By Catherine Stewart (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: September 3, 2014
With the heartbreaking farewell to the Abbotsford Heat this past spring, the future of the Abbotsford Centre was left up in the air. There were rumours ranging from it being closed down to it being rented out to numerous different sponsors. It was a true Shakespearean tragedy that had readers on the edge of their seats.
The Cascade covered this conundrum when it was still fresh just months ago in the May 21, 2014 issue in an article titled “Never ever getting back together.”
The greatly anticipated results are finally in, after painful months of waiting. (because of course we didn’t just forget about it and stop caring, right?) It turns out that the Abbotsford Centre will now host its very own hockey league, sponsored by Finnegan’s Pub & Grill.
For one season (half a year), it will cost each team $5,950, not including tax. It will cost $475 if you’re an individual who wishes to sign up. What’s included are 20 season games and two guaranteed playoff games. The package also comes with two refs and one scorekeeper per game to save you from the extra stress of finding your own.
This whole deal may seem like your typical arrangement, except with Finnegan’s tossed into the mix, which sweetens the whole package. If you’re a player in the first ice time of the game night, you’re promised a free sleeve of beer afterwards. You’re also promised a plate of ooey-gooey nachos if you happen to be the winning team. Now if that isn’t a good enough motivator, I don’t know what is.
At the end of the season, the winners of each division will receive a $300 gift card to Finnegan’s. The teams in each division to come in second place will get a $100 gift card, which is not too shabby.
The Abbotsford Centre will soon post the league rules and other information on its website, if you wish to check it out in depth.
I have to admit that this turn of events is much more exciting than having the Centre close down, leaving a skeleton of good memories behind to gather dust. It’s a new season and a fresh start, and I can’t wait to see what these hockey teams have in store for us.
