Engineers win Beaver Cup in a Thrilling Overtime Hockey Game

Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper. Contributions by Master Warrant Officer Robert James Kerr, Real Property Operations 

Competition, camaraderie, and overtime action took over Wurtele Arena as Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt hosted the annual Beaver Cup hockey tournament from April 22 to 24.  

Four teams, including the Bandits, Engineers, Sappers, and Pioneers, took to the ice in a tournament built on connection as much as competition. Players consisted of Real Property Operations (RP Ops) personnel; active and retired Military Engineers; and members from other units, mixed across the four teams.  

“The Beaver Cup hockey tournament was originally initiated in order to maintain espirit de corps,” said Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Robert James Kerr, who noted that the tournament has existed for more than 50 years. “It initially started in the 1970s in Eastern Canada, and in the mid-80s out west.”  

From 1996 to 2019, CFB Esquimalt and CFB Comox alternated hosting duties every second year. Since the pandemic, the tournament has been held solely in Esquimalt since 2024. 

This year’s iteration of the tournament featured two days of round-robin play, with each team playing four games. The scores concluded with the Bandits topping the standings, followed by the Engineers, Sappers, and Pioneers. This set the stage for Friday’s medal games.  

In the championship game, the Engineers defeated the Bandits in overtime to claim the Beaver Cup title 4-3.  

Beaver Cup champions, the Engineers (in red), and runner-up team, the Bandits (in black), pose for a group photo on April 24. Photo: Krista Morgan

“With a goal waved off in the final minutes of the third period, the finals saw the game go into the tournament’s first ever playoff overtime period,” said MWO Kerr.  

The Sappers secured third place over the Pioneers in the bronze medal match.  

Individual performances were also recognized, with each team acknowledging the following Most Valuable Players: 

• Jacson Alexander from the Engineers  
• Marc Lavoie from the Bandits 
• Jeff Barr from the Sappers 
• Steve Melnick from the Pioneers 

Members of the Defence community work the grill at the outdoor Canteen area during the Beaver Cup Tournament. Photo: Krista Morgan

Beyond the scoresheet, the event delivered several memorable moments that kept Wurtele Arena a lively gathering place throughout the tournament. Opening ceremonies featured an a cappella rendition of O Canada by Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Cindy Hawchuk from the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), while a DJ made use of the arena’s new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth systems to keep music playing between faceoffs and after goals. 

Off the ice, the canteen also became a popular stop for fans and base personnel passing through the arena. “Our canteen was a huge hit with the fans and passersby heading to and from work,” noted MWO Kerr. “We served many breakfast sandwiches, pulled pork carnitas, and hamburgers.” 

This blend of hockey, joy, and friendly rivalry is part of what has allowed the Beaver Cup to endure for so many decades. While trophies matter, the tournament’s lasting value may be in the way it brings people together — serving members, veterans, civilian employees, and friends of the Defence community — all to share a few days of spirited competition and connection, year after year.