Get ready for the 43rd Annual Maine Gladiator’s Lion’s Tournament. This year’s event will begin this Saturday, Feb. 14, and run through Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Over 500 players ranging in ages 5 to 14 years old will be playing in 99 games during this five-day event. This does not include the Skills and Drills competition, which is an especially fun day for all the players. This year The Maine Gladiators expect to have 55 Mini-Mites, 10 Mite teams, six Squirt teams, four Peewee teams and Bantam teams participating in the event.

This year will be the second time The Maine Gladiators Lion’s Tournament will be held at the new Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn.

Opening Ceremonies will be held on Saturday, Feb 14 at 10 a.m. As is tradition, all 500 participants will parade onto the ice, carting their custom-made team banners and proudly wearing their team colors. Words of inspiration will be shared by the honorable mayors of both Auburn and Lewiston — Jonathon Labonte and Robert MacDonald, as well as other dignitaries. There will be the traditional puck dropping ceremony and the singing of the National Anthem by the Auburn Middle School Choir.

This tournament started back in 1972 with a grant from the Lewiston Lions Club and others to provide an outlet for school children to stay occupied during their February vacation week.