John Vincent Ryan played his first hockey on ponds and outdoor rinks around his native community of Donkin, Cape Breton.  During his time he developed the traits which were later to establish him as one of the maritimes most prolific scorers.

His short stocky build, balance and agility were part of the reason he was such a gifted athlete.  This combined with his competitive nature made him a natural leader.

Vince began playing organized hockey in the late 1940's and led Donkin based teams in the Midget and Juvenile categories to local and maritime championships.  In 1951 he joined the Glace Bay Junior Miners to play in the highly respected Cape Breton Junior League.  He scored his 200th senior career goal in 1962-63, and is believed to be the third highest scorer in the Maritime Senior Hockey League

Today, the Molson Canadian / Coors Light Vince Ryan Memorial Scholarship Hockey Tournament is one of the largest adult recreational hockey tournaments in the world. In 2010 the tournament will celebrate its 21th anniversary.  From March 25-28, 2010, teams from across Canada and the United States will converge on Cape Breton bringing thousands of players and utilizing nearly all of our local arenas.
 

In the late 1990's, the tournament recognized the need for the development of female hockey programs in Nova Scotia. In 1999, the tournament organizers agreed to launch a female division for women 19 and over.  The new division proved to be an overwhelming success, and signified the beginning of what could become its own event.
 

The Molson Canadian / Coors Light Vince Ryan Memorial Scholarship Hockey Tournament was named after a man who served his community well. In addition, Vince Ryan was a man who believed in youth and what they provide to a community.  As such, to pay tribute to Vince Ryan, his accomplishments and his vision of youth, the Vince Ryan Memorial Scholarship Tournament was born.  Fittingly, the proceeds of the tournament go toward scholarships for Cape Breton youth. To apply for this scholarship, please click here. Application must be received or postmarked no later than Friday, April 16, 2009.
 

The tournament generates an estimated $5.0 million in economic benefits to the local community. Without a doubt, the Vince Ryan Tournament provides the largest annual off-season economic impact to the Cape Breton economy.
 

More than 200 volunteers come together to make the tournament a success every year. They devote thousands of hours to ensure that each and every participant enjoys their time to the fullest. If you'd like to volunteer your time to help out with this year's big tournament, simply click here to complete the volunteer form, and somebody will get back to you. There is a 'Comments' section if you'd like to indicate your schedule or availability.
 

On the ice you'll find competitive, exciting and sportsmanlike hockey. Off the ice you'll find reunions of friends and families, the start of new friendships, countless social events, and world-class entertainment and hospitality.