Born from a community's desire to honour the memory of TRU volleyball player Owyn McInnis has grown into one of the largest youth tournaments in the region, drawing hundreds of athletes to Kamloops each April to play the sport he loved. 
 
What began as a simple idea shared between the Kamloops volleyball association, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, and Owyn McInnis' family has grown into a multi-weekend event that unites clubs across Western Canada. 
 
"The primary thing is to keep Owyn's name alive," said KVA director Rob Gowe. " We wanted to create something that brought everyone together." 

While making sure the legacy is at the heart of the tournament and creating a space where athletes can come together for the love of the game. "It's a way for them to remember why they play volleyball," said organizer Sarah Loedel. "We're all here for the love of the sport and the community." Since 2023, the tournament has expanded at a fast pace, with divisions jumping from 11 to 24 teams and for the first time ever having a waitlist to enter the tournament. "It's really exciting," Loedel said. " We've never seen numbers like this." Across the three weekends, more than 160 teams from B.C, Alberta and Saskatchewan will compete, making the event one of the largest spring gatherings for youth volleyball in Canada.

Organizers say what sets the tournament apart is its focus on joy rather than rankings. Because the event isn't tied to points or standings, teams arrive ready to celebrate the sport, often dressing in orange, creating themed warm-ups and leaning into the sense of community that defined McInnis' approach to volleyball. 
 
"People who come to it share it with others," Loedel said. "They want to come back, and that's how it keeps growing."
 
For Loedel, the tournament carries a deeply personal weight. She said the first year was "really healing," giving her an outlet to process her grief while watching athletes come together for something her friend loved. But the experience has also been bittersweet. 
 
"As much as I love putting them on, I wish I didn't, because it would mean he was still here," she said. "It's fun to do, but there's always the sobering reminder that he's not here for it."
 
For the Kamloops Volleyball Association, the tournament also became a way to rebuild community connections after the pandemic. Gowe said KVA had once hosted an event called Battle of the Borders, but it never returned after Covid-19. When he spoke with TRU coach Pat Hennelly, the idea of creating something new emerged almost immediately. " I brought it up to Pat, and he quickly texted Owyn's mum," Gowe said. "She sent an instant 'let's do it.'" 
 
For McInnis' mother Erin Walter, watching the tournament grow each year brings a mix of joy, pride and disbelief. She said she never fully understood the reach her son had until she saw athletes, coaches, and families gathering in his name, sharing stories and carrying his spirit onto the court. "You see this, saying his name, telling his stories, playing the game, and your heart just warms up," she said. While sharing him with the world can be difficult at times, she said the tournament has become a meaningful way to honour the energy, kindness and brotherhood that defined who her son was. 
 
The City of Kamloops has stepped in to support the event, providing three sport courts this year so organizers can keep most teams in the same venue. "I want to keep everyone together instead of sending them all over the city," Loedel said. "It creates a better experience for the teams and helps us run things more smoothly."
 
With demand showing no signs of slowing, organizers are already thinking about how to shape the tournament in the years ahead. Several divisions filled within hours this year, and others developed long waitlists. The goal isn't to make the event bigger for the sake of it, but to keep it meaningful and sustainable as more teams look to take part.
 
 "We want it to grow in a way that still feels manageable," Loedel said. "Something that keeps its heart as it gets bigger."
 
For Erin, that's what matters most, seeing her son's spirit carried forward by athletes who never had the chance to meet him. She said the tournament has become a reminder of the joy he brought to the sport and the people around him. "If they can take even a little piece of who he was with them," she said, "then that's everything."