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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. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Greg Bourgoin tightens his daughter Lucy’s hockey helmet before she went out on the ice Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. She was participating in the learn to skate program, put on by the Maine Gladiators team on the other sheet of ice at the arena. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Reese Chapman, middle, celebrates one of his goals Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament.(Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Lucas Fortin tapes his hockey stick in the hallway Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. He plays for the Maine Gladiators 12-U Black team. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Heidi Austin, left, takes a photo of her son Cameron, right and friends Everly Ellis, middle and Peter Walters Saturday morning 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. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Maine Gladiators Red 12-U coach, Chris Giles, and players on the bench, cheer for their team Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament.(Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Jagger Avery watches his sister play hockey Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. He was participating in the learn to skate program at the adjoining ice rink. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
Bennett Roop, left, looks at his brother, Maxwell on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. Bennett was participating in the learn to skate program sponsored by the host, Maine Gladiators. Maxwell was waiting for his next game to start on the other sheet of ice at the arena. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Courtney Wheeler, left and her husband Randy remove the skates of their son, Benjamin Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. He was participating in the learn to skate program sponsored by the host, Maine Gladiators program. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Jagger Avery watches his sister play hockey Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. He was participating in the learn to skate program at the adjoining ice rink. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Olivia Chapman, right plays a game on her tablet as her grandmother, Karen Dube, next to her, watches her grandson play hockey Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. At left is Kealeigh Sullivan and Angie Chapman, holding the team’s mascot, Rio. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
AUBURN, February 14, 2026 – Action from the Maine Gladiators 12-U hockey team, in red, and the Brattleboro Vermont Hawks team Saturday morning at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn during the 54th annual Lions Tournament. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

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...

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