By Heather Mallows
The Ottawa Gay Hockey Association’s Capital Face-Off tournament hit the ice during the last weekend of Winterlude thanks to the help of some first-rate sponsors.
“We’ve had a really good reception in terms of sponsorship,” says Christian Mondor, one of the event’s organizers. According to Mondor, this year’s tournament has attracted the most sponsors to date.
Along with several Centretown businesses such as Hartman’s Your Independent Grocer, national sponsors Molson and Pizza Pizza also helped fund the event.
Pizza Pizza is a first-time sponsor. Molson has supported the tournament in the past but this year is their first as a principal sponsor, says Mondor.
“I think sponsors like the idea of the openness (the tournament) promotes,” he says.
The tournament, which attracts players from as far away as San Francisco and Vancouver, is open to both men and women, gay or straight, of all skill levels. “We’re not strictly a gay organization,” says Mondor. “It’s really a very inclusive league.” The tournament has two divisions — recreational and competitive.
Andrew Bestwick, owner of Grabba Jabba on Clarence Street, is a first-time sponsor of Capital Face-Off. “I always look for opportunities to help out in the community,” he says.
The Ottawa Gay Hockey Association (OGHA) was founded four years ago. “It just started off as a bunch of guys who wanted to get together and play regular games,” says Mondor. “There are a lot of people who are very skilled but didn’t get the chance to participate in other leagues because those leagues were pretty macho and aggressive.”
Mitchell James has played in the league for the past three years. The Ottawa Trojans’ defenceman played hockey when he was growing up but later gave up the sport.
“The biggest bonus is to see people come back after bad experiences in childhood, who weren’t good enough or got cut from a team, and start skating again,” says James.
He says the diversity of the league is what makes it fun. “I enjoy it because I get to see other players improve their skills and help them enjoy the game,” he says.
James says Capital Face-Off is now starting to attract more attention. “This year, we’ve had a really positive response from the business community,” he says.
Sue Dunton, owner of The Lookout Bar on York Street, says she supports the tournament every year because of the positive effects of the OGHA.
“It provides a recreational outlet for the gay community,” she says. “And it provides a very healthy, mixed environment.”
The free-admission tournament will be the first-ever event held at the new University of Ottawa sports complex. “The moment we knew it was going to be built, we approached them for a time,” says Mondor.
The tournament used to be held at the Minto Arena, where fundraising games usually attract about 150 fans, says Mondor. This year, Mondor says he hopes to be “pleasantly surprised” by the turnout.
The larger crowds should provide exposure for sponsors. Bestwick says he hopes it will bring new clientele to Grabba Jabba. “It’s always good to branch out,” he says.
Mondor agrees. “Many of our sponsors have got a very positive outreach in the community in all communities,” he says.