2015 Bell Capital Cup events for Monday, Dec. 29

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More than 250 teams to make their tournament debut across Ottawa

** After officially opening with the tournament’s Fanfest and Esso Friendly Games at the Bell Sensplex on Sunday, the 16th annual Bell Capital Cup , the world’s premier atom and peewee hockey tournament, gets underway in earnest later today when more than 250 teams make their respective tournament debuts.

Bell Canada’s vice-president of networking and security solutions Gary Cameron will be joined by Denis Dumais, president of the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association, and chairman of the Bell Capital Cup, Cyril Leeder, for a ceremonial puck drop to officially kick-off the tournament as the Major Atom AAA division’s Ottawa Valley Silver Seven face the Westchester Express (New York state) at 12:15 p.m. at the Bell Sensplex (Mattamy Homes ice pad).

The 2015 edition of the Bell Capital Cup, which runs through Friday, Jan. 2, includes 18 divisions (including two girls groups), which will play nearly 600 games (almost 1,000 hours of hockey) on 25 ice surfaces across Ottawa, from Stittsville to Orleans and points in between. Local teams will face squads from across Canada, Europe, Asia and the United States to vie for the Allen J. MacDonald Memorial Trophy, which will be awarded to each division champion. Each division’s championship game will be played at Canadian Tire Centre over the course of three days from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. ** Sens Gameday Experience presented by Esso ** Fans from across the Ottawa-Gatineau region and minor hockey teams taking part in the Bell Capital Cup will have the opportunity to watch as the Senators’ coaching staff put players through their paces in an assortment of high-energy drills as they prepare to face the Buffalo Sabres later this evening. Canadian Tire Centre doors will open at 10 a.m. (Gate 1), with the Senators scheduled to take to the ice at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free, however, fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the Ottawa Food Bank. ** Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres – 7:30 p.m. ** Tonight, more than 1,300 Bell Capital Cup participants will be in attendance as the Ottawa Senators host the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. Watching a live National Hockey League game is always a highlight of the tournament as participants and their families get to experience the highest level of hockey in the world firsthand at Canadian Tire Centre – a level of hockey that a handful of Bell Capital Cup graduates have gone on to play such as Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche), Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames), John Tavares (New York Islanders) and Ottawa’s own Mark Borowiecki and Cody Ceci. ** Games of note for Monday, Dec. 29 ** Atom House C – Metcalfe Jets vs. Aylmer Faucons at 9:55 a.m., Richcraft Sensplex (HEO ice pad)

Major Peewee AA – Karhu-Kissat (Finland) vs. Cumberland Jr. Grads at 10 a.m., Ray Friel Recreation Complex (Rink 2)

Peewee House A – South End Wild vs. Iqaluit Blizzard at 10:10 a.m., Richcraft Sensplex (Potvin Arena)

Girls Peewee AA – Cornwall Typhoons vs. Brampton Canadettes at 2:05 p.m., Bell Sensplex (Canadian Tire ice pad)

Minor Peewee AAA – Upper Ottawa Valley Aces vs. Kitchener Jr. Rangers at 2:10 p.m., Kanata Recreation Complex (Tom Flood Arena) Sledge Hockey Eastern Ontario will once again showcase its sport with four games later today on the Scotiabank ice surface at the Richcraft Sensplex – 8:45 a.m. (junior), 9:45 a.m. (senior), 1:30 p.m. (junior) and 2:30 p.m. (senior). Tournament organizers are hopeful of hosting two divisions in the 2016 Bell Capital Cup schedule.

Local hockey fans are encouraged to come out and support these young athletes as admission is free at all tournament events. For more information on the Bell Capital Cup, including updated schedules for round-robin play, statistics and results, please visit www.bellcapitalcup.ca or follow the tournament on Twitter ( @bellcapitalcup ).