All for the love of hockey.

Over 100 players on eight teams from the Okanagan and Lower Mainland battled their hearts out Saturday under the bright lights of the South Okanagan Events Centre and the OHS arena next door in the annual special needs Peach City Hockey Tournament.

Aged six to 51, the kids and adults spent the day laughing, sometimes crying, but always cheering each other on.

In addition to the games, the players also took part in a skills competition and celebrated with a banquet at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in the evening.

The Penticton Special Needs Hockey Program is a joint effort on the part of the city含羞草研究社檚 Parks and Recreation department and corporate sponsors.

Penticton and Kelowna each had two teams, with the others coming from Vernon, Kamloops, Surrey and Vancouver.

After his team含羞草研究社檚 first game, a victory, 14-year-old Brandon Drury who was in net for the younger Fresh Start team was all smiles lying on the dressing room floor as his mom Jackie Hooper and Steve Brown were tasked with a leg each to remove the goalie pads.

含羞草研究社淚 just love the sport it含羞草研究社檚 just so much fun, that含羞草研究社檚 all I really want to do, no school just hockey,含羞草研究社� said Brandon who proudly boasts his cousin is Chris Drury, who played his last four seasons with the New York Rangers of the NHL. 含羞草研究社淚 love my team, they含羞草研究社檙e good people, they含羞草研究社檙e great. I was surprised, usually they mess around ,but today they showed me they could play.

含羞草研究社淚 want to be a goalie for New York.含羞草研究社�

The Upper Dek Vees (named for one of their major sponsors Dek Smart) got their humble beginnings in 2008 with a single team and a handful of members, now grown to two teams and having 44 players.

含羞草研究社淲hy has it grown? Because we have a whole lot of fun,含羞草研究社� said Jason Bungay (everyone knows him as Jay) who co-founded the organization along with Carol Sheridan who was working at Penticton Parks and Recreation at the time. 含羞草研究社淭he reason I started the program was because of working with the special needs program in the community and they含羞草研究社檙e all hockey fans.

含羞草研究社淭hey know hockey, the love hockey they come to the Vees games, so why aren含羞草研究社檛 they playing? What含羞草研究社檚 the hurdle? The hurdle was someone to organize and someone to pay for the ice, so we opened the door in Penticton for them.含羞草研究社�

The Upper Dek Vees players are devoted fans of the B.C. Hockey League Vees, who also sponsor the program.

含羞草研究社淚 mean they bleed blue,含羞草研究社� said Bungay with a laugh.

But even he was surprised just how much when he went into the senior team含羞草研究社檚 dressing room before the first game Saturday.

含羞草研究社淪o I open the door and I hear Fred (the Vees head coach and general manager) in the background, oh Fred showed up for the game. Their (players) heads are bowed and their listening to a recording of Fred giving a speech to his team,含羞草研究社� said Bungay. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e listening to Fred含羞草研究社檚 voice on the speaker and as soon as the music came on the players just erupted and so we had a little cheer afterwards, really inspirational stuff.

含羞草研究社淭his is all about being team players and we talk to them about representing the community and so when your are in the community you have a responsibility. You含羞草研究社檙e part of this team.含羞草研究社�

Bungay has watched his players grow over the years developing confidence in all facets of their life through their progression on the ice.

含羞草研究社淲e try to meet them where they含羞草研究社檙e at, help them reach their potential, try to help them enjoy the game,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淪ome of them have the motor skills but just can含羞草研究社檛 put the social part together and we含羞草研究社檝e just got a great group of volunteers to help that.含羞草研究社�

Senior Vees team member Barnabas Laflamme looking out onto the ice surface before the game said he was: 含羞草研究社淓xcited and nervous. But it含羞草研究社檚 just having fun with friends and learning new skills.含羞草研究社�

Fresh Start含羞草研究社檚 also described playing hockey as 含羞草研究社渇un and challenging.含羞草研究社�

His father Rob agreed and added: 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 important for him to learn proper etiquette in hockey. And that含羞草研究社檚 why we have him in hockey so he can learn how to be a good team player and it works very well.含羞草研究社�

Local hockey legend Ivan McLelland was on hand to drop the puck in the morning含羞草研究社檚 opening ceremonies.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 important to support these kids, they all have aspirations to become hockey players like most Canadian kids,含羞草研究社� he said afterwards. 含羞草研究社淔or me it含羞草研究社檚 a wonderful opportunity to give them some support and encourage them.

含羞草研究社淎nd you know what, we all love the game.含羞草研究社�