Coaching at the Brick hockey tournament is a labour of love in more ways than one for coaches. That’s because not only do they enjoy the game, they want to see their children succeed and live out their dreams, too. And coaches at the annual invitational tourney of top nine- and 10-year-olds held each year at West Edmonton Mall’s Ice Palace include some who’ve lived out their dreams at the highest level, the National Hockey League, including Kyle Okposo, who’s guiding players including son, Odin, behind the bench of Team Minnesota. “It’s been a fun summer to coach this group of kids,” said Okposo, a St. Paul, Minn., native who played 17 seasons in the NHL as a right-winger with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers. “They’ve got a ton of skill. We’re trying to teach them some details of the game, trying to play together, and teach them some life lessons. It’s been a ton of fun so far.” The tourney features host squad Team Brick Alberta and 13 other select teams of players aged nine and 10 from Canada and the United States, with all games taking place at the mall’s Ice Palace. Following a round-robin round, quarterfinals started Friday, with semifinals on Saturday and the final on Sunday at noon. Okposo, a Stanley Cup winner with the Panthers two years ago says Odin is a different player than he is – “probably smarter, probably better skill,” the 38-year-old who played more than 1,000 NHL games, scoring 242 goals and 614 points, says with a smile – and that it’s “fun to watch” him progress. “He loves the game. He’s loved it since he was 10 months old,” Okposo said. “It’s fun to watch him live out his dreams and his passion playing the game.” Former NHLers coaching at the tournament include Okposo, former Oilers forward Gilbert Brule, Nathan Gerbe, Gabriel Bourque and the recently retired Los Angeles Kings captain and two-time Cup winner Anze Kopitar. The Brick tournament has featured several standouts who have gone on to play in the NHL, including the Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matthew Savoie, as well as Auston Matthews, Steven Stamkos, Mitch Marner, Macklin Celebrini, Cole Caulfield, Connor Bedard and Brady Tkachuk. Team Brick and Minnesota are joined this year by defending champion Toronto Pro Hockey, Montreal Canadiens, Manitoba Junior Ice, Boston Junior Bruins, Minnesota Blades, Team Pennsylvania, B.C. Junior Canucks, CCM Chicago, Saskatchewan Junior Pats, Detroit Junior Red Wings, Connecticut Junior Rangers, Toronto Bulldogs and Western Selects of the U.S. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Noah Rishaug
