St. Catharines Saints Hockey Team Proposal on Hold Amid Concerns Over Children's Hockey Leagues

Residents voiced strong opposition to a proposal that would allow the St. Catharines Saints senior men's hockey team to play at the Bill Burgoyne Memorial Arena, citing concerns that the move would push out children's hockey leagues. The proposal, brought forth by Pat Smith, owner of the Saints, would grant the team a multi-year lease for the arena, including ice time for training camps, practices, and up to 10 home games per season. However, city council members have referred the proposal back to staff to allow for consultation between all arena user groups and councillors, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for July 14.

Key Takeaways:

• The St. Catharines Saints senior men's hockey team has proposed using the Bill Burgoyne Memorial Arena as their home ice, despite opposition from children's hockey leagues.
• The proposal would grant the team a multi-year lease for the arena, including ice time for training camps, practices, and up to 10 home games per season.
• Residents, including Rhegan Favell and Bruce Lawrence, expressed concerns that the move would push out children's hockey leagues and eliminate youth hockey programs.
• Favell, who is also the granddaughter of Kiwanis Hockey founder Doug Favell, argued that the proposal would be "taking hockey sticks out of the hands of children and giving them to grown men."
• Garden City Minor Hockey Association president Bruce Lawrence stated that youth hockey programs would lose ice time to a new adult hockey program, making it difficult to accommodate players at the right times.
• Kiwanis Club past-president Bob Romeo emphasized the importance of the Kiwanis logo and the need to protect youth hockey programs, as the arena was built to provide a home for youth hockey leagues.

Statistics:

• The Saints have proposed a six-hour training camp and weekly one-hour practices at the arena.
• The team also requested exclusive use of two of the arena's six dressing rooms, a laundry area, and advertising rights on rink boards.
• The proposal would allow the Saints to sell alcohol during games.
• The team hopes to draw fans to the underutilized arena, with Smith saying that Allan Cup hockey "represents the highest level of senior hockey in Ontario."
• Over 50 years, the Kiwanis Club has gifted the arena to the city, providing a home for youth hockey leagues.

Sources:

• "St. Catharines Standard A proposal to make Bill Burgoyne Memorial Arena home to the St. Catharines Saints senior men's hockey team has been put on hold..."