In all, eight teams of players aged 45 years and older from Westmount, Kirkland, Town of Mount Royal Pointe Claire and Ottawa took part in an event which has become an annual tradition.

Nicolas Matossian, whose late son, Nicolas Jr., was the inspiration for the first SWAT tournament, was awarded the 2008 Ken Sinclair Sportsmanship Award, which recognizes sportsmanship, team spirit, selflessness, leadership, responsibility and commitment to fundraising within the community.

A former Westmount city councillor, Matossian Sr. has been a member of the SWAT team for the past 25 years and an ardent supporter and tireless contributor to the tournament since its beginning two decades ago.

"Whether it's organizing hockey clinics for us, setting up hockey/lobster tournaments in Maine or negotiating with City Hall to maintain SWAT's communal goodwill, Nic has always been there for us," said Jon Feldman in presenting the Ken Sinclair Award to Matossian. "I am personally honored to have been chosen to present this award to Nic who is, without question, meritorious and deserving of it. Ken would be proud of us today."

While afflicted with brain cancer at age 15, Nicolas Jr. had decided to do something for future children by raising funds for Hôpital Sainte-Justine the Montreal Children's Hospital. Over the past 20 years, about $200,000 of tournament funds have been contributed to the two hospitals, in the name of Nicolas Jr., to further cancer research and to enhance survivorship probabilities for children with the disease.

"It was started by the SWAT team the year after my son had passed away, and it wasn't really my initiative — it was the team that decided we should do something to raise money for the children's hospitals," said Matossian.

"Because someone like my son was able to do it, then we at whatever age we were at then should also be able to do something even better, and it's been an amazing effort on the part of all my team mates."

Many of the donations for silent and live auction segments held as part of the tournament were made possible with the support of the many dedicated Westmount retailers who provided program advertising and supplies. There were also contributions from advertisements, donations and products from numerous corporations and professionals.

"The tournament itself is always competitive," said Howard Hoppenheim, a tournament co-chair, noting the enthusiastic level of play.

"SWAT would like to thank the many Westmount merchants, and numerous other Tournoi supporters and advertisers, who, in these difficult economic times, continued their unconditional support of our Tournoi and the Montreal Children's and Ste Justine hospitals," said Hoppenheim, SWAT treasurer.

He added that this year's success was also thanks to the following individuals and organizations: "Norm Richer, co-chairman, who ensured that the myriad of tasks were planned and implemented, Doug Price, who attended each of the 15 games and ensured that the statistics were properly and timely posted, Adam Cutler, who produced a quality Tournoi brochure, Claude Bismuth, who effectively conducted the silent auction, SWAT members Alain Elbaz, Nic Matossian, Leo Cauzo, Vahe Djourian, Laurent Dionne and co-chairman Jim West, all of whom carried out their numerous functions in a timely and proficient manner, Mike Deegan and Dave Lapointe of the Westmount Recreation Department, the numerous rink attendants and Andrew Blankfort, whose assistance was, once again, simply outstanding, Jim Atchison, Rick Hogan, Larry Montreuil, Steve Downie, Dan Montford, Brent Young, Peter Shore and Glen Wightman of the North Shore Referees Association, Westmount referees Casey Auerbach, Rod and Ralph Leider and Simon Rodenchuk, all of whom graciously provided their services free of charge, and Wayne Larsen of the Westmount Examiner, whose annual support continues to be unwavering."