Arena a hockey marketplace as Select take over Gardens

Leaside Gardens is jumping Friday afternoon as kids lugging hockey equipment and moms and dads throng the place. There is pandemonium in the dressing rooms downstairs. Upstairs the main hall is cluttered with concession tables selling everything from hockey cards to costume jewellery. The Lea Room is packed with silent auction offerings ranging from a bicycle to gift baskets. Down at the north end, the board room is full of volunteers keeping track of wins and losses then taping them (on paper) on the plexi that overlooks the ice. Both pads are ringing to the sound of hockey featuring kids of varying ages. Through the front door comes more platters of wrapped sandwiches and hot dogs from Andy Elder’s meat shop to be dispensed at the food table in the Lea Room. And it will be this way until Sunday morning. Hot dogs, bacon sandwiches will fuel kids at Select Tourney