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Hundreds of youth hockey players participated in the 54th annual Lions youth hockey tournament Saturday at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn.

Sponsored by the Maine Gladiator youth hockey program, it is the longest-running youth hockey tournament in America. Dozens of games were played over the weekend, with teams from the Tier 4 10U through 14U divisions.

While the highly competitive tournament was taking place on one sheet of ice Saturday morning, kids not yet old enough to compete were learning to skate and play the game on a second sheet of ice. Many had siblings that were competing on the adjacent rink. Photos by Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer

Kinsley Drouin carries her brothers’ hockey stick Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament as her mother, back, and brothers, right, arrive before their game.
Greg Bourgoin tightens his daughter Lucy’s hockey helmet before she went out for the learn to skate program.
Reese Chapman, middle, celebrates one of his goals Saturday morning.
Lucas Fortin tapes his hockey stick in the hallway Saturday morning before his game. He plays for the Maine Gladiators 12U Black team.
Heidi Austin, left, takes a photo of her son Cameron, right, and friends Everly Ellis, middle, and Peter Walters as they arrive at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn for the 54th annual Lions Tournament. The boys play for the Brewer youth Hockey Hawks team.
Maine Gladiators Red 12U coach Chris Giles and players on the bench, cheer for their team.
Jagger Avery watches his sister play hockey. He was participating in the learn to skate program at the adjoining ice rink.
Bennett Roop, left, taunts his brother, Maxwell, right, while participating in the learn-to-skate program. Maxwell was waiting for his next game to start on the other sheet of ice at the arena.
Courtney Wheeler, left, and her husband Randy remove the skates of their son Benjamin. He was participating in the learn-to-skate program sponsored by the host, Maine Gladiators.
Jagger Avery watches his sister play. He was participating in the learn-to-skate program at the adjoining ice rink.
Olivia Chapman, right, plays a game on her tablet as her grandmother, Karen Dube, next to her, watches her grandson. At left is Kealeigh Sullivan and Angie Chapman, holding the team’s mascot, Rio.
Action from the Maine Gladiators 12-U hockey team, in red, and the Brattleboro Vermont Hawks team.

A lifelong resident of Lewiston, Russ stumbled into photography as a college student working toward a career in psychology. His great-grandfather Louis B. Costello was the publisher of the Lewiston Daily...