What began as part of a grassroots effort to bring another sheet of ice to Martensville has grown into one of the community’s most popular annual hockey traditions.
The Martensville 3-on-3 Hockey Tournament celebrated its 12th anniversary in 2026, with over 500 participants registered from ages 7-18 years taking to the ice at the Martensville Recreation Centre during the three-week event.
Running from August 23 through September 15, this year’s tournament featured seven fast-paced, full-ice games for participants in U9, U11, U13, U15 and 15-plus divisions.
“Our tournament has grown by 35% in two years,” said volunteer Lesley David. “New this year was an ALL-FEMALE DIVISION with 170 girls registered. Girls from Martensville, Warman, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Delisle, Clavet and Saskatoon registered to play.”
All proceeds go towards a third ice surface in Martensville and it is the largest annual fundraiser organized by the Martensville Community Recreation Project (MCRP).
The history behind the tournament is closely connected to the history of the MCRP itself.
More than a decade ago, a group of Martensville residents came together after discussions about the shortage of available ice in the growing community. The initial dream was relatively straightforward — help Martensville get another sheet of ice.
Jesse Reis, who helped found and chair the MCRP, recalled that the idea began with wanting another place for local children to play hockey.
But the vision didn’t stay small for long.
With support from residents, businesses, volunteers and the City of Martensville, the idea evolved from an additional ice surface into a much larger multi-purpose recreation facility.
To help turn that vision into reality, MCRP volunteers organized an assortment of community fundraisers. Over the years those included 3-on-3 hockey, NHL playoff drafts, Party on the Pond, street hockey, runs, casino nights and 1980s-themed cabarets.
The 3-on-3 tournament became one of the organization’s most successful events.
By 2018, the MCRP had raised approximately $300,000 through its events and donations. By 2022, the organization reported having raised more than $1 million toward the recreation project.
One indication of just how successful the 3-on-3 tournament became came in 2020, when the event raised approximately $55,000 toward the proposed recreation facility. Longtime title sponsor BN Metals had contributed more than $30,000 to the tournament by that point.
As the fundraising grew, so did the vision.
With the help of significant, private and corporate sponsors, the Government, and land donation, the combined effort eventually contributed to the development of the Martensville Recreation Centre, which opened in October 2024, following a decade-long push by volunteers, the City and community supporters.
The facility includes a full-size arena, indoor turf, climbing wall, indoor playground and other amenities, providing considerably more recreational space for Martensville and the surrounding region.
There is something particularly fitting about the 2026 edition of the 3-on-3 tournament.
For years, players registered for the event knowing that proceeds were helping raise money for a recreation centre that did not yet exist.
Now they’re playing the tournament inside that facility.
All games in the 2026 tournament are being played at the Martensville Recreation Centre, and organizers say all proceeds generated by this year’s event will once again go directly back to the facility.
It’s a full-circle moment for an event that helped demonstrate the community’s demand for additional recreational space while also raising money to make it possible.
The tournament has also developed a reputation for filling quickly. Organizers say it sells out each year, with players coming from Martensville and throughout the surrounding region.
This yearly event offers plenty of ice time to help prepare the athletes for another hockey season.
But after 12 years, Martensville 3-on-3 represents something bigger than the games on the ice.
It is also part of the story of how a group of volunteers, local businesses, families and hockey players helped turn an idea for another sheet of ice into a recreation centre that now serves an entire community.
And this year, the tournament that helped build that dream is being played inside it.
