BURRILLVILLE – A holiday tradition in Burrillville now dating back 11 years kicked off Tuesday, Dec. 26, with the return of the annual Winter Classic at Burrillville’s Levy Rink.
Six teams are competing in the three-day high school boys hockey event, with games set to continue through Thursday, Dec. 28. Put on by the Burrillville High School Hockey Parents Boosters, the tournament serves as a fundraiser for the team, while also providing families in the region a fun activity for winter vacation.
Games will be played every day at noon, 1:40 and 3:40 p.m., and in addition to the matches the event will include a 50/50 cash drawing, raffles, concessions and more. The six participating teams will face off against a different opponent each day, with two 22.5 minute halves.
“Hockey has always been a source of town pride for Burrillville,” noted parent/organizer Crystal Fullam. “The event is important to me to encourage the continuation of high school hockey.”
Raffle prizes include packages featuring items from some of the visiting teams’ home turf, such as the, “Line ’em up and knock ’em down,” a $50 credit at CW Lanes along with a $50 gift card to Chili’s; or the “Wildlife Adventure, dinner & dessert,” made up of two day passes to Roger Williams Park Zoo, a $30 gift card to Uncle Ronnie’s, a Nettie’s Kettle Corn basket. Raffle winners will have the chance to, “Pamper yourself,” with package including a 30 minute Swedish massage at Healing in Harmony, a $25 gift certificate to Dana’s Hair Salon and a Mulberry Vineyard Wine Basket; or win individual prizes including an Apple Watch or a poncho from Burrillville’s Alashan Cashmere.
And you don’t need attend for a chance to win the prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased via Venmo @BHSHockeyParents-Boosters, with instructions and prizes detailed on the flyer below.
The cost to attend the tournament is $7 for general admission or $5 for students and seniors, and proceeds from the Winter Classic benefit the Burrillville High School Boys Hockey Team.
Navigant Credit Union is among the sponsors of the annual tournament – and this year, the other local sponsors hope to be directly involved with your Winter Classic experience. Visitors are invited to stop by New Rhode Nutrition at 1452 Bronco Highway before the games to pick up shakes and teas named after the participating teams, including the Burrillville Bronco, with blue raspberry and coconut. At the 425 East Ave. rink, Dinolicious will offer full concessions throughout the games, and at end of tournament, a celebration will be held following the final game on Thursday at Bravo Brewing Company at 75 Pascoag Main St.
On the first day of the tournament in Tuesday, the Broncos took on East Greenwich in a 5-3 victory. Today, Wednesday, Dec. 27, the boys will take on the Rogers, Middletown and Tiverton Co-op at a 1:40 p.m. match., and on Thursday, they’ll face the West Warwick and Exeter West Greenwich Co-op at 1:40 p.m.
“We encourage all to come watch, cheer and encourage their young athletes to play,” Fullam said.
