Your news this week: Arrested after 36 years -8 Family Day activities - 18 Wild wins bronze in Airdrie - 19 OPINION: Olympics good, bad & ugly - 6
Proud to be an Independent CANADIAN Publication
FREE
www.LamontLeader.com
Vol. 21, No. 20, Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Valentine Cup Canada’s longest running amateur hockey tournament celebrates half century
Children line up ready to fist bump the players as they exit the ice. Jana Semeniuk photos
Above: Alumni players prepare to line up for the national anthem prior to the game. Below the stands were packed for the alumni game.
BY JANA SEMENIUK More than 300 people filled the stands at the Lamont arena last weekend as the historic 50th anniversary of Lamont’s Valentine Cup got underway. Organizer and alumni player David Taylor said the players ranged in age from 16 years old to 71. He said it was a weekend where old friends reconnected and new friendships blossomed, in addition to some hard-hitting fun hockey. “People were still glowing from the Alumni game. We had players from the ’70s still on the ice skating,” said Taylor. “It was a community event. A homecoming. Catching up with people you haven’t seen for 30 or 40 years. That’s the spirit of the Valentine Cup.” At least 35 former players gathered to form two teams for the Alumni game. The battle was hard fought, with plenty of smiles and laughter, and in the end the Black team beat the red team 6-2. One highlight of the Alumni game was Ray Lopushinsky, the 89-year-old former referee of the Valentine Cup was on hand to drop the first puck. Reid Lopushinsky wheeled his dad sitting in his wheelchair onto the ice
proudly wearing his referee uniform. “It’s not his original, but probably (close). I found it two years ago (while) house cleaning,” he said. Reid said he was very happy to bring his dad out to the game, who was also excited to be there. “He comes every year just about. He’s just pumped,” he said. One of the event organizers, David Taylor, said a few words to the crowd and welcomed Jason Starko to sing the national anthem. Each team lined up on either side of Starko and joined in along with the crowd. Meanwhile, Taylor said several games were played all day Saturday ending in a banquet dinner and dance that night. Results of the tournament were as follows. E Final: Leftovers won against the Stingers 3-2 in overtime D Final: Mighty Drunks won against the Tradesmen 5-2 C Final: Gators won against the Toros 5-3 B Final: Healthy Scratches won against the Snappers 6-2 A Final: Shovels won against the MT Netters 6-5 with 10 minutes into overtime.
Reid Lopushinsky (R) and Alumni playThe Alumni team's most senior player, er Kurt Malica (L) pose with the Mark Bilocerkowec, 71, smiles at some Valentine Cup's former referee Ray friends on his way to the ice Lopushinsky (C)