Grayson Zinobile Selected to Hershey Jr. Bears Quebec team

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 16, 2023

A local State College Youth Ice Hockey Association (SCYIHA) hockey player earned a hard-fought roster spot on the Hershey Jr. Bears Quebec team. Grayson Zinobile will have what former players describe as a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament from February 7-18, 2024.

The annual youth ice hockey event in Quebec City, Canada dates back to 1960, the hallowed tournament has been a seminal stop on the paths of some of hockey’s greatest talents including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Guy Lafleur. Over six hundred current and retired NHL players had their “coming out party” as a participant in this event.

The tournament hosts over 120 teams with more than 2,000 players from 20 different countries. For most players who are aged 11 and 12, it is their first opportunity to play in an arena with crowds of 10,000 fans or more. The tournament has been colloquially referred to as the “Pee-Wee World Championships” and has long been esteemed as the most prestigious minor hockey tournament in the world.

Grayson, age 12 from State College, is one of nearly 100 players who competed for a position on the elite team. Grayson’s teammates on the Hershey Quebec team are composed of athletes who live within a 100-mile radius of Hershey, PA, including Philadelphia, Scranton, and New Jersey. The Hershey Jr. Bears Quebec team is one of the longest running teams to attend the Quebec Tournament, fielding a team 63 out of the last 64 years.

A unique aspect of the tournament is the players have the experience of lodging with billet families for the duration of their stay in Quebec. This experience allows them a French immersion and exposure to the Quebec culture.