Record set by Wally hockey tournament

Brantford hosted the largest street hockey tournament in history, according to Guinness World Records.

The Tournament Capital of Ontario board, which planned the event, has received official word.

The following announcement is posted on the Guinness website: “The current record for ‘largest street hockey tournament’ consisted of 205 teams totaling 2,096 players in the 2010 Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, from 4 to 6 June 2010. Walter Gretzky is the father of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and still calls their hometown of Brantford home. Among participants in the tournament was film director/actor Kevin Smith, who fielded a team and played as goalie.”

The record-setting event was the fourth annual edition of the tournament.

Plans are underway for next year’s tournament.

The Brantford News has a little more, including a statement citing plans to smash the record next summer. Wally says: “I’ve got the shivers,” he said. “It just goes to show that people were committed to the tournament and that the city is very accommodating. People enjoyed the tournament.”