Ontario Minor Hockey Association gives kids their “Stanley Cup moment” with the Parade Of Champions

The big, booming voice of Toronto Maple Leafs' public address announcer Andy Frost, accompanied by a pounding rock 'n roll soundtrack, begins the show, the only one of its kind in Canada.

"Please welcome, the Oakville - St. Hilda's Peewee Eagles," he growls, with the same energy and flair usually reserved for the Leafs on a Saturday night. With that, the Eagles run into a jam packed Toronto-area hotel ballroom and bounce up on the stage to thunderous applause. The 14th annual Ontario Minor Hockey Association "Parade Of Champions" is underway.

Over the course of the next hour or so, the process is repeated 44 more times, as players from novice to midget enter the room to be celebrated for the OMHA championships they've won during the season just ended. Their season highlights are announced to the crowd.

Each team holds the stage for a team picture, receives their OMHA Championship banner and then exits the stage to more applause, a gaggle of parents trailing along, chronicling each moment with snapshots and video.

For some, tournament championships and won-loss records are highlighted. For others, team spirit and charitable accomplishments are front and centre. The Novice "AA" champion Belle River Junior Canadians listed a pep talk from Detroit Red Wings' coach Mike Babcock as a thrill. The Unionville Jets Bantam Selects boasted more than 300 hours of volunteer time given to help younger players in their town. There was sadness, too. The Novice champion Fort Erie Jr. Meteors dedicated their win to their coach, Rick Unyi, who'd passed away just a week prior to this celebration.

Ex NHLers Gary Roberts and Sheldon Kennedy were there. So were three young OMHA grads recently selected in the OHL priority draft. It's a big deal. And not just for the kids.

"I think it's pretty special," began Kingston Canadians Novice coach Bryan Saraka. "I got a little teary-eyed walking up on stage."

"It was great," he continued. "Andy Frost announcing you as you walk in, the kids loved that. It was absolutely fantastic."

Saraka and his crew made the three hour drive to Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto, to ensure they could have their parade moment.

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"It was special and we knew we wanted to take the opportunity to have all the special moments we could have with it and this is part of it," he said.

Saraka's son, Matti, a member of the OMHA Novice AE Group 1 and 2 Champions, nodded cheerfully when asked if the parade made him feel like a Stanley Cup Champion.

"It made me feel kind of happy. I liked running up on the stage and holding the trophy," he said.

That's the point of the event, according to Kevin Boston, Director Of Marketing And Events for the OMHA.

"We like to recognize the kids in front of the crowd and put the kids first," said Boston, adding that this is the only event of its kind in the country, one that masses so many minor hockey champions under one roof at one time, to be celebrated.

Boston's been managing the event for years, an undertaking that needs months of preparation and organization. Once champions begin being crowned in March, the OMHA starts getting in touch with teams, and the process of confirming attendance and making room for late additions continues right through to the event, held in early June.

Part of the OMHA's annual congress, a weekend filled with trade show atmosphere as well as the process of working through the agenda of league business, the POC provides officials, coaches, parents and players with a festival feel and a reminder of what all those hours of dedication are about.

Every year, Boston takes great delight in seeing the reactions of those who are first time participants, when they get their 'Stanley Cup moment.'

"They're blown away. They say they don't know what to expect and when they walk in and see all these championship teams they just can't believe it."

This particular year, it was the Kingston crew that amused.

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"I was in the audience when the Kingston team came up on stage and the Kingston parents were going crazy. It was just awesome to see. A real buzz."

"It's a memory that these kids will have forever, said Boston. "I've talked to some guys who've gone on to the NHL who were in these kids' shoes not that long ago and they still remember this clear as day."

Part way through the 2012 Parade Of Champions, the Woodville Hurricanes raced up to the stage, and were handed their Bantam "D" championship banner. As Atoms, they'd lost to a team from Embro. As Peewees, they'd lost to Embro again. In 2012, they were winners, finally defeating those same rivals from Southwestern Ontario.

Tell me that didn't feel like a Stanley Cup moment.