'An iconic event': Silver Stick Tournament kicks off 2023 season in Port Huron
Hockey players and fans will unite this weekend in Port Huron for the 2023 International Silver Stick Tournament.
Silver Stick will take place every weekend throughout January featuring 120 teams from across the United States and Canada. Businesses and restaurants downtown are excited to welcome the teams, their families and other spectators.
Port Huron City Manager James Freed said the tournament is a key economic event for Port Huron.
“Silver Stick is an iconic event,” Freed said. “It’s something the city looks forward to every year.”
Freed said the tournament brings thousands of people to the area and puts Port Huron on the map as a destination.
The first games will take place simultaneously at 2 p.m. Thursday at Glacier Pointe Ice Complex, located at 4150 Dove Road in Port Huron Township, and at McMorran Place, located at 701 McMorran Blvd. in downtown Port Huron.
Businesses in Port Huron are preparing for the influx of people. Casey Harris, owner of Casey’s, said while teh restaurant is usually busy on the weekends, the tournament will add to it. Additionally, he said Silver Stick helps businesses during the off-peak season.
“Silver Stick helps to fill the void and helps us to get nice numbers throughout January,” Harris said.
Harris said he knows usual patrons may be hesitant to come out because they expect businesses to be busier than usual. However, Harris said that since it’s a tournament, teams may leave once they’re eliminated.
The DoubleTree Hotel will be full nearly every weekend because six teams will be staying there the entire tournament. General Manager Amber Graham said hotel staff is excited to welcome the teams.
“Without Silver Stick, things would be slow because its winter,” Graham said. “We look forward to this every year and we always try to build a relationship with the teams that stay here.”
Graham said all the staff at DoubleTree get involved and engage with the teams. She said the hotel wants to make it a fun and enjoyable experience.
The tournament will mostly take place in Port Huron. However, the games from Jan. 12 to Jan. 15 will take place in Canada.
According to Tournament Director Eric Beauchamp, the furthest teams attending are from New Jersey and South Dakota. He said the tournament brings together the best talent among youth hockey teams from the United States and Canada.
“We call it the Stanley Cup of youth hockey,” Beauchamp said.
The Port Huron Flags are scheduled to play from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21. The full tournament schedule can be found at www.silverstick.org.
Port Huron has been the host of the Silver Stick Tournament since 1963. All games are free for the public to attend.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron hosts the 2023 Silver Stick Tournament.
