Quesnel City Councillor Laurey-Anne Roodenburg is hoping to spark a new tradition which will get spring in Quesnel off to a good start.
Working together with local Special Olympics program co-ordinator Rick Prosk, she has decided to host a ball hockey tournament at the newly-renovated Lewis Drive Rink in West Quesnel.
The marvelous facility, which was restored with the help of Colin and Edythe Ketchum, lay dormant for most of the winter, despite being completed in September 2018.
The idea is to remind everybody of its existence and have an excellent time in the process.
“This is a community event,” Roodenburg, who also heads up the West Quesnel Business Association, says. “We have West Side Liquor Store sponsoring the T-Shirts, Dominoes Pizza is sending us some free pizza, and another business is providing free porta-potties.
It will be free to take part; she just asks that those interested contact her at 250-255-5394 pr wqbainfo@gmail.com, so the teams can be organized beforehand.
Participants will gather at the Lewis Drive Rink Saturday (April 27) at 10 a.m. Players of all ages are welcome, and games will be anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes long, depending on how many teams are put together.
“The games will be short and sweet, and hopefully nobody takes anybody out,” jokes Roodenburg. “It’s basically for fun, right? It’s more about showing the community that the outdoor arena is open for use.”
Many of the Quesnel Fury, who won gold in the Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games in Vernon this year, will be interspersed throughout the teams, so everyone is guaranteed to have a couple people who know how to score some goals and play some defence.
Referees and scorekeepers will also be on hand to ensure nobody crosses any lines or tries to engage in sneaky play.
Approximately 30 people have committed to turning up so far, but there will be room for more hockey lovers who want to give the new facility a try.
READ MORE: West Quesnel rink ready for use
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