New score clock approved for Art Hauser Centre

The Western Hockey League (WHL) has mandated specific facility requirements for the 2019-2020 season. The Art Hauser Centre currently remains the only WHL venue without the new LED video display score clock. The big question discussed by city council Monday was the $275,000 price tag attached to it. It was decided that the city’s portion would be $95,000, $100,000 (over five years) will come from the Raiders through sponsorships, $30,000 will be split by the city’s two midget AAA teams, and the remaining $50,000 was approved by council to come out of the Destination Marketing Fund. Mayor Greg Dionne said the project meets the fund’s mandate to put “heads in beds.”

“You know we had Vancouver here, we’ve had Saskatoon here, we had all the other teams staying here [during the playoffs], let alone the other big draws during the year,” he said.

The city’s portion of $95,000 will not fall on the backs of tax payers but rather will come out of the net surplus ($153,402.98) the city received from the Raiders’ playoff run.The remaining money will go into a reserve fund for future improvements at the arena.

While most councilors supported the motion to purchase the score clock, Ward 7 Councilor Dennis Nowoselsky spoke out against it. He questioned if the money could not be put to better use.

“We can’t have a second street sweeper because we don’t have the money, we can’t get basic teeter totters and swings put in some of the parks where there’s lots of young kids because we don’t have the money and our public works needs $100 million in the next five or so years,” he said.

Ward 5 councilor Dennis Ogrodnick was quick to respond, and explained the city had already just recently put a bunch of money into the parks program, and that there was a master plan coming out for the parks.

“What I like about this plan is that it is going to be used for many different events, not just the Raiders, not just hockey but other groups will have the opportunity to use this as well and so it is going to become a community place,” he said.

Ogrodnick added he also liked the idea of modernizing the old building, in time for the Esso Cup, a national women’s hockey tournament scheduled for April.

“We need something to show our facility off and to enhance that entire tournament that is going to take place here,” he said.

Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt attended Monday’s meeting and said he was happy to see the score clock receive approval, adding he thinks it will help drive more people into the building.

“We are excited about seeing this go forward and excited to see how it looks not just for us, but for PBR, for grad next season and certainly the Indigenous Winter Games which is coming through this winter,” he said.

When asked about the Raiders share of $100,000, Hunt said he was confident the organization could meet that goal.

“You know as long as we can continue to put a product on the ice that people in the area can be proud of, you know we should be able to reach those numbers no problem,” he said.

Robyn Wildey, vice-president of the Prince Albert Northern Bears was also in attendance and said he too had no issues with paying their share.

“It’s another chance at a revenue system for us tap into for sponsorship and exposure for our program,” he said.

In addition to the new score clock, a number of other improvements have been mandated by the league including acrylic rink boards and glass. The Art Hauser Centre has been granted a short term extension with respect to this requirement. And as far as the existing score clock is concerned, Boulet mentioned the city was in talks with several communities including Moosomin for its purchase.

–

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

New score clock approved for Art Hauser Centre

What's Trending