The Esso Cup National Female "AAA" Midget Hockey Championship held in Morden in April left behind a legacy to the community. One of the benefactors was the local minor hockey association.

"It was a great big deal, not only for hockey in Morden to have the Esso Cup come to town," said Morden Minor Hockey president Steve Mullin. "Morden Minor Hockey was heavily involved with the girls who got to have the experience of being on the ice. To have something that's left behind for Morden Minor Hockey to use and try and improve the year to year benefits for all of its players involved is going to be huge as we move through the next few years here."

As part of the legacy the Minor Hockey association was able to receive the electronic 50/50 machine used during the tournament.

"That's a big expensive machine that will make things far easier to fundraiser at tournaments and maybe at other events around town. Hopefully we can use that to expand the fundraising base without taxing the people we tap on the shoulder a whole lot."

They were also able to get some funding to help pay for rink dividers. Mullin noted these rink dividers will be used by the pre-novice and novice teams starting in the 2017-18 season.

"For the first half of the year the novice players for the first time are going to be playing on half ice. To have rink dividers that will kind of set the rink up better to help them transition into that is going to be big for us," said Mullin. "It's going to be a change no doubt. There is going to be an adjustment for a lot of people. Right from parents to the players who were part of it last year and right through to the officials. It's going to be a new experience for all of us."

Mullin is thankful to have the Esso Cup host committee see the need and help out in this way.