By Andrew Chong /

OneHockey president Sebastien Fortier has grown his small AAA summer tournament into a world-class hockey event.

Since 2004, when Fortier's inaugural tournament hosted six teams in his hometown of Sherbrooke Que., the OneHockey event has grown into a premier hockey showcase encompassing more than 100 teams. Over 200 teams from more than 13 countries are expected to participate at the Seventh Annual OneHockey International AAA Summer Tournament in 2010.

Most people who have participated agree that this is one of the best run tournaments "if not the best tournament" in the world,‚ said Fortier. Over the past four years, we've seen teams and players from 13 countries participate‚Äîit is truly an international event

Elite players, high-level scouts, and some of the best hockey people from around the world converge in Aston, Pennsylvania (15 minutes from Philadelphia) each June and July.

We choose the Aston, Pennsylvania area due to its close proximity to historic sites in Philadelphia,‚ said Fortier. The surrounding Pennsylvania area, Chesapeake Bay and even Washington, D.C. are short drives away so families can get away to visit places they may not have had a chance to see had they not participated in the tournament.

We offer a five-game round robin format with semi-finals and finals for the top teams. All our games are shown live on the Internet on Fast Hockey so family and friends back home can watch.
And we have over 30 former NHL players coaching with OneHockey

Both elite teams and elite individuals may apply. Individuals who sign up are grouped onto an all-American team. Players come from state, provincial, regional, and national teams.
Fortier is excited to offer players and families a unique hockey experience that goes beyond the typical tournament. There are many activities to do in the city and many opportunities for players to advance their careers through performing in front of a wide range of scouts and networking with top hockey people. Fortier takes pride in being able to help players move on to the Junior and college ranks. The event has seen numerous players participate who eventually move on to the Western Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, British Columbia Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, NCAA Division I, United States Hockey League, and other high-level leagues.

The Future Stars Division for the 2010 tournament goes June 30 to July 3 and is open to 2000- to 1998-born players. The Prep Division goes July 7 to 10 for 1994s to 1997s. The Junior Division also runs July 7 to 10 and is for 1992s and 1993s.

The tournament has grown steadily since its inception in 2004. OneHockey grew from six to 10 teams in 2004 and the event took place in Moncton, NB before it was moved to Aston where it has been ever since. The event had 44 teams in 2006, 85 teams in 2007, 95 teams in 2008, 106 teams in 2009, and an expected 220 for 2010.

Going forward, Fortier hopes to attract more players and teams from Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario to further expand the scope of the event.
If you are an elite-level hockey player, visit the OneHockey website at www.onehockey.com to apply as a team or as an individual.