All for the love of hockey.

Over 100 players on eight teams from the Okanagan and Lower Mainland battled their hearts out Saturday under the bright lights of the South Okanagan Events Centre and the OHS arena next door in the annual special needs Peach City Hockey Tournament.

Aged six to 51, the kids and adults spent the day laughing, sometimes crying, but always cheering each other on.

In addition to the games, the players also took part in a skills competition and celebrated with a banquet at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in the evening.

The Penticton Special Needs Hockey Program is a joint effort on the part of the city香蕉视频直播檚 Parks and Recreation department and corporate sponsors.

Penticton and Kelowna each had two teams, with the others coming from Vernon, Kamloops, Surrey and Vancouver.

After his team香蕉视频直播檚 first game, a victory, 14-year-old Brandon Drury who was in net for the younger Fresh Start team was all smiles lying on the dressing room floor as his mom Jackie Hooper and Steve Brown were tasked with a leg each to remove the goalie pads.

香蕉视频直播淚 just love the sport it香蕉视频直播檚 just so much fun, that香蕉视频直播檚 all I really want to do, no school just hockey,香蕉视频直播� said Brandon who proudly boasts his cousin is Chris Drury, who played his last four seasons with the New York Rangers of the NHL. 香蕉视频直播淚 love my team, they香蕉视频直播檙e good people, they香蕉视频直播檙e great. I was surprised, usually they mess around ,but today they showed me they could play.

香蕉视频直播淚 want to be a goalie for New York.香蕉视频直播�

The Upper Dek Vees (named for one of their major sponsors Dek Smart) got their humble beginnings in 2008 with a single team and a handful of members, now grown to two teams and having 44 players.

香蕉视频直播淲hy has it grown? Because we have a whole lot of fun,香蕉视频直播� said Jason Bungay (everyone knows him as Jay) who co-founded the organization along with Carol Sheridan who was working at Penticton Parks and Recreation at the time. 香蕉视频直播淭he reason I started the program was because of working with the special needs program in the community and they香蕉视频直播檙e all hockey fans.

香蕉视频直播淭hey know hockey, the love hockey they come to the Vees games, so why aren香蕉视频直播檛 they playing? What香蕉视频直播檚 the hurdle? The hurdle was someone to organize and someone to pay for the ice, so we opened the door in Penticton for them.香蕉视频直播�

The Upper Dek Vees players are devoted fans of the B.C. Hockey League Vees, who also sponsor the program.

香蕉视频直播淚 mean they bleed blue,香蕉视频直播� said Bungay with a laugh.

But even he was surprised just how much when he went into the senior team香蕉视频直播檚 dressing room before the first game Saturday.

香蕉视频直播淪o I open the door and I hear Fred (the Vees head coach and general manager) in the background, oh Fred showed up for the game. Their (players) heads are bowed and their listening to a recording of Fred giving a speech to his team,香蕉视频直播� said Bungay. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e listening to Fred香蕉视频直播檚 voice on the speaker and as soon as the music came on the players just erupted and so we had a little cheer afterwards, really inspirational stuff.

香蕉视频直播淭his is all about being team players and we talk to them about representing the community and so when your are in the community you have a responsibility. You香蕉视频直播檙e part of this team.香蕉视频直播�

Bungay has watched his players grow over the years developing confidence in all facets of their life through their progression on the ice.

香蕉视频直播淲e try to meet them where they香蕉视频直播檙e at, help them reach their potential, try to help them enjoy the game,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪ome of them have the motor skills but just can香蕉视频直播檛 put the social part together and we香蕉视频直播檝e just got a great group of volunteers to help that.香蕉视频直播�

Senior Vees team member Barnabas Laflamme looking out onto the ice surface before the game said he was: 香蕉视频直播淓xcited and nervous. But it香蕉视频直播檚 just having fun with friends and learning new skills.香蕉视频直播�

Fresh Start香蕉视频直播檚 also described playing hockey as 香蕉视频直播渇un and challenging.香蕉视频直播�

His father Rob agreed and added: 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important for him to learn proper etiquette in hockey. And that香蕉视频直播檚 why we have him in hockey so he can learn how to be a good team player and it works very well.香蕉视频直播�

Local hockey legend Ivan McLelland was on hand to drop the puck in the morning香蕉视频直播檚 opening ceremonies.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important to support these kids, they all have aspirations to become hockey players like most Canadian kids,香蕉视频直播� he said afterwards. 香蕉视频直播淔or me it香蕉视频直播檚 a wonderful opportunity to give them some support and encourage them.

香蕉视频直播淎nd you know what, we all love the game.香蕉视频直播�