Hockey enthusiasts, prepare to spill out of the living rooms and down to the Safeway parking lot. The inaugural Cranbrook Road Hockey Tournament is set for October, and once again Cranbrook will become the focus of all things hockey.

"We have 16 sponsors so far — I think that indicates good receptiveness to the concept," said Rob Stang, a member of the organizing committee for the tournament. “Road hockey is coming into vogue, there are a number of events taking place all over.”

He added that Cranbrook’s reputation as a hockey hotbed makes it a natural fit for such an event.

Stang explained that the tournament is aimed at making a profit, with all proceeds to be donated to Cranbrook Minor Hockey.

The three-day event is set for October 22, 23 and 24, 2010.

The committee's target is 100 teams entered (the record for a road hockey tournament is 192, set in Ladysmith, B.C. in 2007). But eventually breaking that record in Cranbrook is not out of the picture, as organizers plan to run it as an annual event.

"Our aspiration is to grow it year by year," Stang said. "For this first year, we expect most of our teams to come from the Cranbrook area. But over time, we'll need to reach much further if we want to grow it.

"If the local people like it, they'll help us grow it," he added.

Safeway is reserving space in its south parking lot for seven rinks, and the City of Cranbrook has allowed bleachers to be added for spectators, Stang said. And 500 bales of alfalfa have been ordered for the "boards." Stang said they want first-cut alfalfa - solid bales but soft hay. After the tournament, the bales will be sold to the public.

Teams that take to the rinks will be comprised of three forwards and a goalie, with two spares allowed. Experienced referees will be on hand.

“If this event gets really big, I can see it being a real economic generator for the community,” Stang said.

The committee has chosen the theme “Fun for the Whole Family,” and the tournament is set up to reflect just that. It is divided into two segments — Youth and Adult. You must 18 or older to be eligible for the Adult segment, though is someone younger, 16, for example, wants to participate in Adults, he or she can with written permission for parents or Guardians.

The two segments are divided into six categories and 19 divisions: Kids (Tykes, Novice and Atom), Boys (Peewee, Bantam and Midget) and Girls (Peewee, Bantam and Midget) in the Youth segment, and Ladies (Competitive, Rec and Masters), Men’s (Competitive, Rec, Masters and Old-timers) and Mixed (Competitive, Rec and Fun) in the Adult segment.

The Masters category is 35 years and older, the Old-timers is 50 and older.

For more information on the inaugural Cranbrook Road Hockey Tournament, go to www.cranbrookroadhockey.com.