For over 30 years, the Dalhousie Youngtimers have held an annual 3 on 3 hockey tournament. The main goal of the event has always been as a fundraiser for the youth of our community as the profit from this event is given to minor hockey and other charitable causes.
The majority of players return year after year to participate, and the tournament has become something of an annual pilgrimage back home for many hockey players who now live in other parts of the country. Friends and families are re-united for some fun on and off the ice, and new friendships are made. The event is a great showcase for skilled players and those who just want to have fun.
The event came to be known as the "Annual Rod Harquail Memorial 3 on 3 Hockey Tournament" in the spring of 2001, after a tragic car accident the previous fall, that took two fathers that day and shocked the whole community. Rod was a dedicated family man with two children, coach of his son’s novice team, and would always give annually to sick children’s charities. Anyone who ever had the chance to meet him would agree that he was a true gentleman. Rod enjoyed being part of the Youngtimers. He knew that the 3 on 3 tournament was for a great cause, and also what a great event it was. He took it as an opportunity to have fun, share some good times with buddies, and meet up with old friends. It was something he enjoyed every year and it is only fit to have the tournament continue in his memory. We will all benefit if we can participate in this tournament with the same spirit as our good friend did.
This year, the tournament committee is making room for more teams as there has always been more demand than space. We are modifying the name to properly reflect what it truly is, as players travel from across the country to participate. The tournament will now be known as “The National 3 on 3 Hockey Championship – The Rod Harquail Memorial Tournament”. As the tournament grows there is also more room for charity. In addition to our annual donation to minor hockey, we will now also dedicate a portion of the profits to benefit sick children in our community with the creation of the “Fonds Rod Harquail Fund”.