WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Todd Bebeau envisioned the Bouthillier Hockey Classic as something capable of event status over time when he started it seven years ago. It has met his expectations.
However, the longtime Hartford High boys hockey coach won’t be able to run a seventh Classic this week, the COVID-19 pandemic and late start to Vermont’s winter high school sports the culprits. While it saddens the 23rd-year Hurricane head coach that it won’t be held, it has redoubled Bebeau’s efforts to continue aiding the cause — food security within the high school community — attached to the two-day, four-team high school tournament.
“We’re just going to use that time to practice, to be honest,” Bebeau said in a phone interview last week. “We’re very grateful just to get back on the ice. We’ve done a lot of perspective-taking in the last eight months, so when I got the email (last Tuesday) that we could practice again, it was the greatest gift that I’ll receive this holiday.”
Two developments pushed Bebeau to start the Classic in the first place.
The first was the death of Hartford High science teacher and hockey program founder Philippe Bouthillier in 2013. Bouthillier had his hands in everything Hartford and hockey, from building the team’s first outdoor rink to working game-day roles with his wife, Mona, for more than 40 years.
“He’s the godfather of Hartford hockey; we’d not be playing today if not for him,” Bebeau said. “To put his name on the headline for the event was a no-brainer. I couldn’t think of a better person to represent what a holiday tournament stands for.”
Upgrades to Wendell A. Barwood Arena a year later — new and larger locker rooms, an improved lobby, adequate spectator seating, better lighting — made holding the Classic possible.
“My teams had gone over to the Rutland Holiday Tournament for decades, and in as much as we liked going over there, I wanted to be able to add our own twist to things,” Bebeau said. “When the building was renovated to the point where it could host in a facility we could be proud of, that’s how (the Classic) sort of started.”
Hartford and rival Woodstock have split the six tournament titles, the Wasps claiming four. Lebanon has played in all six events, with Northfield, Brattleboro and most recently Burr & Burton filling out the roster.
“It’s great; it’s good to go with four local teams together,” Woodstock coach Jon Chamberlin said. “It’s really good for all of the community. We enjoy going over.
“It’s just great for the kids; they enjoy it a lot. Hartford is one of our big rivals. … It’s always one of our season goals to win that tournament.”
Bebeau said he’s been impressed by the number of former players from all involved programs who’ve come back to watch Classic matchups, further turning the tournament into must-see hockey. Last year’s Woodstock-Hartford final may have been the best of the lot, the Hurricanes winning in a seven-round shootout after playing a scoreless game through regulation and overtime.
“The game last year was awesome,” Chamberlin said. “Great hockey, back and forth, overtime, end in a shootout. Awesome. The kids will always remember it.”
The tournament has also raised funds for the Hartford High food shelf, which makes groceries available to Hartford students and families in need. Bebeau said spectators donated “tons and tons of nonperishable food” and about $1,500 toward the food shelf at last year’s tournament.
They won’t get the chance this week, which may seem particularly cruel given the pandemic’s fiscal hit on households throughout the region. There’s a silver lining, fortunately: The Hartford High hockey golf tournament Bebeau hosts each fall has enough money in the bank to be able to send about $2,000 toward food shelf needs in the absence of a Bouthillier Hockey Classic contribution this year.
“It guarantees that students have a place to access food on a regular basis, but also over the weekend,” he said. “It’s common for kids to come in and have a backpack of food to take home over the weekend. … We’ll give a check to the proper entities at the school. That something I’m unwilling to forego.”
Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.
HOW TO HELP
To contribute to the Hartford High School food shelf, contact Hartford boys hockey coach Todd Bebeau at toddbebeau@comcast.net.