockey fan, you want to watch hockey. This is a great calibre of hockey and a lot of people don't realize that until they come to the rink," said Willie.

The tournament also gave the city a major economic boost. About 500 parents, players and coaches ensured that local accommodation was "booked right up," said Willie. "It's not just a hockey tournament, it's a major event."

For those who were unable to attend the tournament, frequent Internet updates quenched fans' thirst for results. This is the second year  website updates have been available during the tournament. Ice Mania is at the forefront of online information among AAA tournaments. The Mintos' Ice Mania web page got a "ton" of hits, said Willie. When the Notre Dame coach called to tell his wife about his team winning the crown, it was old news; his wife had already grabbed the results from the website. The Ice Mania committee hopes to have even faster website updates next year.

Plans are well underway for the 2005 tournament, and teams are already asking when they can sign up, said Willie.