Photo: City of Boston
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The 2023 Mayor's Cup Ice Hockey Tournament wrapped up Saturday with the final championship games held at Bajko Rink in Hyde Park.
The 30th annual tournament began Dec. 15, with 1,231 youth hockey players from seven Boston area programs competing in 14 divisions.
Wednesday saw winners crowned in the Squirt A, Squirt AA, Squirt AAA, Girls U10, Peewee A, Peewee AA, Peewee AAA, Girls U12, Girls U14, Bantam AA, and Bantam AAA divisions.
Saturday's finals were for the Mite A, Mite AA, and Mite AAA groups.
"Oh I love it, I love it," said Maryellen, watching her 7-year-old grandson play for Dorchester against Charlestown. "His older brother plays too. We’re a big hockey family."
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department hosted the tournament. Commissioner Ryan Woods told WBZ NewsRadio it serves as healthy competition among the neighborhoods.
"In hockey leagues, a lot of the times a Dorchester doesn’t get to play a Hyde Park, or a South Boston doesn’t get to play a West Roxbury," Woods said. "So all these kids now get to play together with other kids that live in the city and play in different leagues throughout the city."
Instead of medals, tournament winners get to flaunt their success all winter.
"You get the coveted Mayor’s Cup trophy, it’s a big antique we’ve been using since 1994," said Woods. "So every kid gets their name on that trophy, as well they get championship hats that say they were the Mayor’s Cup Champions."
In keeping with the tournament's namesake, Mayor Michelle Wu made an appearance to cheer on the teams.
"This is when everything’s on the line," Wu said. "So much ice time, so many hours of cheering, and it all comes down to these finals."
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.
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